Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-10-24
A Gloomy Future for the Re
publican Party.

The Philadelphia Americqn, itself a
republican journal, raises the question
whether the republican plrty IS not
perishlng of "dry rot?" The old federal
and wing parties closed their careers by
such process, and unless the repnbl-
can organization speedily demonstrates
its desire and ability 10 deal with the
great national questions of finance and
administrative reform which to-day oc-
cupy the public mind, it. like its prede-
cessors, our Philadelphia contemporary
is inclined to believe, must be pushed
aside as worthless timber, unfit for the
uses of the future. In politics, as in
life, movement is the best evidence Of
Vitality. Visible progress toward some
rational goal is the title by which
great party must expect to hold the
sympathies and support of The people.
According to the candid iAmerican, the
republican party as a whole has ceased
10 display any signs Of progressive
NOV ement, and has. consequently,
within the last few years, lost the
stroug hold it formerly had upon large
parts OF The country. This loss Of grip
appears under many forms. The de-
feat iu Ohio on a very large vote, with
the republicans fairly united and tue
democrats considerably distracted,
comes about, as is easily seen, by
reason of the fact that the prohlbitory
question: intruded itself" between the
republicans and victory; but prohiblaon
could not thus have overriden all othe
issues in Ohio were it not that "p~act.-
cally other issues are feebly raised, and
therefore little cared for" This, how.
ever, is the very definition Of "dry rot"
as applied to party. 1t lacks
vigorous policy only because it lacks
vigor OF constitution. "a parry which
does not particularly desire anything.
or urge anything, or propose anything.
is taken at its woru by the people,"
aud made to stand aside in favor of
competitor with programme. The re e.
publican organizltlop was not always
thus neryeless. Under the direction of
the Grant men, with their very defnit
theories of Capitalization aud "Ce,ar.
ism," it was enormously strong. The
hopes OF higher and better politics in-
spired by Garield's nomination con-
stituted, while they lasted, a vigorous
force which, with the aid of Dorsey's
"two.dollar bills" IN Indiana and New
York, enabled it to sweep the country
10 1880, But Cael lrism has been dis.
carded and the "Garfeld idea" has
been found fallacious. 10 their place
1--WE have not the force Of The Grant
men nor the hopetulness Of the Garfield
reawakening. Simply, we have nothing.
TIE party has stopped marching. 1t
can scarcely guard its camp. Il loses
Ohio under circumstances that create
anciety lest it cannot regain it," Turn
ing from this dOleful picture Of the
present condition OF the party, the
American finds little ground for hope
10 the immediate fuUure. The burning
questions now in mems minds are in
regard 10 the system Of taxes, the tariff,
the internal revenue, the use of the
surplus, the coinage of silver. With
none them does the republican party,
IN our contemporaries opinion, "deal
stroogly." With respect 10 admIuis-
tratlve reform, the American is not less
disposed to find fault with The attitude
Of the party to which it belongs. The
reform is not effectively supported by
the party or by the administration
Complaint is made that southern edu.
cation aud education generally" no
longer interest the party, and The scan
dal is adverted TO Of "a leading republi.
can newspaper Of New England ques'
tioning the value of education as
means to intelligent citizenship, and
endeavoring to prove its case by citing
the example OF Massachusetts in elect
ing Gen. Butler Governor" The
American reaches the dismal conclusion
that unless the party of its preference,
by a vigorous policy with regard TO
national questions dsprOves the ex'
isting evidence that is "decrept and
foolish aud incapable, it's further history
eau be speedily written" Additional
pathos will be dlscerned in the Amerl-
cans ieremiad when it Is called to mind
that it i. champion of many schemes,
protection included. which the republic
can party outside of Pennsylvania has
not seen fit 10 indorse. Ball. Sun.