The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-04
FUTURE OF REPUBLICANIsM.
The Coming Administratisn Will
Have Great Opportunities.
New ioik IndePendea'

Have Great Opportunities
New York Independent
The Republican party never had
fairer outlook than the present Ii
has been returned to power. after
brief interval Of four years, with such
an expression OF popular confidence
in its promises and principles a. the
people have seldom given Its candi-
dates Won in spite of the fact that the
power OF official credit was against il;
the Democratic candidates we're de-
feated in spite OF the fact that the i'm
mense patronage Of the government
the South for Democracy has been
unanimity Of the North and West for
Republicanism.
The Republican party touched the
lowest point in its scale OF power in
1854. Since then il has begun to rise
again. IL received its first severe
blow during the Hayes administration.
The new policy which Mr.. Hayes
adopted toward the South, though
wise and necessary policy, was disas-
trous to the Republican party in that
section. The reaction, by suppresslng
the colored, or Republican vote. made
the South solid for the Democratic
party, which became once more for
midabie rival in the struggle for na-
tional ascendeney The Republican
parry won with Garfield; but it was
defeated with Blaine Ii needed, in
1884, but a straw to turn the balances
for Cleveland, and an unwise nomina-
ton was that straw. Then came the
real opportunity OF the Democratic
party; but feeling secure, with the
South solid in its support, II forgot or
repudiated its promises, gave the
South undue prominence in the gov
eminent, attacked the principle of
protection from a Southern stand
point, and manifested the utmost in
difference respecting the monStrous
crime against the franchise in the
South.
The party that repudiates its pledges
to the people will itself be repudiated
by the people This is the explanation,
in large part, of the defeat of the Dem
ocratic party. Its candidates were
unpopular, its principles Objectionable
and its promises discredited. The
Republican party, on the contrary,
brought forward its best men, and
stood for the defense OF American in
terests and the rights of the people.
Its fortunes are again in the ascendant,
and its lease of power may be long ii
il proves worthy OF the trust confded
to il.
The solid South must become less
and less a dominant power politically.
Ii it made the Democratic fortune in
1854. it failed to maintain ii in ISIS.
-Four years hence it will be Il smaller
factor in the contest, even lift remains
unbroken. Several states in the North
west will be admitted before that date
and a new apportionmeDt will have
been made on the basis Of the census
OF 1880. The greatest growth OF popu
lation is in the states classified as Re-
publican. The North and West will,
therefore, have most of the additional
votes in the electoral college, the
South gaining bat few, il any. More
over. the South can hardly remain IN
broken. Virginia and West Virginia.
North Carolina and Florida are almost
sure 10 become Republican before 1892.
Missouri is not hopelessly Democratic,
nor is it impossible that Tennessee
should become Republican. The
South must break for its own sake,
and a good Republican administration
for the next four years will surely help
il to break.
General Harrison faces great re-
sponsibilities but in great response
bilities are great opportunities. His
first opportunity win lie in the selec-
ton OF his cabinet. He may gather
round him such advisers as will help
to make his administration strong
and efficient; or such as will weaken
his hands and be a burden 10 his ad-
ministratioR As he made no pledges
/ before election, he owes no political
debts; as he owes no political deb's he
need not feel obliged TO pay political
claims. His imperative obligations
are to the people whom he is 10
govern. His cabinet, his foreign min
isters, and those upon whom he de-
ponds 10 see that his policy is faith
fully carried out. must. of course, lie
of his own political faith and be in
cordial sympathy with his general
purposes. but he is perfectly free 10
take the best his party affords for
these positions, and ii he does SO, as
we believe he will, the people will be
well satisfied.
His second opportunity viii be in
( the character he may give TO the civil
service. There viii, undoubtedly. he
/ pressure from party politicians like
/ Senator Ingalls, for partition of the
offices. But she viii have much more
encouragement in resisting this pres
sure than Mr. Cleveland has had. The
! Democratic party does not believe in
civil service reform: the Republican
party does Gen. Harrison viii he
cordially supported, not only by the
/ best and dominant element in hit
own party, but by Independents
voters, and by the best, though not
the controlling element, in the Demo
cratic party. There are many
thousand Democrats in office. Sen
ator ingalls, saws turn them all out
Immediately. That would be a
greater farce than that Of the Cleye-
land administration. Ii would he a
shameless surrender 10 the clsmors
of low politicians, and the people
would tIrn in disgust from such an
administration. No Democrat should
be turned out OF clerkship, or a post
Office, or any other subordinate
position because he is Democrat.
No Republican should he appointed
simply because he Is Republican.
Inelncient incumbents, whether Dem
ocrats or Republicans, should be dis
charged inefficient applicants. wheih-
er Republicans or Democrats, should
be rejected. This is the rule we wish
TO see adopted by the incoming Ad-
ministraiion Here Is great oppor-
tunity for Gen Harrison, and We
have no doubt he sees and will
seize il.
Upon these two points-ihe sind Of
advisers President Harrison shall Sc
lect and the character be shall give
the civil service-,iepends largely the
success OF his administration and the
continued prosperity OF the country.
Congress will catch the tone OF his az
mlnisiration II il i clear and high.
and public sentiment itself vii be
/ strengthened by Il. The presidential
bark will not always be IN smooth
seas; but il wisely managed j; siil
certainly escape the rocks on which
the present administration hiss been
wrecked.
The future OF the Republican party
i. in its own hands II viii be made
or naarred BY what is done during the
coming fosr years. Its continued
sscendency viii depend apon its con-
duct. II il desires power II must
show itself worthy Of power.