Year: 1872

THE DIFFERENCES OF REPUBLICANS.
THE DEBATE on THE FRENCH ARMS SCANDAL


THE PARTY STILL COHEsVE-A FULL REPRE-


sENTATION AT THE PHILADELPHIA CoNVEN-


TON.


IFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNBl


WASHINGTON, Feb. elf there ever was
boys debate which has been for several days
going in the Senate But 1t is carried on by aoe men
and practced speakers and draws crowded audiences
1t Ia the cheapest entertainment the city Affords 10 '
loafers with which 1t is, as usual well filed


The whole melee has grown out of the fact that MT
Sumner insists on preamble his resolutions OF nves-
tgatiOn Of the sale OF TO the French agents, which
preamble asserts good deal more than the Adminstra-
ton can stomach. They willing to investigate,
but they not willing to plead guilty 1t is TO provoke
debate them do It, Mr. Morton has resisted and
resented the assault with force and naturanes He has
debated the subject political question intended to
damage the Administration, and introduced solely
for that purpose. This Is evidently the sincere
opinion Of Gov. Morton, and he leaves the
impression on his audiences that he Is not
far from right Mr.. Sumner, doubt, thought there
was something that required looking into But then he
was prompted to his conclusions by his dskes and his
suspicious OF the men in Office Mr.. Schurz backed him.
and has done good share Of the work thus far But
schulz is a pronounced nttAdmlnstration man, and
says he vote for Grant If he is nominated He says
he pledged REFORM and talks though he thought
there was a Reform party rising on the horizon He Is
prepared to step into that when 1t comes along
Meantime he balances himself the edge OF the fence
that divides the two great parties 1t is free zone OF
narrow proportions, which he will widen If lie can.


There is nothing new and go far as can see nothing
very threatening in the situation No great party can
be for great length of time entirely harmonious. Many
get TO the front that they think they arc en-
titled the lead, and make good deal OF complaint If
IL nf civ 10 We have had of
Of this sort in our own political history and the world
has always been full Of it, This is what is the matter
now. Prominent fall into quarres, and long talks
and idle debates the consequence. II Is phase OF
politics partakng quite too much OF the character OF
personal gossip and scandal to be at all agreeable to the
immortal mind. 1t is the scum and rubbish OF pubic
life. The more sluggish the current the more this rub
bsl accmuates The everlasting dlssatsfactions that
political life breeds are natural musketoes after
shower The only remedy is to cultivate the virtues OF
scfdenal and unsefshncss But these are not the Vlr
tues that most distinguish the pushing men who swarm
in public life


The most efficient coTectOr OF all this experience
shows to be party organization 1t Is often harsh and
tyrannical and hard bear. But seems to be the pest
remedy we have. 1t is simply the application OF the
majority principle among body OF men who, agreeing
in general objects unite to support hem This Involves
concession and sef-abnegitOn. II mans principles
and convictions wont bear the trials they impose, he is
under obligation 90 Join or remain IN ASSOCIATIONS Vi
this SORT But the ambitious generally find their
account in swallowing their disgusts and holding on 10
party is buwark to the strong and shelter 10 tue
weak


The average Republican who possesses his soul in pa
tence Is unmOved by the present trials OF the party
They are no more than ordinary past experience
would lead him to expect. They are the squalls ana
head-winds of the voyage When the camor OF the al
tercaon is over he expects the party will meet together
and settle their differences by voting them The vote
ia the only precpator. 1t gives color at once IL Is
only by voting that settle the personalities Oh
politics. party Is not resolute enough In It's pur-
TO support candidates for place who are selected
by the majority. 1t is no party, and the individuals
of which it is composed will Illustrate their own OBJ
tects the Republican party is believed still to be
firm and vigorous and TO have welldefned and wellin


enoued ends that the great body OF It's members 90 not


intend shall be sacrificed They look forward therefore
70 the Philadelphia Convention the authoritative expo
nent Of its views and, party necessity they Will
undoubtedly abide by that expression Nobody can dis
pute that the Republican party is going to be fully rep
resented there, and may conclude fairly also Ana
II ia almost equally clear that what is done there Will be
ratified at the polls.


The Democratic party is as noiseess cat in pur
suit OF her prey while the agaOns Of their adversares
are in progress II they were all shod In shcep-skn
shoes with the wool turned outward they could not
| move more quietly. But they preparing for the
final spring with determined an intent as ever They
will encourage the growth OF third party, torn from
the Republican organizations to the last moment and
then they will meet and nominate a candidate of their
| own and showing a moderate platform and Conser
yatve candidate will invite the dsafected from every
cave of Aduam in the land. II anything can be prog
nostcated at this stage of the play, such Is the pro
pramne And there ia in 1t. II ls based ON th'
sunposton that any Republican who has made or shal
make up his mind not to vote for Grant If he is nomi
mated will 20 for Groesbeck for Trumbull OF
David DAVIS. j. o l.