The Portland daily press., 1883-09-18
Republican Duty.

The Democratic party counts for success
upon the discredit of those methods and
men of the Republican party which the Re-
publican party has in great part discarded.
The Democratic press gratefully extols Mr..
Conkling as the greatest and best of Repub-
licans because it knows that it was what Mr..
Conkling represented which weakened the
Republican party, and made Democratic
success probable. The overthrow and re-
pudiation by the party of that kind of man
agement, the independence of the caucus, the
submission of the machine in New York to
the free primary, the enforced retirement of
Mr.. John T. Smyth from the craftsmanship
of the State Committee, the establishment of
the reformed civil service system, the prohi-
bition of political assessments, and the pro-
digious protest of last years election, in
which Republicans by inaction permitted an
unprecedented Democratic victory, are all
signs of Republican revival which has only
to be developed to restore to the party the
old prestige and its hold of the heart of the
intelligent and industrious 'fplain people,"
as Mr.. Lincoln used to call the great mass of
citizens who make this country what 1t is.
1t is only necessary that the feeling and pur-
pose shown during the last year or two
should be allowed to mould the action of the
party. The history of that time shows that
passvitv and evasion will not secure victo-
ry. The country has reached point where
the Republican party need not tell what it
has done, but say what it means to do. The
Democratic party Goes not profess to have a
policy. It's plan is to keep silence. 1t fears
that a declaration of principles and policy
upon actual questions would breed factions
and imperil success desirable for the plum
der of place, and nothing more. 1t takes no
ground upon the tariff, none upon civil ser
vice reform. 1t skulks and shuffles, and
hopes to slip into power unobserved, under
cover of cry of Republican rascality.
The way to meet this conduct is to show
to the country that the courage and indie
pendence which have grappled with boss
rule and disabled it are but earnests of a
party purpose. To the Democratic mega
tive campaign the Republicans must oppose
a positive campaign of reform. If there are
no other great questions upon which par
ties may divide i'll their appeal to the count
nv. let the Republicans make reform Of ad-
ministratve and political and party meth
DDS their battle-cry
Letthem rely in their platform declarations
and in their measures and nominations up
on the popular intelligence and courage, as
they have shown themselves during the last
two years. Professional politicians, and es-
pecialy bosses, despise the people. They
believe in bribery and selfishness and ignor,,
ance, but they are utterly incredulous OF
public spirit and independent intelligence
as springs of political action. They are con-
stanty put in the wrong by experience. But
they do not heed. They offer any excuse,
any explanation, but the true one, which is
self-respect and patriotism. The record Of
the Republican party shows that it has al
ways been strong when it had high pur-
pose and confidence in the people. When it
became the prey of tricks, and regularity"
and hurrahs for the grand old party without
she spirit to keep it grand, it began to de-
cline But it has shown the will and the
of this year prove to the State and to the