Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-03-25
A Disabled Party.

u
very happily says that Presidential tim
Der in the Republican party Is now very
scarce. This Is profound remark,
whose significance is only realized when
we reflect little. The Achilles and
the Ajax Of the party--Blaine and Conk-
ling--are both practically bamstrung
There is no Agamemnon OF our modern
politics to curb their ranoors, and their
implacable hostility with that Of their
followers, simply means cxtrusion from
power, possibly the death, Of the Repub
lican party. When Gen. Garfield fell
under the bulletof Guitcau, the HERALD
compared the incident to that crisis in
the history Of Mohammedanism which
followed upon the assassination Of Ali
To-day, on the recurring anniversary Of
Ais death, the large portion of that
fanatical sect which regard him as a
martyr--and IL embraces the ascendant
party at the Golden Horn--yearly assem-
BILE procession; and, with drawn swords,
they lash their naked limbs until the
blood runs. Constantinople, on these
occasions, is scene Of weird and ineffa.
Bile mystery and horror, and excuses
are liable to DO committed rivaling those
against the Giauors which it required all
the splendid energy of Add Ell Kadr to
check, In Damascus. No phase of Amer
loan or European politics is ever liable
TO take ON the features Of fanaticism
prevalent in the impassioned East. But,
to large portion Of tho Republican
party, Garfield Is their Ali. Like him,
Garfield was aasassinated. Around this
central fact the organization revolves,
while there is present there centrifu-
gal force which will dash the party to
pieces at the next Presidential election.
Both Blaine and Conkling realize this
fact. Not only are neither of them
aspirants for Republican Presidential
nomination, but You could not force it
on either. Blaine has taken refuge in
the details Of his West Virginia coal
fields and railways and in his project Of
writing book. Conkling, also a refu.
gee from politics, has plunged into law
with all the vigor, and with much Of the
promise Of success, which characterized
Judah r. Benjamin in his post war Lon
don career as barrister. Even the dull
and grasping Grant has been intimidated
and NOW lacks the courage to reach out
for further emoluments and honors. He
probably don't understand the situation..
but he yields a drowsy acquieseence to
the intelligent atmosphere which sur
rounds him. He doubtless thinks that
1t is terrible thing that his vulgar per-
sonality can no longer be thrust upon
the people Of the United States; but, as
there are abundant fragrant Havanas
within easy reach Of his prehensile hands,
and there are still numerous corporations
which are ready to use him as stool
pigeon, he submits. Perhaps the desper-
ate straits to which the Republican party
has been reduced for Presidential can
didates could not be better cxemplitiod
.han by the fact that Alaska Fur Seal
Miller is being named in connection
with that once exalted office. His ad-
vancement TO the questionable dignity
OF standard. of the degenerate
Republican party would be fitting cor
ollary to that debased instinct OF its
latter days which has led it to tumble
into the Senate of the United States
such rich nincompoops rs Miller and
Lapham, of New York, Palmer, of
Michigan, Sabin, Of Minnesota, Don
Cameron, of Pennsylvania (the latter as
impudent and brainless u moneyed pup
ply as ever lived), Tabor, of Colorado,
and so on to the end Of very triste
chapter, every paragraph OF which
speaks loudly of steady descent to-
wards the Slough of Despond of the
once famous and self-reliant Republican
party, which, of yore, had such men as
Seward, Chase, Lincoln, Wade and
galaxy of politial stars too numerous to
mention in the compass of q brief article,
as leaders. These are now gone, to the
last man, while tho crop Of later states
men, as represented by Blaine and
Conkling, are invalided. Alas, poor
party Its present strait is indeed pitia-
Bile.