The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-21
Consolation for tho Republicans

Republican editors. county chairmen.
| local leaders. and politicians generally arc
| occupying themselves for the moment with
| efforts to discover and analyze the causes OF
! tho overwhelming defeat OF their party.
| We shall not undertake to interfere with
| this industry, for IL is harmless to the Vie
torious Democracy. and IL affords some dis
traction from tho grief and modification of
tho afflicted. Let us rather proceed more
humsnely by offering few words OF con-
ISOLATION for the mourners.
For the first time since ABRAHAM LINCOLN
was inaugurated as President on the
4th of March. 1861. the Republican
party will retire from the control OF
the Federal Government when Mr..
CLEVELAND Is inaugurated on March 4.
1893. This has been n period OF thlrty-two
years. During that time. it Is true, the
Democrats have succeeded in gaining the
mastery Of the House OF Representatives.
and twice they have elected tho President
T1nDEN In 1876 and CLEVELAND in 1884; but
the Republicans have held the Senate and
have been able to checkmate the Democrats
when tho latter were dominant in the other
branches OF the Government. Now the Re-
pubicans have lost all. the Presidency. the
Thus the Republicans will DO hereafter.
and for many years hereafter probably. tho
party Of the opposition. They will be no
longer the party of execution. but the party
Of criticism. After holding the control for
about Il generation. they had grown to feel.
not unnaturally. that tho Federal Govern
ment belonged to them as sort OF divine
right. and that they alone were competent
IL re Of hn
people OF tho Union are OF II different mind.
They feel themselves entirely capable of
managing the business. and, as the Republic
can methods of government have made
them Democrats. they propose to run 1t
after Democratic methods and in accord
ance with Democratic principles. That in
substance. is the cause Of the Republican
disaster on the sth of this month. and, hunt
and analyZe as much as they may, our
afflicted Republican friends can find no
other. The American people arc tired Of
RepublicaniSm.
Tho consolation we offer to the van
uuished party is that after the 4th of next
March it will have an opportunity to take II
rest from the cares Of government which it
has borne so long. 1t can stand off and
watch how the Democratic party bears tho
strain. 1t can exercise the functions OF OPP
position and criticism. We have been in
that position ourselves for good many
years. and we can assure our Respondent
Republican friends that it has many
enjoyable compensations. We cannot
offer them the hope that the Demo-
cratic party will furnish them grounds
for opposition us stimulating to every
hostile energy as those which have been
furnished to us by the Republicans; for their
own party has attacked and violated every
principle of popular government most dear
to us because most essential for tho
preservation OF our democratic Institutions.
These principles will be restored to their
proper and dominant place. and as they are
unassailable before the people, their resto-
ration will afford no opportunity for eifec-
tive Republican opposition. The assault
on them in the past has been covert and
subtle. The people were slow in awakening
to q conception Of its mumentOus conse-
quences, but now their eyes are open to
tho iniQuity. Hereafter the attack must
be made in the full light OF day.
In the usual progress aud the routine Of
Legislation. the Republicans. however. will
find opportunities to exercise the functions
OF an opposition party. which will keep their
wits from rusting. Not having any respon-
sibility themselves. they will seek to harass
the Democrats in the execution of the trust
committed to them by tho people. Let
them do this to their souls content. So
long MS the Republicans remain the party
OF the opposition. we have no fault to find.
Nor are we distressed for the Democratic
party because Of such an opposition. alert
and skilful though it be. The heavier the
load of responsibility the Democracy has to
carry. and the more critical and vgilant its
political opponents. the better it will be for
the party. Its moral muscle will be
strengthened.
The Emigration of the Mugwump.