Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1881 — The Curiosities of Politics. [ARTICLE]

The Curiosities of Politics.

The most marvelous thing about the Republican party is the control which is has obtained over the public sentiment of the North. In 1860 it was fashionable to consider a debased suffrage the great danger of the country , in 1870 manhood suffrage was the first article in the creed of the infallible political party, and whoever denied it was anathematized; in 1880 a broad tolerance was in fashion, and a good Republican might hold either doctrine and defend the enfranchisement of the negro in South Carolina and the disfranchisement of the foreign-born citizen in Rhode Island. Sometimes it is expedient for Republican purposes that temperance should be the keystone of political reform, and then again it may be denounced as mere fanaticism. In 1863 paper money was a sacred thing, and in 1873 gold was the god of the nation’s idolatry. When it is necessary to install a carpet-bag Governor who had been defeated at the polls, a State has no rights which the Federal Government is bound to respect. When it is necessary to count into the Presidency a man who was not chosen by the people, the rights of the States are so sacred that Congress cannot go beyond the official seal on the certificates as to the electors’ votes, even to correct fraud and forgery. Right and wrong, as the needs of the party dictate, seem to become almost inconvertible terms. There are times when it appears to be a greater crime for a Democrat to have red hair than for a Republican to steal SIOO,OOO. In regard to the individuals within the Republican organization, this curious power to alter standards, to make and unmake heroes, is singularly exhibited. The facility with which a commonplace little man like Woodford can be exalted to fame as one of the foremost orators of the world, and cast down again to the level of an incompetent attorney neglecting his official duties, is amusing. We have seen Woodin hooted as the underling of Tweed, and then metamorphosed into a great reformer. We can remember the time when Schuyler Colfax was held up as the model of American manhood, and we are by no meaiis sure that he won’t come into fashion again. The moment Seward abandoned Republicanism he sank from the foremost statesman of the age and the associate of Lincoln to a mere drunken office-holder. When Chase turned Democratic, he turned also, in the eyes of the public, into a mere office-seeker. The hate of the party converted Horace Greeley from the champion of human rights into a driveling old pro-slavery idiot. At present we are enjoying the most astonishing exhibition of the ability of the Republican party to set up and pull down national heroes that was ever exhibited. A little more than a year ago, the country, under the influence of Republican fascination, was crazy about Gen. Grant. As the Chicago Times puts the case, “He was the greatest warrior of the world. He was the first citizen of the republic. He was noble, modest, gracious, the guest of Kings, the lover and savior of his country.” So-ber-minded people dreaded that the popular folly which treated him as a sort of demigod might prove dangerous to our institutions. New Gen. Grant is metamorphosed into a dull and stupid fellow with an indecent idea of his own importance. He smokes too much ami he has been altogether too fond of liquor. To be sure he won some battles, but then lie had able subordinates and no end of odds ; and all these campaigns were full of costly blunders. It lias been discovered that lie went on a spree after Donelson; that he was badly whipped at Shiloh ; that he lingered for months about Vicksburg without a plan; that he botched the Beige of Richmond; that he tried to prevent Sherman from marching on Savannah ; that he wanted to remove Thomas ; that he was a wretched President, and consorted with thieves and bosses ; and that lie is a very disreputable person generally, at whom any political cur may snap. Verily, a history of the effect of the necessities of the Republican party upon received moral, social aud historical standards would be an interesting work. —Buffalo Courier.