The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-11

systems by the English Lecompton bill and the
bred Scott decision, on the ground that the
free States ought not to enter the Union with
out a population equal to the representative
basis Of one member of Congress, although slave
States might come in without inspection as to
their numbers.
Will any member of the Democratic party
now here claim that the authorities chosen by
the sufrages of the party transcribed their
partisan platforms, and so misrepresented the
party in the various transactions | have recited
Then l ask him to name one Democratic states
man or legislator, from Van Buren, to Walker, who
either timidly or cautiously like them, or bold
ly and defiantly like Douglas, ever refused to
execute behest of the shareholders, and was
not therefore, and for no other cause immedi-
ately denounced, and deposed from his trust,
and repudiated by the Democratic party for
that contumacy.
l think, fellow-citizens, that I have shown
you that it is high time for the friends of Free
dom to rush to the rescue of the Constitution,
and that their very first duty is to dismiss the
Democratic party from the administration of the
Government
Why shall it not be done? All agree that it
ought to be done. What, then, shall prevent its
being done? Nothing but timidity or division
OF the opponents of the Democratic party.
and some another. Let us notice these obiec-
tons briefly. One class say that they cannot
trust the Republican party that it has not
avowed its hostility to Slavery boldly enough, or
its affection for Freedom earnestly enough.
ask, in reply is there any other party which
can be more safely trusted2 Every one knows
that it is the Republican party, or none that
shall displace the Democratic party But |
answer, further, that the character and fidelity
of any party are determined, necessarily, not
by its pledges, programmes, and Platforms but
by the public exigencies, and the temper of the
people when they call it into activity. Subser-
viency to Slavery is law written not only on
the forehead of the Democratic party, but also
in its very soul-so resistance to Slavery, and
devotion to Freedom, the popular elements now
actively working for the Republican party
among the people, must and will be the re-
rOurces for its everrenewing strength and con-
slant invigoration.
Others cannot support the Republican party, be-
cause it has not sufficiently exposed its platform,
and determined what it will do and what it will
not do, when triumphant. 1t may prove too
progressive for some, and too conservative for
Others AS if any party ever foresaw so clearly
the course of future events as to plan a univer-
sal scheme for future actio adapted to all pos
sible emergencies. Who would ever have Join
ed even the Wing party of the Revolution, if it
had been obliged to answer, in 1878, whether it
would declare for Independence in l776, and
for this noble Federal Constitution OF ours in
1887, and not year earlier or later?
The people Of the United States will be as
wise next year, and the year afterward and
even ten years hence, as we are now. They
will oblige the Republican party to act as the
public welfare and the interests of Justice and
humanity shall require, through all the stages
of its career, whether of trial or triumph
Others will not venture an effort because they
fear that the Union would not endure the
change. Will such directors tell me how long
a Constitution can beear strain directly along
the hbres of which it is composed? This is a
Constitution of Freedom. 1t is being converted
into Constitution of Slavery. 1t is repub-
lican Constitution. 1t is being made an aris-
tocratic one. Others many wish to wait until
some collateral questions concerning temper
ance or the exercise of the elective franchise
are properly settled. Let me ask all such per-
sons, whether time enough has not been wasted
on these points already without gaining any
other than this single advantage namely, the
discovery that only one thing can be ef1ectually
done at one time, and that the one thing which
must and will be done at any one time is Just
that thing which Is most urgent, and will no
longer admit OF pOstpOnement or delay. Final
ly we are told by taint-hearted men that they
despond the Democratic party, they say, is I'M
cOnquerable, and the dominion of Slavery is
consequently inevitable. reply to them, that
the complete and universal dominion of Slavery
would be intolerable enough when it should
have come after the last possible effort to escape
should have been made There would in that
case be left to us the cOnsolng reflection of
fidelity to duty
Ruf ranly fnrtbor tbot lno,,, c., I'LL
know better than 1.-The resources and the en-
erges of the Democratic party, which is identi-
cal with the Slave Power | do ample prestige
to its traditional popularity. know, further
few, think, know better than THE difficulties
and disadvantages of organizing a new political
force like the Republican party and the obsta-
cles 1t must encounter in labOring without pres
hge and without patronage. But, notwithstand-
ing all this, know that the Democratic party
must go down, and the Republican party must
rise into its place. The Democratic party de-
rived Its strength originally from its adoption of
the principles of equal and exact justice to all
men. so long as it practiced this principle
faithfully, 1T was invulnerable. 1t became vul-
nerable when it renowned it, and since that
time it has maintained itself. not by virtue of
It's own strength, or even of its traditional mer-
It's, but because there as vet had appeared in
the political field no other party that had the
conscience and tho courage to take up and
avow and practice the life-inspiring principle
which the democratic party had surrendered
AT last, the Republican party had appeared. 1t
avows now, as the Republican party of 1900
dld, IN one word, its faith and its works. Equal
and exact justice to all men, Even when it
hrst entered the field, only half organized it
struck blow which only just failed to secure
complete and triumphant victory. In this, its
second campaign, it has already won advanta-
ges which render that triumph now both easy
and certain
The secret of its assured success lies in that
very characteristic which, in the mouth of scot
fers, constitutes its great and lasting imbeciity
ana reproach. 1t lies in the fact that it is a
party of one idea; but that idea is a noble
one-an idea that fills and expands all gener.
Gus souls; the idea of equality-ths equality of
all men before human tribunals and human
laws, as they all are equal before the Divine
tribunal and Divine laws.
know, and you know, that revolution has
begun. j know, and all the world knows, that
revolutions never 90 backward Twenty Sena.
tors and hundred Representatives proclaim
boldly In Congress to-day sentiments and opn-
ions and principles of Freedom which hardly 80
many men even in this free State dared to utter in
their own homes twenty years ago. While the
Government ofthe United States, under the con-
duct OF the Democratic party, has been all that
time surrendering one plain and castle after
another to Slavery, the people of the United
States have been no less steadily and persever-
lngiy gathering together the forces with which
to recover back again all the fields and all the
castles which have been lost, and to confound
and overthrow, by one decisive blow, the be-
trayers OF the Constitution and Freedom for
ever.