National Republican., 1883-08-27
Once for All.


ing treachery of one of the class referred to
than from dozen honest advocates of more
ability. Whenever alusion is made to the
depravity and hypocrisy of the wretohed
gang, our neighbor cries out that we are de-
nouncing all but tho stalwarts, and that our
attack is AGAINST "a large majority of the
voters and a still larger majority of the brains
and character of the republican party" To
all of which, one for all, we reply that we
know nothing of stalwarts as against other re-
publicans The phrase was originally used
to describe those republicans who had not
trimmed their sails to catch political breezes
from the south, when strong measures seemed
necessary to prevent the republic from going
into the control of the southern leaders,
whose views and feelings had undergone no
change, and from the dangers and humila-
tions which would have followed such po-
litical vindication of the rebellion. Every
body with common sense knows that during
the war and after it there were always a con-
siderable number of shilly -shallying repub-
licans who seemed mortally afraid of Offend
ing the democrats. They trembled at first
when democratic orators and editors protested
that it was unconstitutional for President
Lincoln to meet the confederates in arms with
unlonists in arms. They always seemed to
think the enemy would come over to us If
we would only avoid displeasing him. When
the war was ended they wanted nothing done
to interfere with the efforts of the conquered
to dictate the terms of peace. They fell an
easy prey at all times to those who desired
for any reason to weaken the republican
cause They were afraid the southern fire.
eaters would think they were not gentlemen
unless they gave their own cause away to
them, as had always been done by the ante
war doughfaces, of whom they were the legit.
innate successors. These were the men who
made Johnsonism possible in 1866. In 1871
and 1872 they were ready recruits
in the spoilsmen's crusade against
President Grant, and In 1873 they
We're easily nodded to the will of ambitious
demagogues who had been too cunning to
done, and who were therefore able the better
to make head against the administration as
soon as the acclams Of the people who had
continued it in power by an overwhelming
majority of the states had died away. 1t
was these boneless and nerveless republicans to
whom the satanic press addressed itselfin 1875,
when the state government of Louisiana APP
pealod 10 the president for aid against revolu-
tion, and received it. They focked
to great meetings in Cooper insti-
tute and Faneuil hall to hear milk-and-
water would-be statesmen denounce the pres
ident as q tyrant for this simple discharge of
clear constitutional duty, the neglect of
which would have made him amenable to the
impeachment power of congress. When a
measure to strengthen the presidents hands
in four states, then virtually in insurrection,
was soon after advanced in con-
gress, thus raising the square issue of
enforcing the laws against political faction
in open resistance to them, newspapers which
had supported the democratic candidate
| against the president in 1872 took sides with
the malcontents, and made treason seem
respectable to the week -kneed brethren who
always yield assent to those who indulge in
the loudest vociferations. These journals
fresh from kuklux affiliations, were SO
successful in debauching public sentiment
that u considerable element of the party
seemed temporarily persuaded that the
majesty of the law was the disturbing evil OF
the land, and that desperadoes engaged i'll re-
ssting it were the champion of liberty. The
measure referred to was nioknamed by them
force bill, 4" and the newspaper whose editor
had been the latest democratic presidential
candidate, called loudly for some leader tc
come forward and rescue the country. The
have put Marat to the blush, and even went
SO far as to publish in his paper n communi
ca tion calling on some patriot to assume the
role Of Brutus and assassinate the president
as Caesar. He assailed Mr.. Blaine, ther
speaker of the house, charging that gentle
man with having aspirations fo
the white house, and "muttering unde
his breath the things he dared not speal
aloud" meaning thereby that Mr.. Blain
was privately protesting sympathy with tn
law breakers as against the president, Will
publicly he was non oommittal through fea
of damaging his presidential chances Thi
, pressure was so great that not only MI
Blaine, but some twenty moro members G
the house yielded, and joined in efforts
defeat the party measure so obnoxious to th
kuklux democracy, Their opposition coul
not defeat, but delayed the bill SO long tha
after many days of filibustering it reached tn
senate too late for action. The "stalwarts
of that day were on the side of law and orde
aud were not afraid to stand up against I'll
ferce invectives of the southern bourbOns an
their northern allies.
The friends OF Grant had thon no though
Q of third term for him, but so alert were Il
fears of some aspirants in that direction tn
f these pinionod the government in order
ninion him They dreaded thc etTect unc