Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1877 — PARTY VS. PATRIOTISM. [ARTICLE]

PARTY VS. PATRIOTISM.

In the dark hour of our country’s peril we would like to know positively if the Herald indorses Ml’. Hayes’ Democratic Southern policy? We would for a sact — LaPortc Argus. “In the dark hour of our country’s peril” we do not know of a single party newspaper. R. publican or Democrat, in the stale of Indiana that cordially endorses i’resi* dent- Bayes, or give* him nuiieillui.ll a shuffling, heskatiilg support; does the Argus? Both paities have clamored for years for the very peace lie has secured to the people and the identical executive reforms'be is honestly laboring to introduce, perfect, and establish, lie is sincerely trying to obey the voice of the people as it was sounded in the platforms of both parties last year, as it was echoed by their press and from their rostrums, mid as it reverberated in their ballotboxes. Democrats wanted to hear no more of Southern outrages—they have ceased to occur. Republicans wanted to hear no more of military despotism—the troops have been sent to their barrncks. This was done without ostentation,without shock; it was a revolution followed neither by the shedding ot blood nor the disturbance of the daily avocations of the people. It wrought exactly the work that both Democrats and Republicans had been demanding for years, and which they had abused President Grant unstintedly for not bringing about. But Republican organs will not endorse it, because it “will ruin our party and benefit lha Democrats;” thus exactly repeating the action of the Democrats at the North who opposed all vigorous measures to suppress rebellion because they would build up the Republican party. Democratic papers will not endorse it, because Mr. Hayes was not the candidate of their party for the presidency. Neither side seems to be capable ot rising above the narrow bouuds of party arid uniting in'earuest unselfish efforts to establish peace and good will throughout the national borders. Neither side appears to be imbued with patriotism that can heartily and without reservation what each confesses in private is promoting the interest and welfare of the whole nation. Both sides act lhe demagogue, both play the hypocrite, both- are unpatriotic as they make their country’s welfare a secondary consideration, party being first. With the partizan press aS with the partizan spoils of office seem to be the-high-est, greatest, noblest aim 01 their ambition, the sum of their patriotism; and they are willing and ready, too many of them—at least they seem to be—to sacrifice ti uth, hoifor, or even imperil their country’s peace, for this sordid end. Advices from Kansas, through private sources, state that the wheat crop, which promised so largely, has been seriously damaged by rust, imd that field* which promised thirty to forty bushels per acre wilf not yield over ten or twelve,

Ex-Governor Jenkins, upon assuming the chair as president of the Georgia constitutional convention, on the 12th instant, in the course of his speech said: I utter no caution ngninst class legislation or discrimination against our citizens Of African descent. I feel a perfect assurance that there is no member of this body who would propose such action, and if there was he would soon find himself without a following. That portion of our population are coming to see and will soon Realize that those who once occupied 'a different relation to them, fully recognize the change that has elevated tiieir civil status, and are in truth tiieir best friends. This sounds fair enough, and somewhat remarkable, too, does it not? for the representative of a state that polls from 50,000 to 80,000 Democratic majority. What Republican at the North could be more liberal, or more faithfully express the sentiment of lu* party on the subject of human equality before the law? The doctrine is truth. It is the immutable law of justice. It is the chief corner stone of all reputdican forms of government. It was promulgated by the fathers of the Revolution in their immortal Declaration of Independence. It is the great central idea of the Republican party. We are glad iliat Souinj.rn llemocrats are beginning to embrace it. We are al.-o glad that a ilepuhlic.-.n president. is the missionary that is converting them. County sufieriuLeHdenls will be compelled to call a halt, at no far distant day, fur their county institutes. The press has taken up the cudgel against the tyranny cxerexcrcised through th<ni upoil teachers, and it would not btstrange if the next legislature was, petitioned to niodiiy the law under which they are held that they may be less despotic in their operations. Among lhe objections urged against these county normal •institutes is, that the superiotendenls are pecu niarily interested in them to such an extent they di.-criiuinate’ unjustly against teachers who are surrounded by circumstances which render it inconvenient,- and not unfrequenlly almost impossible for them to attend them. It is an enforced tuition that is despotic, for which the victims are compel’ed to pay in the way of various expenses considerable more tliafi* the education is worth. The complaints of teachers about the system —which is admitted to possess great advantages —are becoming so persistent and specific that a modification at least of the existing lawgoverning it will surely follow in the course of time. Ex Surveyor Miller is said by the V T alparaiso Mesacnyer, to be one of the rising young Democrats of Jasper county. He certainly (lid rise above Bourbonism on the occasion of his speech on the Fourth of July, and uttered good sound patriotic doctrine. There was more broad, enlightened nationalism in that unpretending address than over was breathed by ex-Govcrnor Hendricks or Hon. Daniel W. Voorhees since they became prominent in public life. There is no deniagugjsm in Mr. Miller’s politics, and his liberality of thought is equalled only bv his uprightness of character.— ■ The trouble with Dan Cliambefand Bill is, they thought President Hayes was a boss returning board to count them into office, when really he is only President of the United Slates with executive power to enforce the laws by constitutional means. But because those two gentlemen have been in error is no specially good reason why Senator Blaine and Uncle Benjamin Wane Heed work themselves into blind obstinate passion about it, t<>«. Governor Willinms i* posted to deliver ,jvn aHilress Io ihe Remington Agric-ulliiriil Society, on the keeoiid day of their Faii 7 this yvpr, the same being August gOlli,