Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-01-04
Judge Tourgee ON the Republican De-
feat.

L -
| The late reverse has been frequently
compared to that which befeIl the Re-
| p. blican party in 1874. There is. in
TACT. no parallel between them. Then
there was no hostility, no rancor, no
| clearly defined line of internecine
strife. 1t was only lethargy. inaction,
or underlined dissatisfaction that brought
disaster then. There was no factional
bitterness displayed. The party fought
under terrible disadvantages. There
were some desertions; very many
shirked the conflict; men were OPP
pressed with a terrible burden of finan-
cial disaster, and vaguely hoped that
change might bring relief, but no one
whetted his knife for the slaughter Of
his comrade, and no one felt when the
conflict was over that he had been made
a victim of revenge or been betrayed
by the ambition or envy of an ally.
This state of feeling is one that is not
easily overcome. Men are human.
whether ..Stalwart'' or Half Breeds"
and it is fair to presume that the pro-
portion of patriotism and honesty in
the one faction is not perceptibly diff
ferent from that in the other. Men do
not readily forgive each other for call
ing them either ''scoundrels'' or ..trai-
tors" even though such applications
are well deserved. Only the fusing heat
of some great national crisis can bring
the two factions together so as to act
harmoniously in the campaign of 1884.
There may be protestations OF union.
The pipe of peace may be smoked in
crowded wigwams. The Ratchet may
be buried with ceremonious ostenta.
ton. Kisses may be exchanged.
Sorrow and pardon and oaths of
fidelity may seem to mark a complete
reconcilement. but the lesson which the
.'Stalwarts'' have been taught in '82,
the independents are morally certain
to learn in 'S4. The Republican par
ty, as distinctive political organiza-
ton, is Us dead to-day as ii Cheops had
been builded over its ashes. There
exists now only one party-the Demo-
cratc-which is warranted to resist, all
change, no matter what the exposure.
Over against it are set two hostile fac
tions, either of which would rather the
Democracy should prevail than that the
other should triumph. Only some great
vital issue, some question having a mar
row of universal right, can unite these
factions. 1t is by no means certain that
such an issue can be raised during the
next two years. That such an issue
soiI nat arise during that time would
future human event can be. 1t is not
many heart to admit that the grand
the past. But it is better that it should
die of internal discord than of old age.
1t has had stormy and eventful career.
and it were far better it should perish
by dissension than die of dry rot. One
consolation every member of either fac
ton may take to himself-t the Republic
an party might commit bari kari, but no
enemy was ever able to compass its de-
struction. The King is dead. We waitfor
what shall come after. If wisdom and
patriotism prevail in the councils of the
Democracy its opportunity has come.
With seventy-four per cent. OF a major
ity securely in its grasp in the States of
the South, there is no apparent reason
why its term of power should not be as
long as that which its late adversary has
just concluded by an act of self-destruc-
ton. Very few of either faction, it is
probable, regard the result of the late
election with entire satisfaction. The
severance of established political asso-
Citations is sure to bring regret. No
friendships live longer than those which
bind earnest minded partisans to each
other. The man who is intense enough
to fight for an idea is sure to acquire an
affection for his comrades in battle. Be-
yond this there is perhaps little to be re-
GREETED. When Il party has no common
underlying idea-no specific moral pur-
pose to Justify its future existence. very
little harm can result from its death.
1.-THE Lord reigns, the Government at
Washington still lives,' and the prob
lens of the future await their solution
at the hands Of the American people,
without regard to the specific agencies
they may employ to carry their will into
hect.-Judge 7ourgee. in Our Continent.