Year: 1873

The Republican Press and Party.


Why should the Republican press of
this State, or of the country, be ruled by
the politicians, instead of ruling them
Some editors, it is true, hold Office under
the party, and some papers can not af-
ford to be independent But the great
multitude own themselves in every sense,
and their voice would be power that no
mere politician could withstand. Gener-
al Butler processes to despise the news
papers. But they have bowled him over
more than once. The plain speaking of
the Boston Daily Advertiser just before
the nomination in that State was much
more serious and significant event than
the open detection from the party of sew
eral politicians like General Banks. And
why? Because newspaper is political
orator who talks to the voters every
where and every day. In this country,
and under our system, there is no in1u-
ence more powerful. Why should not
that power be used for the best purpose?
Why should not the press, instead of the
politicians, give the law to the party?


There are journals which seem to sup
pose that party is endangered if all its
acts and all its men are not indiscrimi-
nately extolled. On the contrary, it is
endangered if they are. What! says
Party Spirit, shall we foul our own nest? !?
Certainly not. Let us try to prevent it;
but if we can not, let US not pretend to
like it. For instance, the gentlemen who
managed the Republican Convention at
Utica were fully informed that Mr.. Will
lam B. Taylor was not a proper person to
nominate for State Engineer, because he
uniformly supported the canal ring.
But, Notwithstanding this information
and protest, they chose to nominate him.
1t is the duty of the Republican press,
therefore. not to say that he should be
supported because he was regularly nom
mated, but that every Republican who
votes for him njures the party. The
triumphant election of the rest of the
ticket, which is admirable, and the de-
feat of the candidate for State Engineer,
would be an unmistakable proof of the
moral soundness of the party. If the
condition of Republican supremacy is
docile support of all the measures that
the party managers may adopt, and
praise of all the candidates they may
nominate, Republican supremacy ought
to be in great danger


The error of the press to which we al
lude arises from mistaking the ground
upon which party is supported. 1t is
not because all its men and measures are
approved, but because, in the opinion of
the majority of voters, the public welfare
is better subserved by the dominance of
one party than of another. Thus the 81
lence or the sophistry of our Republican
brethren of the press in regard to the
President and the back pay does not de-
ceive the party. They know the facts,
and the immense majority of Republi-
cans every where regret his action while
the prestidigitation of the platforms
which condemn the votes for the grab
and exonerate the signature that made it
operative only excites smile. But those
Republicans do not therefore wish that
Mr.. Greeley had been elected, nor do
they propose to show their regret by sup
porting the Democratic party. There
were leading Democrats in this State who
were inflexibly hostile to Texan annexa-
ton, upon which ground Mr. Van Buren
was defeated in the Convention of 1874
and Mr.. Polk nominated, but they new
ertheless supported Mr.. Polk and his
Oregon policy and his general admins
tration. They thought that even with
those faults it was better for the country,
upon the whole, than Whig admins
tration. But when the power that an
nexed Texas and nominated Mr.. Polk
showed that it meant to control the par
ty absolutely, those Democrats left the
party, for they were persuaded that the
chance of Whig success or of any other
result was preferable to that certainty.
That is the history of the dissolution of
all parties. And when a large body of
intelligent Republi cans see that the acts
and tendencies which they disapprove
are not exceptional nor of less peril than
the chances of Democratic ascendency,
but are the rule and the spirit of their
party, they will step out and take the
risk of the deluge.


Now nothing can so surely prolong Re-
publican supremacy as courageous Re
publican press. If the managers of the
Convention at Utica had known that if
they nominated Mr.. Taylor the Republi-
can press of the State would have pro-
tested,5 and would have exhorted the
party not to vote for him, the managers
would not have dared to place his name
upon the ticket. So with Congress. 1t
will soon assemble; and unhappily-
orable gentlemen have come to believe
that they have but to set the tune, and
the party organs will Immediately grind
it from Maine to the Pacific. Let the
Republican press undeceive them. Let
Congress know that it's party friends are
jealous of the party fame, and do not
mean to imperil Republican supremacy
by winking at any jobbery or unsound
| legislation. The opposition will, Of



party press denounce everything that is
unworthy the Republican character and
best traditions. Shall we not leave hos
tility to our opponehts2 you ask. Hos
| tiiity to what? Shall any press or party
be swilter to expose errors and censure
extravaganza or corruption than the Re-
publican?


: Mr.. Shepherd, for instance, is to be
nominated for Governor of the District
of Columbia. The Senate ought not to
confirm the nomination, The Republi-
can party can not carry such regulations
Shall not Republican newspapers say
what Republicans very well know and
privately declare? Nobody fora moment
suspects the President of the least i'm
proper motive, But it is a mistake to
: nominate person under such suspicion
as Mr.. Shepherd, even If the President


has no conclusive proof against him
The public mind is very sensitive sine,