Year: 1875

into the pocket of the President, who
lost the grandest opportunity of his life
in not vetoing the bill The press con-
demned the measure as the people con-
demned it. Many Congressman refused
to take the back pay, and subsequently
the bill was repealed in part, but this did
not help the case much Men do not
often receive credit for good acts per-
formed under coercion


It US true these were not party meas
ures, but it did not avail to tell the peo-
pie that Democrats and Republicans
were alike responsible Congress was
largely Republican, and it was justly held
responsible for the acts of that body


Now the press did not commit Credit
Mobilier frauds, nor did it squander the
public money in the shape of subsidies;
nor did it pass the law called the salary
grab. Against all such outrages it pro-
tested, and these constituted the cause,
in part, the effect of which called forth
honest criticism, and is now plainly seen
in the status of the party. The press
might have kept silent, or, against its
own convictions of duty, it might have
apologized, but that would have made
matters worse. The only course, sensi-
BILE or just or worthy of honorable men,
was to condemn extravaganza, NAL
administration, corruption, and corrup-
tionists, and boldly advocate the policy
of purifying the party from within. This
is the way, and the only way to future
success.


Naturally men who have been com
promised in the Objectionable legislation
of the last several years do not appri
of this, because under such policy Il u
necessarily go into retirement; but t.
To in
they owe an apology to the great pa -
whose interests they betrayed. n
course, many good men who manfVF
battled against the errors of their
leagues, were defeated in the late e
tions because of the general cloud un
which the party rested, but these hay
future, and will rise again. For the Il
however, there is no political future,
hereafter their places in the front M
be filled by better and more trusty N


The reaction against the Republican
party, attributable largely to the cause
referred to, is the more to be deplored,
because it endangers the principles upon
which the war for the Union was fought
and the important measures that follow
ed its conclusion. The Democratic par
ty is the same now that it was in 1860.
1t is the same in character that it is in





power in the nation, the war would prove
to have been a useless one, and the blood
and treasure spent in its prosecution as
having been shed and spent in vain.


Impressed with these views we have
labored to purge the Republican party of
bad men, and to make it worthy of the
principles it represents, and of its glori,
GUS record on the pages of history-wor-
thy of the blood that has been shed in
the cause of freedom, justice and equal
rights. In this respect there has been a
great measure of success. The dead
weights have been thrown off, and in the
next contest our leaders will need no de-
fense. This, the honest criticism of the
Republican press has brought about. 1t
has saved the life of the party by purg
ing it of those who prostituted their
trusts.


The votes are in nearly every North
ern State that were not cast for the DEM
ocratIc party to elect the Republican
candidate in the next contest That
party has only to enter the fight with
popular leaders to bring about the lately
silent Republican votes, and sweep the
field