Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-03
TUESDAY. :. FEBRUARY 3. 1891.
Is tho Renubpoan Party Dead ?

IL anybody had asked the courHers Oh
JAMS III. Of England in 1888 whether the
numerous, intelligent. and powerful party
which had found its representative in him
was dead, those couTtiers, and indeed all
the adherents Of that badly-adyised mon
arch, would probably have treated the
question as unworthy Of an answer. They
did not for Q moment realize that arbitrary
government-rule by Divine right-had
come to an end in England. Nay. the op-
ponents Of JANIS were as muchin the dark
as his friends, and no doubt expect
cd JAMES 10 return in O few years
20 take possession again OF his here
ditary throne But the hand Of Desti-
ny had been laid upon the kingdom. The
march of events could not be stayed. Will
LIAM and MARY were fortunately so related
TO JAMES that they could be put at the head
of the kingdom without shocking too
greatly the Church and the nobility. MARY
was his daughter. and might be regarded
as having in posse title TO the throne
which would become valid as soon as the
father departed this life. But the STUABTs
never again came to the throne. notwith-
standing that they had a clear and indis-
putable title 10 ii according 10 the laws
and customs Of England and Of the whole
world of hereditary rulers.
May we not hope that this short story OF
JAMES and his followers may soon come to
be true Of the Republican party Of this
country? As in 1888 the people of England
were rife for reyolutlon-were, in fact. far
ahead of the men who fattered themselves
that they were leading the masses by q
way that they knew not of-so in 1890 the
people Of the United States rose in body,
we might say, and expelled from the
National House of Representatiyes-the
peoples honse-the knaves and partisans
and profigates and sectionalists and plum
derers who ever since ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
our CROMWELL. wrongfully took possession
of the presidential chair haveso conducted
themselves as TO compel the results which
we see all around US to-day. We do not
say that Mr.. LINCOLN did not have lawful
right as things stood TO become the Chief
Executive of this country. But we do say
that a question of moral right ought to
have occurred TO him in view of the fact
that by majority of about one million of
votes cast for his several competitors he
was plainly told that the people did not
desire him to rule over them. From 1860
10 1890, we believe there never was a day
when a majority of the white voters were
not in sympathy with the Democratic
party, which, but for the United States
army, might have gone TO Washington in
1865 in the persons of their representatives
in the two branches Of Congress and taken
peaceable possession of the Government.
But TO our question. Is the Republican
party dead2 Can it be possible that the
country is hereafter TO know that party in
history only-tbe party that has the Presi-
dent, the Senate. and the Supreme Court?
IL it not yet a powerful party-strong in
numbers, mighty in wealth. powerful in
intellect {? All this and more is true. Until
recently it had the Northern Methodist
Church'at its beck and back, and had the
sympathies Of most Of the other northern
churches. The Democrats were despised
people in that section of the Union. Yet
for all this the Democrats now dominate
the North as well as the South. The peo-
pie have passed Judgment of condemna-
ton upon the Republican party, which is
never again, let us hope, TO be intrusted
with this Government. 1t may survive
as a capitalist party, or play new role.
But as all the clergy of the Established
Church of England. backed by the nobility,
could not restore JAMES to the throne of
his fathers, so the people of this country
may be able to keep down forever hereaf-
ter the party which received from them
last fall blows so deadly as to justify us in
hoping that that party must reform
Itself before we need ever again to fear Its
power. We have, as we have already said,
had majority Of the white men on our
aide all the time, and the elections of last
fall have 30 circumstanced them that they
can no longer be kept under foot.
These reflections have occurred to US
apropos of the killing of the force bill. II
the Republicans had succeeded in making
1t law, the history of the republic would
have been entirely different from what it
now promises to be. The choice was be-
tween the death of the republic and the
death of the force bill. The latter was not
strong enough to kill the former, and 30
the Republican party has abandoned it to
its fate, as JAMES H. in his fight from an
outraged people threw the Great Seal into
the Thames.
Whether the Republican party is near
ing It's end or not, it is almost certain that
its career as majority party, or ruling
party, has been terminated. Ii will here
after trouble the country only as spite
full minority, or party in particular
States. unless, indeed, il shall consent to
drop its old name and policy, and en-
deavor to convert itself into new party
worthy Of the confidence of the country
and not unworthy to compare records
with the party of JEFFERSON and JACKSON.