The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-13

VI
the story. The clouds are cleared up. the sun
shines forth, and we lay down the book. glad
to have read it.
The REPUBLICAN PARTY AND ITS PRIsrDEvrr. CAxpp,rs
Comprising Accurate Descriptive History Of ,b-
Republican Party in the United States from its orig,,
in 1916 To its Dissolution in lss2; ofthe Whig and Du
ocratc Parties during the nterre gnum and of II. r.
formation in 1885, Defend Freedom OF Sperch and of
the Press, and 10 Resist the Slave Power \yub H.,
graphical Sketches and Portraits Of Fremont and D,
ton. By Benjamin F Hall. New York and Aubur.
Miller, Orton Mulligan. 1856.
A new political party has been inaugurated BIZ
the people. Estimating its success already by
the hold which it has on their sympsthies. az
shown in the suffrages of freemen, it is destined
to an ultimate triumph. The Republican Party
is not the mere revival of an old name or psr
ty, or of some long forgotten issues. 1t has il,
foundation far deeper. Never since our exist
ence as nation has there been a party IL hi,
country so much imbued with earnest religious
emotion and solemn conscentiousness as in
this case. The reason is plain enough-it is
based on great moral principle. On former
questions, of bank or no bank, tariff or no tariff
appropriations or not for internal improvement.
and similar ones of utility, real or faueied,
there might be opposite views entertained with.
out implying moral obliquity; but on the one
great issue, as to whether an immortal crea.
ture OF God is to be shorn of every higher priv.
ilege than the brute that has no soul to be-
accounted for, and whether a curse or bless.
ing is to rest on the opening domain Heaven
has intrusted to our stewardship, there is q
moral responsibility that makes it a vastly DIFF.
ferent thing. There is a right and a wrong
side, and its bearings are not only for time, but
too for eternity. The Republican Party have
grasped upon this principle-at least the true
and better men of it have done so. All may
not have seen or embraced it. Selfish ends,
no doubt, have led many to ally themselves to
its rising fortunes. They see its star travelling
upward, and know that in the future its ascend.
ency is sure. But the strength and lasting ele.
ment which present reverses will not weaken, sin
the deep-seated moral power it has gained and
is gaining upon the hearts and conscisnces of
the great religious community. 1t is this which
has given it life, and will keep it alive. Little
do they know who have been arrayed against
it, and who in the shouts of their triumph may
have not the still small voice that cannot be
hushed, and so fancy it dead and buried, with
what a potency it will exert itself and the
longer is pent up the gathering force, the more
fateful to them will be the final outburst. The
Republican Party has but just begun its giant
labors. If so powerful its infant strength, what
will its grasp be, when it has longer fed on
celestial food, and it enters upon its manhood's
work! A book that shall give succinct and
clear account of its origin and progress, thus
far, would be an invaluable manual for future
use. 1t should present the statistics and the
principles that form the basis of action, devel,
oping the elements of its power, and so display
It's relations to the future prosperity of our
country, as most convincingly to appeal to the
candid patriot of every name. But, is the vol
ume before US such book2 We are sorry to
feel constrained to say, no! 1t wants Impair
tiality. 1t goes far back, and, through all the
former conflicts Of the Federalist Democratic,
ANN W hiS oAe iOot ~ Si'co % OuO-oiuSd NlCNs
It could scarcely be otherwise, when so taking
up the collateral and minor questions at ISSUE
There are many of the warmest friends of the
Republican Party who will feel that great in.
ustice is done in the statements made-not
hat the author meant any such thing, but it is
almost a necessary result, that he must be gov
rned by his former party views. The book,
however, contains many interesting portions,
-ad especially when he leaves side issues, and
'omeS 20 the true and great issue-that which
has brought pogS.har as one so many Of 9th
erwise conflicting opinions, to withstand and
Almost the only value of his book. 1t wants
statistics and if it were Tecast
entirely, so as to confne it to the one main OBJ
ect, it would in our opinion be far more effect
We. The sketches of the leaders and Presi-
lential candidates, and especially the hkenesses
If Fremont and Dayton, add an interest to the
,ook.
We deny not an authors right to compose
! book as he pleases, and to make history OF
'arties, touching on the various questions and
lections for half century or more but as a
history or exhibition Of the noao Republican
'arty, to which so little of the whole is devo-
cd, it is failure. 1t is as such that we put
own our judgment upon it-others may esti-
nate it differently.
The Republican Party will be more heard of
GREATER, and we can scarcely doubt it will be
he popular party by the time of another four
ears.