Year: 1875




Eminent politicians and statesmen in this
country are so liable to fall by disasters
bevond their control that it seems strange
TO see one, like the dishonored japanese,
deliberately performing hari-kari before
his fellow citizens. Never, in the history
of this country, has so marked an incident
of this character occurred as in the case of
Henry Wilson. Nurtured, encouraged, re-
spected and honored blythe Republican party
and its anti slavery predecessors through
a long series of years, he had been elevated
to position for which his whole history
since he entered upon its duties and re-
sponsibilties shows him to be totally unfit
ted. But he was honored, nevertheless,
and in that honoring, under the circum-
stances, he should, if life was spared, have
fingered through his constitutional term
in modesty and meekness. PrOpriety,
wisdom and discretion would have coun-
seled such a course. A common sense of
gratitude to the Republican organization
should have inspired it, but no process has
vet been invented which will bring wis
dom. propricty or discretion from the
conceits of arrogance, stOlidity and folly.
Such team of inirmities as this harnessed
to inordinate ambition will bear greater
than Henry Wilson to inevitable ship
wreck.


We have already, perhaps, devoted more
space to this subject than it is entitled to,
and we would not refer to it again but
for the fact that the Republican party is
made to suffer the consequences OF Mr..
Wilson's blundering and mischievous
performances. He should have been led
to great prudence and caution by his CRATE
full obligations to party that has honored
him over much, but he has not been. The
unity, harmony and success of the Repub
Iican party should have been as dear to
him as the apple of his eye. The head of
the Government should have been held, by
Mr.. Wilson's own discretion, exempt from
carping criticism and ungenerous and un-
kind remarks; but unless he is greatly mis-
represented he is obnoxious to a charge OF
lust this line of conduct, more perhaps in
private than in public. He could not wait
for the people to decide the important
question of President Grants successor,
but must anticipate it, that he might get
an opportunity to vent his petty hostility
to the Chief Magistrate in a small way.


Well, the Vice President has now, in all
human probability, inflicted all the injury
upon the Republican party and its prospects
that he is capable OF, and more than he pos
scsscs the ability to repair. This unneces-
sary and undeservcd line Of policy is so
bold and mischievous, and so much to be
deprecated, that the end of his present term
of Office will bring HIM to his political Sc
pulChre No matter what preteXts Mr..
Wilson may set up in justification Of his
course, no matter what special pleas he may
intcrpOse 10 break the force of popular dis
pleasure, neither his winnings nor his sup
plications can save him. The sin of base
ingratitudc-2 political sin not to be for
giver-las been committed by him, and he
must pay the penalty of his own folly and
recreancy. No measure of abuse that he
may heap upon THE NATIONAL REPUBLI-
CAN, no system Of dOdging and skulking,
no Uriah Heep performances will save him
Nothing short Of early repentance and
positive reformation will insure spirit of
forbearance and toleration on the part of
the Republican party for his political re-
mains until the day of their final burial
shall be reached. They are already too
offensive to admit of removal, and hence a
sense of common decency should counsel
the Vice President to silence and inaction.
"RegTiescqt in pGes!" should be written
over his official body, living or dead.