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party is obvious. If, while at the resting place
where the election of General Grant leaves them,
they do not purify and weed out these bad ele
ments, the people will do well to distrust their
party, and hold them to a more rigid accounta
bility. But with tlieir jirestige, vigor, experience,
and skill, with their aptitude for new ideas and
progress, from whence may be expected the threat
ened danger? What law governing the progress
of parties suspends over them the penalty of dis
solution?
Their very majorities in Congress, though essen
tial to government, have been dangerous to the
integrity of the party, and should the apparent
majority in the next Congress be further reduced,
its quality would not be impaired.
It would seem that from their opponents the
Republicans have more to hope than to fear; a
compact, able, vigilant, and powerful opposi
tion could be only useful to them. The grave
questions with which they must still deal will in
due time, and in some unexpected way, find their
own solution, as questions always have and will.
Their dangers are undoubtedly internal, and will
spring from their own midst.
Formed as the party was to set limits to slavery,