Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-29
The "Good BOY" Policy.


Indications are multiplying that the adj |
ministration and the stalwart wing of the
Republican party have determined to set
tie down upon ''the good boy policy. All
these months. while the Radicals felt Sc
cure in place and power, they arrogantly
echoed, in act if not in word, Mr.. Wander
bits famous sentiments regarding the
public. Since the cyclone of the It'll inst,
however. they have become amazingly
humbled. They recognize the errors of
their way, and now are making a show at
least of meekly yielding to the popular
will. Hence il is that the telegraph has
informed us in the past few days that Mr.
Arthur intends to recommend in his forth
coming annual message a reduction IN
| popular taxatiOn-a subject to which be
has heretofore been perfectly obliyIous
and that the United States Attorney
| General and himself have at last deter
mined to take decisive measures TO secure
the conviction and punishment of the star
route thieves.
1t is thus evident that the stalwart wing
Of the Radical party has at length been
! taught. through a severe castigatiOn, that
they cannot defy the people of this coun-
| try with impunity, and now they propose
| to make confession of sin and implOre the
| long despised public to grant them absO-
| luton The interesting question which
| naturally arises, therefore, is .'Will the
| public do sop
| We are inclined to think not. The great
American people are generous, charitable
| and long suffering, but they have mani
| testify come to the conclusion that patience
with Radicalism has long since ceased to
| be a virtue After the Republican defeat
| in 1874 and 1876 the same identical profess
| sions of repentance and promises Of turn
| ing from evil to good were made by the
| Radical leaders as are made now. So long
as the Democracy had control in Con
| gress, and were by that means enabled
to hold the party in check, some
efforts were made to carry out these pro-
| fessions and perform these promises.
| With the election of Garfield and the res
toration Of Radicalism to power in all de-
partments Of the government in 1880, how
| ever these efforts ceased. Disregard for
the public welfare and an ardent seeking
after the spOils became again the rule,
and corruption and extravaganza took the
place Of Democratic honesty and enono-
my. This is the simple cause of the wide
| spread disgust manifested on the eth of
this month against the Republican party,
and this is why the recent popular verdict
against that party was so emphatic.
| On the principle then that 1.-The burnt
child breads the fire." we believe the
people of the United States will not again
trust themselves to the tender mercies of
Radical rule. The party has been weighed
in the balances and found wanting. Presi-
dent Arthur may, at this eleventh hour,
discharge from official position Spencer,
of savory memory, Marshal Henry, Post
master Anger, foreman Helm, and every
other defender and shielder of the star
route robbers; he may recommend a
Iessening of the popular burdens, and
"the grand old party may even finally
conclude to dismiss Dorsey from
| his position as Secretary of the Republican
Executive Committee; still all this will
prove unayailing. Virtue which is assumed
only when the party assuming it does so
| through compulsiOn, is no virtue at all,
and this the people see and understand.
| hehandwriting is on the wall and the fiat
has gone forth. If the Democracy will
only combine the wisdom of the serpent
with the courage of the lion, and be gov
erned in its course solely by sOlicitude to
accomplish the gredtest good to the
greatest number, they will make their
calling and election sure, and a Demo-
cratic President will occupy the White
House rs certain as the sun rises on the
| 4th day of March. 1885.