You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln, no less. The Republican party believes in personal freedom. Democrats enjoy running other people's lives, and regulating what they can or cannot do. By contrast, Republicans believe that most people, given the freedom to choose, will do the right thing on their own.
Republicans believe in less government and lower taxes.
Democrats, on the other hand, are the party that has what it takes to take what you have. The Republican party thinks you are best qualified to decide how to spend your own hard-earned money.