Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-08-25
THE REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT.

@NE O Et "a
of September, to which we briefly directed the
attention of our readers. We observe that in
several counties of the State, the voters, with
out reference to past party designations, have
already made arrangements to be represented
in this movement.
Of the necessity for this contemplated or
ganization, there can be no controversy. The
great mass of the voters find themselves, by the
action of the slavery ~propagandists, either cali
ed upon to forward schemes they cannot coun-
~tenance, or to seek some other than existent
modes to give expression to their views and
wishes. The old political parties have already
existed for a much longer period of time than
any of the political divisions which have here
tofore sprung up in the country. The people
have been divided upon questions of principle,
involving the administration of the affairs of
the Nation. Those questions are settled, have
passed away-become obsolete. They can no
longer be referred to-. to control the action of
partizans. But in their place have arisen new
and important questions, which yet remain to
be settled, and which find supporters amongst
those acting formerly in both the old party di-
visions. r
That parties too, must undergo a transfer
nation, is equally clear. OF the Wing party,
it is not our place to speak we are content to
permit our readers to take the evidence of
those who have been most jealous in support
% chat IT,, H,- +han
whom no man has been more in love with the
Wing organization, or more 10th to give it up,
says of the Wing party, in the Tribune of the
10th inst
-.s There has been no State election the present year,
:" in which those who rallied nnder the Wing standard,
% polrd one quarter of the votes. To talk therefore, Of
" animating these dry bones, this empty skin, is childish,
:" if not factious-is to insist on floating up Niagara, or
=" running your head against a stone wall"
Impressed with this solemn conviction, GREE
LEY is seconding, with all his ability, the Re-
publican movement in the State of Newly York,
and following that glorious path of duty laid
open and made plain to US by our compatriots
in Maine, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Wis
consin, &c" In these States the liberal and
sincere Wings have abandoned their old party
name, and cordially united with those who hold
common sentiments, in an organization which
is intended to give expression and purpose to
the feelings and desires of the voters.
OF the Democratic party we feel more at
liberty to speak plainly. We have been edu-
Gated in its doctrines. Its principles have
grown with our growth and strengthened with
our strength. We have so much admired those
principles we have SO often and so zealously
invoked its name in the contests of the past,
that we regard it almost with veneration. But
the abiding love we have for Democratic prin-
ciples, shall not lead us into alteration of par
ty machinery nor a blind subserviency to party
organization. We claim to be Democrats-to
respect its name, to reverence its glorious prin-
ciples. But our understanding of the princi-
pies OF Democracy has been imbibed from the
Constitution itself, from the teachings of JEFF
ferson, of Madison, of jackson and Van Buren,.
We adhere to the Democratic party for the
sake Of Democratic principles when they
cease to lead the way, we cease to follow. In
our Judgment that time has already come. The
Democratic party as a National party exists
no longer. 1t has laid its head in the lap of
Delilah, and has been shorn both of its beauty
and its strength. The Democratic party has
wandered from its ancient landmarks. 1t has
been prostltuted from the high purposes for
which 1t was formed, and has become sectional
in its attitudes and purposes. A Democratic
party unquestionably exists at the South, re-
garded and used as the natural ally of slave
ry," and its equally true that it has it's adjunct
at the North, composed of dough-faces and of
the spawn of custom-houses and Offices bred in
the corruption of government patronage.
1t IS not now necessary to elucidate this
point, nor. to show how the Democratic party
has been debauched through treachery, stimu-
lated by ambitious longings for southern sup
port. The fact is selfevident, that what pre-
tends to be the Democratic party is pro-slavery
in its character, and ready to ~connive at or
openly sanction the worst designs of the slave
ry~-propagandists. With such a party we do
not believe that the mass of the Democrats of
this County desire and intend to act. The ne
cessity no longer exists, for a remedy is found
in the movement which designs to unite in a
Republican party those who will not approve
the efforts now being made by slavery to cast
the dark shadow of the accursed and %unfortu-
nate institution over the whole of this Union.
Breaking away from the letters of party, the
freemen of this Commonwealth have already
spoken their detestation of the schemes of
slavery which party leaders were seeking to
palliate and justify. But to be effective, the
friends of Freedom must be united in some Or