National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-06
Some Talk ABOUT Politics.

it several able seers who could, If they
would, discourse as glibly of the chances of
each aspirant as any of the correspondents of
other great papers are doing, whether writing
from state capitals or from Washington, and
whether signing initials or leaving blank the
space where signatures belong. But thore are
times when silence is golden, and this is ono
of them. The political waters are compare.
lively smooth.
Tho democracy toys innocently with the
tariff question, with tho Morrill, tariff of 1861
as u limit set for its sport by "the business
interests" Pendleton lies politically stark
and stiff from an overdose Of civil service re-
form, while Payne and Hoadly quickly cast
lots for tho mantle of tho slain. The bour-
bon bloodhound, with a full stomach and
confident in not being disturbed, sleeps be-
tween the elections, knowing that the memory
of his envenomed tooth is protection enough
for the solid south against republican inter.
ference.
The democratic serpent lazily advances
upon the white house, having no policy other
than the appearance of repose. He breads
no foe he does not himself arouse. Reposing
in the most perfect faith that he will only be
feared when he angrily demonstrates he
takes upon himself the hues of the objects
around him and abstains from all noise. In
Pennsylvania he is a protectionist, in Ken
lucky he is free trader and in Ohio and
Washington he is both. In the west he is for
the machine, in New England no is for ci vii
service reform, and in New York and Wash
ington he is for both. In the north he homes
for the negro's fellowship, in tho south h 20
thirsts for his blood and at Washington he is
cal waters are not being agitated by the
democracy.
The republicans listen, charmed as usual
at the democratic assurances Of future good
behavior. They read and hear with humili-
alton the confession of republican sins by
democratic writers and orators, and beat upon
their breasts, crying out against themselves as
miserable sinners. The republican desire to
be good creates tendency to magnify their
own faults and they feel that the joy Of re-
pointing and reforming is fair Offset, if not
an inducement, to sin. The perfect peace
between sentiment and business, which is the
charm Of northern politics, has a soothing eff
feet, and the chained states of the south are
the source of small anxiety to their more
fortunate sisters. The political waters are
not being agitated by the Republicans.
Yet Time rolls her ceaseless course, and
within four months from this date the ma
tional republican convention will have de-
cided who shall be the next president, if
republican he is to be. Not long after the
democracy will have put forward their
champion.
As to the democratic candidate, it matters
but little to republicans who he is. He will
represent the south only, because that section
will furnish most of tho electoral votes he is
to receive. If he receives 49 out Of the PAS
electoral votes of the north, for which alone
there is to DO an election, he will wiel d the
bourbon scepter over the nation. The 1913
votes of the south arc as much his to-day as
they will be next February.
The great task before the republicans,
then, is to present candidate whose election
will be worth the effort, and who can carry
all but AZ of the 24s northern cleo
tors and at the same time to obtain control
of the house of representatives, either by
choosing 1853 out of the 2Oi northern members
of congress, or by carrying as many of the 12l
southern districts as they fall short of the 16S
at the north This will tax every republic
cans energy, liberation, and fidelity to his
cause. 1t will require the united republican
vote.
The republican party is not privileged
order or class, standing off from the body of
the people, aud dishing up chowdor of as
sorted principles to which the latter are to be
invited 1t is rather majority of the people
themselves speaking through chosen repre-
sentativcs. Its great governing authority II
the convention, and if that body is unfaith
| full to its trust the party cannot survive, u
will not command the respect of tho voter:
of the party unless it endeavors to speak TO
them. 1t will invite disaster and defeat if i
| falls into the keeping of any ambitious party
tyrant or if it takes fright at the outcries of
blackmailers who attempt to govern it by
threats. 1t cannot safely ign ore any elemen
or any tenet of the party faith. 1t must
stand by national citizenship, national su
premacy, and American labor-not in word
only, but in the nomination of man who i
known of all to be honestly aud earnestl,
devoted to these.
Tho party which has been trusted fol
twenty-four years by the people can onl.
succeed now if the great heart of the peopl
can be felt beating under its ribs Self-con
stituted leaders cannot fish rapidly enough t,
catch the requisite number of voters Onl.
to great natural current of public consent
running toward man whom the peopl
greatly believe will do what they great.
want done, can the convention safely yield
If the people do not greatly want to accom-
plish some great purpose they will leave tn
party to be wrecked by men who have n
other objects to crafty than vanity, cupidit.