tige from its future hopes and prospects. The wise and
foolish members of the party are at loggerheads. Both have taken into
their confidence an anomalous contingent which is neither in sympathy,
nor even in alliance with them as regards principles. The Mugwumps, so
called, whose only recommendation in politics is, that they have a
well-filled purse and know how to use it to bolster up what they are
pleased to designate as _their_ "independence," after having
bitterly opposed the Democratic party, in season and out of season, now
join hands with their deluded brethren for a grand all hands round. By
their help a President of the United States has been elected, by their
dictation his policy has been mapped out, and by their threatening
attitude the entire administration is controlled. A similar condition of
affairs was never before known in the history of American politics.

Now, the Independent Republican will always be a Republican in
principles. The same honest motives which impelled him to oppose the
chosen candidates of a majority of the Republican party, at the last
national canvass, will again and always prompt him to oppose a
Simon-pure Democrat of the Democrats. So long as he can have his own
way, he will deny an equal right to his political neighbor. One thing is
very evident, and that is, in Massachusetts the Independents are bound
to rule so long as the Democratic party will continue to let them; and
that the administration encourages this state of affairs is alike
evident to all careful observers. It would be easy to make some very
interesting disclosures on this theme, and it is not improbable that
they will be made very shortly.

But we began by asserting that the party in the old Bay State is in a
quandary. It has reached a point when one of two alternatives must be
chosen,--either to force an issue with its allies, as well as with its
Republican opponents, by nominating a downright, old-fashioned Democrat
for the governorship; or, acquiescing with the wishes of its allies, to
attempt a quasi victory over its opponents. In the former case defeat
would be honorable, though defeat is by no means a foregone conclusion;
in the latter case a victory is probable which would be worse than a
defeat for the Democrats. We may not presume to give any advice in this
matter; and yet it would seem that some well-intentioned and honest
advice is needed. If there is to-day a true-blue, a frank and out-spoken
Democratic