Year: 1874

Can the Republicans Unttes


1t is now clear to even the least thoughtful


Of the republicans in Washington that unless
they can quickly unite their party upon
definite and positive policy, and vigorously
push that to conclusion with all the force OF
the administration, they are lost Their op-
ponents have q year in which to deliberate,
but with the republicans it is now or never.
| There is but one question upon which the
eyes Of the whole people, East, West and
South, are fixed, and that is the currency
question. In whatever direction men look
it is this which stares them in the face The
Presidents Message the Treasury report, the
attitude of the infationists, all show that this
Is ghost which cannot be put down, and
that, however much they would like to drift
if the republican leaders mean to preserve
their party they must unite upon some pos
sible financial policy and carry it through.
Can they? Is it not too late? Can
the incoherent elements be fused to
common purpose? If the President were
as powerful an organizer in peace as
he was in war; if he understood the
principles which underlie the question OF
finance, or if he would give his confidence to
men who do and confne himself to the task
of bringing together the discordant bands
who still, with varying motives and hopes,
fight under the republican banner, something
might be hoped for the party. 1t is still
strong in numbers. but it needs leader and
an objective point A President like Jefferson
or jackson would know how to retrieve this
late defeat, how to restore confidence and
good humor, how to gather the hosts for
combined effort toward determined end.
But it is doubtful if General Grant can do
this His nature is to eight it out on that
line" and in politics it is necessary to change
ones base, to make new plans, to acknowledge
impossibilihes; mere pounding away will not
do it.


The state of opinion in the present Con-
gress is such that without some extreme and
forcible impulsion it would do nothing either
to improve or degrade the currency. How to
give this impulse is the vital question for the
republicans. They have, unfortunately for
themselves, no leader in whom they have con-
fdence, and they need q really great leader,
man possessed both of capacity and courage,
to make headway. What can they do? The
problem before them is to adopt at this ses-
sion, and as early as possible, measure def
nitely, and not disastrously, settling the cur
rency question-leading the country surely
toward resumption, but not causing too bur-
;c
because of uncertainty and vague apprehen-
sion of the future. No one will extend his
business or enter upon new ventures while he
cannot tell whether the so-called dollar will
be worth fifty cents or dollar and half o
year hence The banks, especially in the
West are full of money; the farmers are
prosperous, the country is rich. But all is
useless without certainty.


The party which gives this assurance,
whose legislation once more fixes values, or
at least puts them in the course Of deter
inmate arrangement will win the confidence
and the gratitude of the nation, because it
will start the wheels Of industry and put
lasting prosperity within our reach. If the
republican party does this it may regain its
now pershing future, for the democrats will
| not dare at the next session to disturb any
definite and sensible arrangement of this
question which may be made now. The
whole country will have settled down to what
ever may be fixed and will protest against
new measures, against change, even though it
| were for the better


| 1t is still not too late for the republican
| leaders. If o dozen of them had genius
| enough to devise q sound measure of finance,
the good fortune to get the President to heart
lily support it, and the courage to show an
open door to Mr.. Kelley, General Butler and
all other deserters, they might still save them
selves. The party whip is still powerful, but
it needs to be swung by vigorous and deter
mined arm. Threats of desertion must not
territy, nor the howls Of camp followers con-
fuse, those who enter on such campaign.
| Are there dozen men in the republican
party capable of thus snatching it out of the
jaws of defeat capable of devising policy
and sternly forcing their reluctant followers to
| support it? If so we may yet see on interest
ing and important session But it will not do
| to delay.


The Siege OF Irun.


The full story Of the siege Of Irun and its
| L L--A ~ ~ &C