The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-01-13

The Republican Overthrow Final
There seems singular concurrence
of opinion among party leaders that this
overthrow of the present Republican
part is final. For some wears, at least
since the "bloody shirt was furled.
Republicanism has existed and governed
without an idea, a theory, or purpose.
Its cohesion and life consisted solely in
1.-The spoils." These were virtually
wrested from it by recent elections, and
disintegration necessarily supervenes.
o men long identified with the party
and having immutabe prejudices may
adhere to its venerated forms and re-
we're its memories, but without pecul-
lar theory, or any well-defined purpose
or scheme of public policy young men
will sure y abandon it Nothing can &c
gained and everything lost by obstinate
venerat;on of an empty name, and the
selfish and ambitious will desert the
ship so ruthlessly dismantled. p undered.
scuttled and sunk by ia Hubbell.
Mr. Blaine evidently thinks the catas-
trophe final and ir 'emediab g. He has
just said. and for the first time, that he
is not, and never again will be, a candi-
date for any posi- ion. Hon. S. i. Barr.
Repub lean member Of Congress, has
stated that "there is no future for the
Republican parry" HAaf
Its strength and cohesiveness of re-
cent years has consisted solely in its
supposed invincibility, ascribed to its
power TO dispense public patronage. 1t
has used Offices to buy votes. and Jay
HubbeIrs philosophy Of Repuhlicanism
consisted simply in this theory. The
people have slowly comprehended the
facts. and have utterly discarded this
Republican party.
1t is still asserted by Republican or
gans subsisting upon public plumber, one
of these receiving, it is stated. $1,000
per month during the late campaign
from Jay Hubbell, that 1.-THE grand old
party will be rehabilitated. Its I'M
worthy members will be cast out, its
bosses decapitated. its thievesspunished.
and traitors put to death. Nothing can
be more impossible, since nothing of
this Republicanism after these processes
were practiced, would survive.
It is most proba de. n we may deduce
conclusions from statements made by
Republican newspapers and party lead
ers that instead of the reproduct on of
the Republican party the dis;ntegra-
ton Of Democracy 10 hoped for.
Wrecked Republicanism then proposes
to attach itself to one or more frag-
ments of the Jefersonian organization.
There can hardly be combination un-
der any circumstances OF any fragment
of Democracy with any ''iost tribe of
this false keplblicanisn As a distinct
original party it will hardly enter
another Presidential campa' gn. 1t was
surely in extrensis' when MIR Blaine de-
clared that he was undone, and would
never more be a candi ate,-and when
almost every intelligent Republican con-
fesses his parfy's mission accompl shed
and that its end. ! like that of the old
Wig party that gave it birth. has come.
With the return of peace and settle
ment OF questions growing out of the
interstate conflict. the greatpurpo e of
this Republican party was achieved.
Thence orth it has existed only to hold
Offices and enrich its favor ties It's ex-
istence was based, as MIR. Hubbell con-
fessed by his acts. upon official patron
age, and lis life was drawn from official
authority. As stated by that ablest of
Congressman, Mr.. Carlisle. of Ken
lucky. "there has been no time since
1876 when a full and Fair vote of the
people would not have shown Demo-
cratic ma ority of half million. These
latest elections show that improper in
fiuences will be hereafter resisted by
the masses even when exerted by the
President himself. and if this be true
the Republican party is doomed. It
will be defeated, even if it'exist, in 1884.
and disappear forever as National po-
litical organization. Other questions.
economy in government, reform in the
Civil Service. local freedom, Federal
non-interference in affairs of the States.
and many others may be discussed by
the press and party leaders, but the end
is seemingly inevitable just now that
the next President will be a Democrat,
and the whole country with a degree Of
satisfaction never before illustrated con-
fesses the fact and the supreme neces-
sity. American Register.