Year: 1878

To the goody- -goody Hayesites who are
more than half Democrats, to the hypo-
critical Hayesites who have no principles,
to the old Greeley faction which has
done much mischief and only did no
more because it lacked the power, to ev-
cry shade of Democrats North and South,
to all these the announcement that
Ben Butler has left the Republican party
will be received with fippant levity, or
with matured and calculating delight.


But to the thoughtful patriot who.
looking back over General Buffers course,
perceives amid some eccentricities OF
character and conduct that unswerving
love of country which has marked the
mans career; to every Republican who
has seen with what unhinching devotion
Butler has held through storm and sun
shine to the cardinal ideas of the Repub-
lican party; to every one who has looked
beneath the surface of things and detect
ed the now hidden dangers that still
threaten the Republic; and especially to
all those who really have faith in the Re-
publican party and believe that it alone
is capable of meeting and warding off
these dangers ito all such the announce
ment that Gen. Butler has formally aban-
doned the Republican party will be a
source of anxious and panied reflection.


Is the party that has been crowned
with so many glories really breaking up2
Are earnest men laying it aside as worn
out instrument That party conquered
the rebellion, destroyed slavery, put free
dom and equality in the Constitution,
the rebellion, and for long years enabled
the Southern people to vote as they de-
sired. 1t was mighty party.


little mora than wear Of HaVeg has
past, and behold that party has lost ev-
cry Southern State, it has disbanded in
nearly all of them, it runs no candidates
for fear of the shot gun and the torch, 1T
tolerates new rebellion in South Caro-
lima, it buys Wade Hampton's submis-
sion to the laws by pardoning Wade
Hampton's whisky thieves, it tampers,
palters and falters even in some of the
Northern States, and many of its public
men profess to look with complacency
upon the action of President who makes
honest service to the party cause of dis
missal from office and will tolerate no
service except what is rendered to its
enemies or to o.himself.


Is it any wonder that men of conscience,
of principle, of true manly feeling are
beginning to despair? Is it any wonder
that men of courage and patriotism like
Butler are looking around for and joining
themselves to some other organization in
hopes that they may find in it the nerve
and vigor and courage and consistency
that the Republican party seems to have
lost? Alas there is much reason for
despair.


STILL we think Gen. Butler has made
mistake. The Republican party is sick,
but it is not sickness unto death. That
party still numbers in its ranks millions
of true and honest men. 1t has not for
gotten its noble principles or lost sight of
its grand traditions. Gradually and sure
ly it is cutting loose from the whitening
curse of Hayesism, and in State after
State is returning its back upon the re-
creant President and finging its own
glorious banner to the breeze. Even
those who wear the yoke of Hayes in
return for his paltry offices, wear it un-
easily and blushingly, and will rejoice
with enthusiastic ardor when they are
permitted to shake it off. The Republi-
can party will live and flourish, and Gen.
Butler and other patriots should, at this
crisis, strengthen rather than weaken its
hands