Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-03-08
THE REPUBLICAN ATTITUDE

THE REPUBLICAN, ATTITUDE.
The attitude OF the Republican party in
opposition furnishes an interesting subject
for examination and comment. During the
twenty-four years Of its asceDdency its lead.
ers gained much credit for themselves and
their party by forever attacking their oppo.
nents as II party that was disloyal to the
government. they being the government
1t was habitually in error, being habtually
in the minority. 1t was always laundering
because its movements never succeeded
BY keeping these allegations perpetually
before the people generation grew up in
dulging the belief that great American
party, comprising more than one half OF the
white people Of the country, was disloyal
incompetent and generally stupid and vi
cious.
The sudden return of the Republican party
10 power will prevent for the time being a
full understanding Of the relations of par.
ties to the government, and Of the apparent
proneness of the minority to "err." Yet dur.
ing the four years of Democratic ascendency
the Republican party and its leaders have
given the country as many vexatious ex'
ampcs of disloyalty and partisan stupidity
as the Democrats ever gave in a similar Pc
Rod. The accession Of the Democratic
party to power in 1886 was received by the
RI publicans with ncredulity and ridicule.
II was something of joke. They were to
stand by and see the fun, for there was Ger.
tainly to be great fun when party that had
no patriotism, no interest in the country, nc
intelligence II nd no capability, should un.
dertake to manage government which be
longed by right to the Republican party
and which, through accident merely, had
passed out of its control for brief period.
lncredulity and ridicule manifested them
selves regularly every day for several months
until at length it became apparent that al.
fairs were to be managed IN much the same
way as they had always been, with perhaps
some improvement here and there. Then
came the era OF Misrepresentation and trick
cry. Every policy pursued by the admin
istralion had for It's object either the betray-
al OF the country, the destruction OF some
business interest or the elevation OF some
public foe. A people educated To such a be
lief could have no doubt as to the proper
course to pursue toward such government
and its representatives.
When this epoch had passed, the admin
istration meantime making an honorable
record in the main, an era OF insult followed
which, with some slight variations, lasted
ornors Of States seeking popularity, United
States Senators whose particular corpora
tons had been prevented from possessing
all such sections OF the earth rs they had their
gIultonous eyes upon, and various super.
loyal organizations, assuming to control
such small stock Of patriotism as the Amer.
lean Union has on hand, have rarely lost an
opportunity, no matter what the occasion,
OF all the people. This contemplate inso.
lence has confronted the President wherever
he has gone. 1t would excite little remark
and he worthy OF no notice whatever were
ii not for the TACT that by its attitude the Re-
publican party has practically Endorsed this
line oi action. The men who have been
most conspicuous in their disloyslty to the
government have received the highest hon.
ors flom that party and the Grand Army o.
the Republic, in the West, which has beer
urged 10 further lengths Of folly and insult
10y Republican conventions, newspapers and
leagues.
In Washington the same conditions have
existed. Hostility to the President did moi
cease even in the presence of foreign men.
ace That branch OF Congress which has
been controlled throughout the whole Of
Mr.. Clcveland's administration BY ssie Re.
publicans has sat for months with no other
object Ia view than 70 embarrass the Presi-
dent in whatever undertaking he might
have on hand. When foreign compiled.
lions have arisen 1t has taken the side nj the
foreigner as against the President and his
Secretary Of State. In word, it has been
scandalously and Extensively disloyal.
We do not forget that this shameful atti.
tude by the minority seems to be a part OF
the American political system. 1t was
charged upon many Democratic leaders dur
ing the ascendency OF the Republicans, and
there was much reason for the accusation,
yet the President was then regarded as Pres.
ident. He was not subjected to insult He
was not accused OF alienism, treachery and
vllainy, nor was he embarrassed in any way
AS Mr.. Cleveland has been embarrassed by
lis opponents Democrats who sought vio
hntly and traitorously to handicap the gov
ernment, or belittle It either ut home or
abroad, were generally beaten by their own
party. At any rate their policy did not be,
come the policy OF the party. which as a
whole was respectful and loyal.
Gen. Harrison assumes Office, We believe,
with the good will of every citizen OF the
United States, irrespective Of party. He is
the President of the entire people, and as
such he will be respected and supported
Unlike swashbuckling politicians and office
seekers in various parts of the country, he
will have duties to perform in which he is
To be guided by the most solemn oath that
an American can take. That oath in his case
was no more solemn than the one which
Grover Cleveland took four years ago, and
which we believe he has striven manfully to
observe. 1t will not be charged that Gen.
Harrison is seeking To ruin the couutry, to
betray its liberties, to destroy business aud
industry, To provoke rebellion, or to appoint
convicts and Jail birds TO Office. His policy
may differ radically from that which most
Democrats would pursue, but they will
reeognize his right 10 have policy Of his
own, and they will not assume that the ma.
jurity power which he represents is neces-
sarily hostile To the country or to them
selves. Ii is To be hoped that the folly OF
such partyism AS has been shown during
the last four years by the Republicans will
stand forever AS warning against such
b,gotry. such monumental conceit, such
misrepresentation. and such dangerous rs.
a..