Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-01-04
The Stalwarts and Halt. Breeds.

\ less OUSoItoI VI pOlitlcdi studifS titll
the main, if not practically exclusive,
business OF the Republican leaders from
now until the meeting of the National
| Convention will be to reconcile the
| hostile factions which at present divide
the party. and which, by their sharp
antagonism, so largely contributed to
| its recent defeat. Unless this recon-
! Citation can be effected, there is not
the ghost of a chance for Republican
| success in 1884. 1t will be interesting,
| therefore, to inquire how these two
| factions - "Stalwarts :" and "anti-
| Stalwarts,o or "Half-breeds Were
divided, what are the points at issue
! between them, and the prospects of
| thoroughly uniting them within the
| next eighteen months.
As there has been no formal separa-
ton, and consequently no opposing
platforms of principles put forth, it is,
of course, impossible to trace with alb
solute accuracy the line of division.
That it began with the beginning of the
Republican party is, however. sufici-
emily plain. As early as 1855, when
Fremont was candidate for the Presi-
dency, Republicans were by no means
a unit in feeling. except so far as beat
ing the Democracy was concerned.
One wing, composed Of the old Adolf
tionists and their sympathizers, favored
the !, immediate extinguishment of
slavery; while the other, composed of
old Wings and converted Democrats,
was content with preventing the extern
sion of slavery into free territory. In
the campaign of 1860 the two wings were
still at odds on this question. and the
Conservatives, as they may be called,
had their hands full in keeping such
radicals as Owen Lovejoy and others
from doing fatal damage on the stump.
In Illinois, for instance, it was consid-
cred doubtful and dangerous expert
ment to let Lovejoy speak as far south
as Alton, and not until he had promised
to be discreet did the Republican man.
ayers give him permission. The cleo
ton of Lincoln and immediate breaking
out of the war temporarily suspended
the family disagreement, but it will be
remembered that one of the most seri-
| Gus difficulties with which the new Adj
ministration had to contend was the
persistent grumbling and interference
of the Aboliticnists. They charged
Lincoln, who was born in Kentucky,
with being q "a Southern man, under
Southern Influences, therefore I'M
worthy and unfit to lead q strug-
gle baptized in the sacred blood of
John Brown. His uncon Juerabe pa
thence and marvellous tact enabled him
to hold his worrers at bay until the
war was virtually over, but had he lived
a year longer they would have forced
him to yield to their demands or
made his second term more uncom-
Portable than the first The experie nee
of johnson in attempting to carry out
Lincoln's Southern policy shows what
was in store for his predecessor. When
the Fifteenth Amendment and Civil
Rights laws had supplemented emanci-
patton, the radical Republicans concen-
trated their efforts upon the South,
which owes to them the ineffabe in a.
mics OF Reconstruction" IRON 1865
to 1874 the party was to all intents and
purposes radicalized. though there was
always a respectable minority having
conservative proclivities and occasion
ally making feeble effort in the d;rec-
ton of reform. Grants second term,
for reasons not necessary to mention,
brought heavy reinforcements to this
minority and threatened to change the
balance of power. Then it was that
Blaine, bitten by the Presidential taran-
tula. endeavored to rally the Radicals
around his flag and bestowed upon them
the name they have since borne. The
man whom "Stalwarts'' now hate with
intense and memorable bitterness
was the first ''Stalwart," and the NOM
was the first Sta!wart defeat.
When an immortal crime had placed
a usurper in the Executive chair the
Stalwart and anti-Stalwart Republicans
assumed the relative positions they
occupy to-day. Hayes sided with the
ants; released the South from the bay
onet and carpet-bag yoke, patronized
reform in a small way, snubbed Conk-
ling. and took no stock in the third
term business. Among the StalwartS
it may be said that
None knew him but to curse him;
None named h N but to damn
Directly and indirectly, however, he
contrived to pay back his enemies with
interest. and probably considered him
self .'even'' when the second Stalwart
defeat came in the nomination of Gar
field over Grant Of the brief triumph
OF the ants, the longer triumph Of their
opponents, and the earthquake which
has lately flung both factions "i1i
heap it is needless to speak. AS they
now stand, what is it each represents9
This question is easier asked than an
swerei. but it is sufficient for our pres
ent purpose to say that Stalwartism is
understood to mean, in one shape or
another, boss and machine rule,
the Civil Service Just as it is. Just
enough reform in that and other things
to fool the people, 1.-THE 81 >ils system
in its utmost perfection, and any device
short of actual force that will restore
Republican supremacy in the South.
Anti Stalwartism is understood to mean
the destruction of "boss" and ina
chine rule, some important changes in
the Civilservice Department., some real
reform there and elsewhere. and letting |
the South in general and the negroes
in particular entirely alone. Here, /
then, is a wide and deep gulf, the |
first indications of which were visible |
twenty six wears ago. and through VIII CHI i
flows the stream OF accumulated differ |
ences, jealousies and hatreds. How
may this gulf now deepened and wild
ened by crushing disaster for which
each faction blames the other-be sue |
cessfully and permanently bridced? |