National Republican., 1883-03-31

creed votes in congress by showing that " tho
administration meant business?" Tho peo-
pie do not choose presidents to frame laws, but
to execute them.
! Next Mr.. Smith complains because the ad-
ministration last year stretched its arm into
the fires Of various political cauldrons," and
in the same sentence reproaches it for being
now, as he says, tame aud timid" "Thc
progressive sentiment of the party" finds
the President inert and unresponsivo." This
is not tho fault of the stalwarts. Mr.. Smith
says they arc just as much displcascd with
the administration as the progressive cle-
mont"
And here arises the inquiry as to the milk
in this journalistic cocoanut. Whence this
midnight cry?' why constitute this progress
sive element?" What do they propose to do
to the President for his acts of commission
and of omission which roar so loud and
thunder in the index? The first sentence of
Mr.. Smiths letter helps TO answer the ques-
tion. 1t is this "The vacancy in tho cabi-
tho administrations" OF course it does. 1t
will be very cold day when "the progressive
element" with its head on Dupont circle, in
Washington, and its tail in the Office of tho
New York Tribune, shall fail to take notice of
vacancy in the cabinet, or to sound
its own praises through such trumpeters
as Mr.. Editor Smith. 1t is not our
purpose at this time to follow this
proclamation of the enemy through all its
windings, its Misrepresentation. its assump-
tons, or its bombast. This will be useful at
will illustrate the general tenor of the whole,
and we quote IL:
The party In this country that lives and thrives
must advance. The democratic party only exists
The republican party must carry its standard for.
ward and plant 1t beyond its last fighting ground
We live fast in these days, and we have outgrown
even the plat form Of 1880, and must piece II out
with fresh IDEAS Our coming battle cry will DO
the American policy for the American continent,
genuine civil service reform, protection to home
industry, an honest ballot box and strict financial
accountability. With or without the adminstra-
ton, the republican party will be called TO unfurf
this banner and make this its fight. The admin
istratlon can continue its present policy aud be
left behind in the onward march or, with re-
organized aud representative cabinet, it can share
the advance and the glory Of the alert and pro-
gressiyc republican party.
Generous Mr.. Smith Happy administra-
tion to be thus walked up in time to get on
board the train. "The present policy of the
administration" meaning thereby the present
cabmet-to denouncing which Mr.. Smith de-
votes q third of his letter-must if continued
cause the President TO be left. But if only
the progressive element, for which Mr..
Smith distends his cheek, can be al
lowed to rcorganize tho cabinet, with
that brilliant "American policy" at
the head, then and in that case
"tho administration (is that the President
or the new cabinet?) will bo allowed to
"share the advance and glory of the alert and
progressive" republican party. The Presi-
dent is of no consequence, Of course. Mr..
Smith only speaks as friend, with or with
out the administration" he says, :" tho pro-
gressive element" proposes to shed its light
as it were upon the pathway of the nation.
The progressive eoment" is too raven
Gus. 1t shows its hand too plainly.
II clamors for tho submission of the
President to n domination of which the
country has had taste in the recent past, and
very little of which goes great ways