Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-12-08


ocratic parties. They are a couple ofold
hacks, grant; but they are the only
vehicles upon the political cab-stand.
We must, perJorce, take the one or the
other, or put ourselves to the delay, the
Inconvenience and the expense of get
ting coach of our own. If either can
be made to carry us to our destination,
let us, by all means, take that. The
truth is the weather is foggy, and, ut
least for the politicians, Jordan con-
tinues to be All exceeding s'hard road
to travel"
How, then, stands the accountp
What are the facts that face us and
that we must face ? We have wealth
cred the headlands Of sectional politics.
We have left behind us the breakers of
sentimental politics. We are moving
slowly out OF the cess-pool of personal
politics. None of the issues which dis
turb those several periods retains any
vital force or is worthy of serious dis
cussion. The country is sick of noun
tebanks and mountebankism, and, as If
to make assurance for the future
doubly sure, it put itself the other day
to the pains of killing two birds of ill
omen with what seemed single stone;
and beneath this stone there lie the
remains of dessicated Virginian
clutching the fragments of a repudi-
ated tax-bill and the massive form Of q
Massachusetts widow, and not so much
rs rag-baby left to tell the tale! Thus
have we passed from the dark to the
light and reached point where, having
buried the conflicts that begat the war
and settled the disputes which the war
begat, we can turn with safety and
profit to the consideration OF less ex-
citing, but, III the long run, not less
important topics OF pubic concern.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
The republican partv has been in
power or,arter of n centnrv. Had the
d.mocratic Marty heen tr,e IN ;ts ori-
g;n and traditions. ;ts dntv tn ;ts conn
try and itself, it. and not the republic
can party. wonld he in mower to day.
Tho democratic marty lost its head and
laid aside its honest homespnn. The
republican, party saw its chance. .donned
the cast off apnarel and has been rat
tlino aronnd aver a;nce in the oreat.
coat Of Thomas :Jsfferson and the lack
boots of Andreyv :Iaclson Far he II
from me to deny il any service it NAV
have done the state In stirring times.
thongh # ia common even for ifs ORGANS
to admit tnat it owes more to the mis-
takes of it's demecratic antagonist than
70 ;ts own merit Re this es n NAV T
sbaiI not ossa;J r. for what r. hoo don.
or tailed to do. in the mast. Nor shaIi
I pretend that il has been more cor
rupt than. under a given state of case,
another nolitical orpal rzation might
have been. It has certainly had a
splendid career. It has numbered
among its leaders most eminent. most
disinterested and most far-seeinr men.
Inspired by a noble. though Sometimes
an Exaggerated and mischieyous pas
sion. and guided bv politv hardly
4 less defiant than astute. fhongh often
unscrupulous and cruel, 1t has received
as the reward of its enthusiasm and its
daring. great public confidence and
twenty-five wears of public service. If
it ia to continue to live and rule It is not
for me to patronize it. if it ls to die.
another were filter to preach its funeral.
It's history will be recorded i'm due time:
and. in any and every event. it will
stand or fall in the Judgment of poster
ity by Its record. am here to arraign It
, for what 1t IS, nor for what 1t has been,
and, as it is, see it protectionist,
and, living for to- morrow rather than
Tor yesterday, l am against 1t. 1t
: oners me no nope OF reform; ana, IN
splte OF tne assurance OF my good
friends, the New York Times and the
} CMcago tribune, my lncredulity Is
chronic and lncurable. Even as the
Tall Tower Of "the newspaper founded
, by Horace Greeiey" overshadows all
Its surroundings, does the high wall OF
protectloh rise ABOVE every ASPIRATION
7 OF the repuDilcan party. IL IL no longer
9 the party OF the people: 1t Is the party
! OF the ongarchs. fartles, like histories,
, repeat themselves. Seeing that they
, are made OF men, and that men have q
modicum OF human nature in them, it
8 wouio oe strange II they old not; us,
IN reaiity, human nature which does
, the fepeauhg; ana, precisely as the
democratic party grew potent, proud,
rlcn anu careless, mas Inc republican
, party, having gone over the same
, ground, come to be the representative
Oh the mechanism ana corruption OF our
!, poltical lie.
q THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Let ma turn TO the democratic Marty.
a Does it or does it not offer us a prom-
ise of reform We shall nresentlv re
- ceiye definite answer to this question.
\ The democrats have an overwhelmino
q majority i'm the popu!ar branch of CON,
gress, and congress is about to assem-.
4 6le. Ifin the ORGANIZATION of the honse.
a revenne reformer ia elected sneaker
the answer will he. sYes'n IF other,
!, ,n;se r. will he 1No m;aht root
: rho cose here and wait. hnt as have
;, anokcn ann of the rennhlican ma Marty IN th;s
: cpnmection 7 can do no Iess than .neaI
. with ennai candor of the democrstic c
!, Marty I shaII do This with The ~reater a
!, freeaom and assnrance because In INV
nn;n;on the democrat;c nsrtw ;s hafore
: The country for fina, ;mdo-
!, ment The next presidential elec-
TO- :. IN ha ;,s Loot ponJ ;f :. ho ,ro,,
erned NV wi.e ~ connseis iii heat Chance
: Of reStorst;on IN nsafnIn.ss and honor.
oi,io ,,,,hi;o o,,,,Io,,rna.t r.holda 80,
e much n % tba ssma % rcIat;om to ravem~e '1,s re.
u torn, which in tho eariv dsvs af the
:. E.alsa;i 3 oa;3tot;on Tho ala wT;o, ~ nor.. s
: haId ~ smanc;nat;on n .he Ph;y Prsh;gy
leaders had had the saoac;tv and tbs
nerve nerve to take the slavery nnest;on n IN