Year: 1877




The day we celebrate is the dawn of q new
era in our politics. 1t is. in many respects,
a new day. It is the first Fourth of July in
more than half century which sees the
nation united, the sections at peace and
with good will toward each other, the Union
real union in which all parts are animated
by the same spirit of patriotic devotion to one
country, one flag and one destiny. What
ever disappointed politicians may say or
profess to-day the people recognize this
fact and feel that it is Of inestimable
importance to them and to their chill
dren. We have once more united
country that is something to be devoutly
thankful for. This experiment of free gov
ernment. tried as no political system was
ever tried before, has weathered the severest
and most protracted storms and on this
Independence Day the American people
may safely believe that it will stand and
will be handed down in safety to their
children and children's children for
another century at least.


While, therefore, the politicians OF the
two defunct parties may fume and rage the
great mass of the people will rejoice over
dangers safely past and over political har-
mony and security won by their moderation
and common sense, in spite of some over
ambitious and now bitterly disappointed
political leaders Of both parties. But when
we say that the country celebrates to-day
the dawn of new era in politics we do not
mean that it has merely secured safety from
great political calamities. For many years
the people and oil their interests have been
at the mercy OF q single question. When
man is struggling for life he has not time
to think of bread and butter or the
leak in the roof which shelters his family
The Southern question has for whole gen.
GRAFTON overshadowed every other, and
while the nation struggled for existence all
other questions-all which related to its in
dustrial welfare and prosperity-w neces-
sarily either put aside or treated in parti-
san and not in q statesmanlike spirit.
That higher kind of craftsmanship which
has for its object the enactment Of just,
wise and liberal laws, permitting the
people to become prosperous, hos
hardly been heard in the halls of
Congress for quarter of o century. We have
been the prey of partisan politicians. who
did what they pleased because they per-
suaded the people that they were Saving
the Union"


At last the Union is safe, and once more
there is room and opportunity for real
craftsmanship. We have returned to the
shelter of constitutional government, and
now there is at last an opportunity for the
discussion Of real questions. That is what
we mean by the dawn of new political era.
Of course the old partisans who have
so long misruled by stirring up sectional
suspicion and hatred are Mortified. The
real questions, the questions of currency
reform, of tariff reform, Of civil service re-
form, of constitutional reform, which they
have spent the greater part of their lives in
dodging, they can no longer evade. 1t is
not only hard to teach an old dog new
tricks, but it is one Of the least agreeable
things to the dog. He resents it, july as the
partisan leaders now resent the political
situation he seeks to avoid the
dsagreeable task and to fall back on
his old tricks, Just rs the partisans
Of both sides are now trying desperately to
stick to old and dead issues, striving to
keep their dissolving forces in hand and
battling against the judgment day which
they see has come.


As the new, the real questions come for
ward the old party lines must break down.
Party leaders cry "Halt haltr' They
threaten to shoot deserters, they denounce
each other; political conventions meet and
vainly strive for harmony" party organs
try to silence the disputes, but it is all
in vain. The disintegration cannot be
stopped. Nor ought it to be. The old
parties were not formed to handle
the new questions the old party leaders
are themselves disagreed upon them,
and see themselves unable to act together
within the old lines. If they cannot sup
press the new, the real questions, they
know that party lines will break in spite of
all their efforts. Hence we see the desper-
ate attempts on both sides to throw sus-
picion upon the President, to ombarrass
him. to cripple him, if possible, to break
down his patriotic policy, which looks to
the welfare of the whole country,
and rightly holds that "he serves
his party best who serves his coun-
try best" Everywhere twopenny poll.
ticians and place hunters protest against
his acts; and if any sensible or patriotic
man needed evidence that the old parties
are no longer capable of serving the coun-
try's needs, and are an injury and danger
to it, he would find it in the arguments used
against the Presidents policy. the chief of
which is on one side, that it may split or
cripple 'the party" and, on the other
side, that it may prove popular and thus
strengthen the President.


The old party leaders, for the most part,