The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-06-08

The Reporter has not, cannot, and will not
support either before or after the nomination
any man who belonged to the HOrr-Harter
combination in 1894, or who either actively or
passively gave to that infamous combination
any countenance or support whatever. Any
democrat likely to be nominated Is to be pre-
ferred to one of that sort.
To us this looks like the rankest kind of in
consistency, While the first paragraph ex-
presses the true and proper spirit, the next two
are directly the opposite, and calulated 10 ex-
cite old animOsities and divide the party.
He prefers charges against, and tries to belit-
tie Governor Bushnell because, perchance, he
might have preferred some other good republi-
can than Mr.. Hanna for the Office of United
States Senator; and in the next breath declares
that democrat would be preferable to the
high Office of congressman and would receive
his support, should the republican nominee be
displeasing to himself.
For the first time in the history of the repub-
lican party the right Of choice was forbidden,
and it became crime in the eyes Of a class of
self-constituted dictators in the party for any
republican to oppose the election Of Mr.. Hanna,
and they tried to make out that it was direct
thrust at the administration. They knew bet
ter themselves, but thought that the best and
only way to carry the Hanna load ION the
shoulders Of President Mckinley" They made
1t win, they were successful, and the result has
long ago been accepted and taken as the will of
the party, and yet there are those who are still
thirsting for gore; even at the expense of the
party, without any patriotic motive whatever.
1t is simply faction in the party struggling
for supremancy; they have no more patriotism
or loyalty than others, or than they have
shown in the past, when in 1889 they preferred
the defeat Of the republican candidate for gov
ern0r because he was not of their kind and lik-
ing, and again in 1894, many of those who
now so loudly prate about their undying love
and party devotion, bolted the nomination of
Mr.. johnson for congress, which resulted in
the election of democrat. Mr.. johnson is not
wholly without stain, and many others who
are loudly bowling their own praise left the
republican party at a critical time in its his
tory and sought the defeat of General Grant,
the candidate of the party for president.
Such is the record Of large number of these
bowling patriots all over the country, who are
simply trying to mislead the rank and file of
true republicans into supporting their actions
that they may gain supremacy in the party. They
make special target of the Kurtz- Bushnell re-
publicans, and seem to want to drive them
out of the party. Well, when they do, there
will not be much left Of the party, and they
never have or never will do what Mr.. Hanna and
his cOnsOrts have done, bolt and defeat the
republican nominees whenever they are dis
pleased. Again we say, that Governor Bush
nell, Kurtz, Foraker and the thousands of
like republicans in Ohio have a record for
party service, and devotion to party principles
which would pale into insignifcance the re-
cord OF their would be maligneTs and traducers,
and without their votes and labor not repub-
lican could be elected to office in the state.
Therefore, Is it not better to pour on the oil of
peace than to be constantly trusting the
sceptreP
We most cordially indOrse the sentiment ex-
pressed in the first paragraph in spirit and in
truth, and without the slightest selfish or
political ambition, and we hope that all past
differences will be forgiven, and that every
man who desires to march under the banner of
republicanism will receive most cordial in
vitatiOn and hearty welcome within its folds,
and thus united and strengthened, win glorious
victories in the future as in the past