National Republican., 1883-02-23
The Future OF tho Party.


While the dem ocratic leaders, editors, ex-
rcc'ants, and drummers are fixing up republic
can politics for 1884 in manner quite to their
own liking and indulging in visions of demo-
cratic success through republican divisions,
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN presents its
compliments and begs leave to make few
suggestions in the opposite direction. First,
1t must be understood that the hopes
Of democratic success are based en-
tirely on the idea that tho republicans
cannot be united. Our enemies review the
past three years and recall tho flerco attacks
on Grant prior to and at the Chicago con-
yention, the defeat of the Grant forces, tho
discomfiture of Blaine by his enforced sup.
port of Garfield in convention, the narrow
csJape from defeat in 1880, the disappoint-
mcnts upon the formation of the cabinet in
Isl, the war between the administration
and the New York delegation, the ac-
cc'sion of Arthur, the changes in the cabi-
nC1 the worry over appointments, the fac
tional warfare in conventions, the last fall
elections, and tho decentralization in con-
grss-all these are so many blossoms of
hope on the democratic tree. But they
viii never como TO fruit TIE
R'PUBLIcAN is of tho opinion that
ths disasters which have come upon the
party since 1880, will only serve to promote
iu complete restoration to health and
strength. The antagonisms within its
ranks have been bitter, and would be ir-
r,oncilable If the alternative TO reunion
could be anything less than u rehabilitation
OF the old Hunker bourbon democracy, with
it weeds of woe over the death of slavery
AID the lost cause, and its contempt for
tie war debt and tho constitutional
amendments. But the democracy may as
we'll restrain its enthusiasm until it is
safoly ovor the fight. Let not him that
pltteth his armor on boast as he that putteth
II off. The recent past has seen republicans
giving themselves too much to the work of
lighting republicans. This was because they
s. W no other foe to contend with. As result Of
tbeir struggle with each other the enemy has
u,w appeared. The tramp of his legions is
leard on the march to the white house, The
Tsult will be that the republican cause will
i-ielf lead its old leaders to tho work Of stay
ing the political revolution. The party can
Command the services Of all who have fou ght
lis battles and won them in the past. II
cannot and will not allow any Of them
10 be omitted on the roll call or to pull back
IN the rest 1t will be no quarrel for prece.
ioncc nor yet for exclusion. The party will
have the best services of all on whom
! I calls, and it will call on all. Old
| isputes must be forgotten. There must
% room in the party for those who opposed
he force bill in 1875 and for those who OPP
,osed the nomination of their leader in 1876
DOM for those who upheld the soothing
irup treatment Of democracy from
ST to 1881, and those who wanted to en-
phasize the departure from it by again elect
ing Gen. Grant room for those who stood by
he Conkling leadership in New York in
.ss1, and those who took part in its over.
ihrow; room for those republicans who voted
he republican ticket last fall, and those who
lid not; room for those who have mover voted
ihe republican ticket, as we'll as for those who
have never voted for any other.
If anybody doubts that tho first duty oi
republicans is to oppose the restoration of the
Did smooth-bore flint-lock democracy topower
let him read the rawlings of bourbon editors al
the mere suggestion. The people have no in
terest in the dislike of leaders for each other
They are not ready to set back the clock
of time nor to apologize at presidential elec
tion for the progress marked by twenty yeari
of the nations history. Whoever is righ
nor may have been ever so wrong man!
jority of the people in Meir fold, anC
lcannot have. Whether the republican
party will be the majority must depend OIL
A ghether its managers and advisers will
gree that the majority of the whole pcopl
I- shall be the party. When the spokesman o
delegation of clergyman said to Mr. Lin
coin during the war, "Mr. President, tn
Lord is ON our side" the ready repl.
was, "If there is any doubt about it
hadn't we better get on the Lord
side ?" And so it may bo said that if th
people are not on tho side of the republican
party the party had better get on the people
side, provided that in doing so it leaves be
hind il no principle for which valor fought o