Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-09-25
A Record NOT to be Ashamed of.


elected MIR. Lincoln to the Presidency. A
stranger to our national affairs who should
read the Democratic history OF the present
Administration would suppose that misrule,
tyranny, imbeclity, wickedness and corrup-
ton had marked its every step, and that no
good thing could come of its continued ex-
istence.
So laborious have been these Democratic
historians, that very considerable number
Of the American people have been led to be-
lieve that the Republican party was synony-
nous with everything that was false, corrupt
and wicked in political affairs. On the other
hand, the members of that party are confirm
ed in the faith, that its mission was destined
to redeem the nation and elevate it to its true
position.
The party came into national power on the
4th of March, 1861, when through the imbe-
cility of Buchanan and treason Of his consti
| tutional advisers the nation was without an
army sufficient to protect its frontier from In
the protection Of our own coasts-with the
finances of the country on the verge of bank
ruptcy-in fine, it was weak, corrupt and
penniless.
! Many of the States had rebelled against tine
authority and trampled under foot the Con-
sttuton and flag of the country, and the
| or &c
heard in their principal towns and cities, pre-
pairing to make war, so soon as the sceptre of
power was taken from them under the forms
Of law.
| In this condition Mr.. Lincoln took the
reins Of government. Two years and hall
have passed, and we may ask, what has the
Republican party done, that it should claim
the appreciation of the people? With pleas
uable emotions we point to record that
will live in the future history of this govern
ment, proud monument to the wisdom and
patriotism of the Republican party. But
what has it done?
1st 1t has raised the Republic from one Of
the smallest to the greatest military power in
the world.
I'd. 1t has retrieved the national credit and
placed it upon an immovable basis.
Sd. 1t has given US a national currency so
superior to the wildcat paper, as medium
Of exchange, and Of sure redemption, that
even the most vru'ent opponents of the par
ty rejoice in the change.
| 4th. 1t has given US protective tariff, SO
beneficial in its advantages to the industry Of
the country that it has bat few enemies.
9Th. 1t has abolished slavery and polyga-
my in all the national Territories, by which
they are forever secured to the interests of
| white men.
9th. Its policy has created large and
popular party in Missouri, Kentucky, Ten
nessee, Maryland and West Virginia in favor
| of Kidding those States Of the incubus Of sla
very.
18th. 1t has added Kansas to the Union as
Free State.
sth. 1t has given the nation generous
| Homestead law, by which the unoccupied
lands are free to the people.
9Th. 1t has given the right of way and
material aid to the construction of that great
national thoroughfare, the Pacific Railroad.
10th. In the midst of civil war it has held
with an iron grasp, and fostered and defend
ed, all the previously organized Territories,
| and has organized the new Territories Of Da
cotah, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho and Arizona.
18th. 1t has fortified our Atlantic and Pa
| ci6c coasts and our northern border and Civ
en- US navy second in power and effective
ness to none other in the world.
! 18th. 1t has re conquered the entire Mis-
sissippi Valley and opened the great river to
| free commerce.
18th. 1t has re-conquered Maryland, West
Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri,
more than half of Arkansas, Louisiana, Flor
ida, Mississippi, Northern Alabama and
| Georgia.
18th It has re-taken nearly every leading
city in the South, including st. Louis, Balti-
| more, Nashville, New Orleans, Vicksburg,
Memphis, Natchez, Norfolk, Pensacola, New
berne, and will soon have Charleston and
Mobile.
10Th. 1t has re-captured nearly every fort
on the Southern coast formerly belonging to
the Union.
10th. 1t has developed enormous financial
power in the loyal States, far exceeding any
thing ever dreamed of before in this country.
18th. 1t has demonstrated that the re-
sources Of Free Society are inexhaustible, and
that the most gigantic war cannot impair
them.
18th. Greater than all, it has demonstra-
ted the unbounded and invinclble strength of
the National Government, which defes rebel
lions, and is capable to cope with any foe.
10th. By an energetic policy toward Trai-
tors, it has brought to the surface those
among us whose veneration for Slavery is
greater than Of great and Free Government
This is the record-these the results of
Republican power and policy. They have
been achieved despite the armed hosts of re-
bellion and in the face of the most bitter op
position of the so called Democratic party
We submit them to the consideration of every
intelligent man, with the inquiry if such a
party, with such history written in two and
half memorable years, is not worthy the
confidence and support CT every true patriot
Will any loyal man affiliate with the oppo-
nents and villifers of that record?
A WORD TO UNION BUSINESS MEN.-We