Year: 1875




cisco last week as advertised, and voted, |
almost unanimously, to put a State tick |
ct in the field for the next election, and |
also recommended the same course be /.
pursued in the county and local elections. |
1t is then, probable, that the Gubernator-
ial canvass will be a triangular one that
in so far as the managers Of the Indepen-
dent party have the power to effect it,
the disruption Of the Republican party in
this State is complete. OF those named
as being present at the meeting Of the
Committee, nearly all were former Re
publicans-Democrats being conspicuous
for their absence. We propose now, to
see what effect the Third Party move
ment will probably have upon the poll
tics of the State.


The following of the Independent
movement has mostly been drawn from
the Republican ranks. In some of the
strong Republican counties where the
Democrats were in hopeless minority,
the members Of that party joined the new
one, the more etiectually TO disrupt their
enemy. Having succeeded in this, we
now see such prominent Democrats as
were foremost in organizing the Inde-
pendent party year or SO ago, pointing
the way back to the Democratic camp
for those who had formerly professed that
political faith, nor do we question but the
advice thus given will be generally fol-
lowed. They merely assumed the name
and enacted the T0ie Of Independents to
help divide and defeat their enemies, and
will return to their allegian ce wheE they
can see a fair prospect of efiecting the
same object under their old name and
with their old party. Added to this is
the fact that the old chiyalry wing Of the
Democracy now see situation in South
ern affairs which they can trust no set OF
men to deal with but those thoroughly
imbued with the old pro.slavery ideas
They are satisfied that the disruption OF
the Republican party is complete, and
that the independents as n party can
have no possible standing or influence in
national politics. And though it would
seem to be the height of folly for the
Republican wing of the Independents to
keep up the organization, yet the indica-
cations are that it will be done. The
programme is thus mapped out eight
months in advance Of the time when the
question will be settled at the ballot box,
regardless Of the fact that questions will
doubtless arise within that time which
may entirely change the present status OF
politics. This would seem to indicate a
design on the part Of these meE to play
into the hands of the Democrats or, il
the words of Judge Lndey, membH
of the Committee who has seeded and
returned to his first love, be possessed OF
sufficient patriotism" if they "cannot
sufficiently lay aside their prejudice to
act with the Democratic party, to remain
as an Independent organization as q
means of further disrupting the Repub-
lican ranks"


Whatever may have been Judge Lind
ley's object in writing the letter from
which the above extract is taken, it will
serve one purpose which the writer never
intended. 1t will shcw the Republican.
something of the views by which the In.
dependent movement was received then
and now by one Of its prominent mem
bers. For the present" he says, "its
mission is substantially ended" and
''there is no possibility that the Independ-
cnts will have any status in the Presiden-
tial campaign" Mr.. Lindey is right
there, at all events. The Ngepgl Der eec
tions settled the fact that, as a party, the
Independents can have no future until
the complexion Of national affairs is com
pletely changed. lie tells the truth again
when he says in speaking of the disrup,
tlon Of the Republican party in this State
Governor Booth and his Republican
friends in great measure are entitled tC
the credit" If we are to judge what the
future course Of Governor Booth and hi,
Republican friends will be by the tone o
his organ, be will continue to seek the
approval Of "relormcrs" Of Lindley',
stripe.


Those Republicans who have acted
with the Independent party since it ha,
been in existence will do we'll to consider
two things in reference to the present can.
vass-the probability of local Independ
ent success, and the consequences Of ,
failure. We assume there can be nc
possibility of the first of these propositions
while failure means success for the
Democracy. The Republican party i.
barely in the majority in this State whcr
united; divided, the Democrats can walk
over the track. An Independent ticket
this year will command about as many
votes as Fay received for Governor in
1867, or enough, in close contest to turn
the scale to the Democratic side. The
reyerses the Republicans have met with
in the East will open the way to accom-
/ pllsh all reforms by its power, which rca-
sonable men can hope from an Inde-
pendent triumph. And there is no man
SO blind to the past, that will venture the
assertion that anything in the way Of
better government can follow Demo
cratic victory. The impulses of men
who believe in equal and exact justice to
all, in the economical administration OF
government affairs in the perpetuity OF
Republican institution; in the progress
and advancement of the nation, are with
the Republican party. The power lies
with them to make the party all they can
/ desire. Let them use it and all will be
we'll. But if they step out of the party
to accomplish their object, leaving the
lt,a a,f,nsr t..g -