The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-11-22


TER MIRROR.
The Republicans were badly beaten in
several of their stronghods last year, and
we have little hope that they will recover
much Of their lost ground this fall.
Nevertheless, they are in better cond-
tion to enter a national campaign than
they were four years ago, and can, and
probably will, re- elect President Arthur's
successor. The reserve vote of the
country is always theirs, because the
great business interests, whose rcpresen-
tatives are too busy to take hand in
politics in off years, do not dare allow the
government to pass into the hands Of Il
party composed of such leaders as John
Kelley, Carter Harrison and Benjamin F.
Butler, and such followers as the Tam
many crowd Of New York, the gamblers
and thieves of Chicago and the Palmer
gang of Boston; and when a President is
to be elected these interests always rally
to the support Of the Republican candi-
date, and with the help Of the regulars
elect him. This has cen the history Of
the past and there is no reason why it
viii not repeat itself in 1854. Again, To-
cal issues, such as have contributed to
Republican decentralization and defeat
this Year, will be tranpled out of sight
next, and the lines will be drawn upon
the simple question of which party can
best administer the general government
But neither the business men nor those
who baye been drawn away by local
issues and are willing to return will or
can elect Republican President without
the help of the Republican party, and
the controlling question Of the next cam
paign is, whether the party is going to
give anybody chance to help it: Wheth-
Ell it is to be the active, earnest, agrees
I've, plucky organlZatiOn which it has
been III the past or a combination Of pc
litical dudes. There is no trouble with
the record or principles of the party. On
all the great questions that have claimed
attention during the past twenty wears
il has been right, and it is right on all Of
them that are alive to-day. All that the
nation has done since 1860, Of which
people are proud and for which they are
grateful, has been the work Of the Re
publican party, work, too, done in the
face of il bitter opposition, by the very
party that now seeks to suppIant it,
It was grandly and glorously right in
lht war, ana lt mas oeen wisely, pru-
uohlly auu successfully flght IN peace
II Shapes the pollcy OF tue government
Wen, connects ana dlSburSeS the revenue
economically and honestly. and gives
the people an efficient and satisfactory
public service. Why, then, should it 90?
Why is there any danger Of its going-to
make room for an adversary which has
btcll NIlliuHJ anu ptFSlSltnlly wrong
from 'hc oeShlhlhgf mere isn't u IT
mas the grit TO stay: But has II? Some
tllheS we lear hot, 1of great change has
come over u "ithln the last few months.
IL mas peen reformed ana rehned ana
porllled ana cieanSed until 1t IS TOO tine
loF TINS rou9h-ahd tumble world, too
good, IN TACT, to i've. In the days OF
l4lAcoln ana Grant, RepubHcanS We're
'auGhI 70 pellrVe mat success was a
duty that KePubllcans should work tor,
pay thelF money Tor and vote the regular
ticket; that they were organized for the
express ana sole purpose ot beating the
opposition al the polls, and Republican,
0fllce-holdelS were especially and effect
lNely aGmOnlSheu that 1t was part OF
thelI business 10 Keep the party on top.
~ Urlel, we nad IN those days machine
that was a vital vigorous, controlling
lolce IN national politics. And 50 alter
wards. Even the great and good Gar
neld fought 70 WIZ, and was not above.
when occasion demanded, working the
cnurch OF Wllch ne was member for all
IL was worth. In TINS way we won.
linen came the prophets OF a new DIS