The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1867-05-25
Tho Rannhlican Party.

makes no eoncealment Of lie purpose To give |
equality before tho law to all men-to raise
prescribed class from the degradation into which
years Of bondage and cruelty has placed them,
and 10 teach this class their duties as men And
eitissns and 10 dt them 10 become part Of the
political power Of the nation.
For many ysars the Democratic party ruled
the politics Of the country. Il wAs beloved and
trusted. Il gave Us our Presidents, our Senates
and Houses Of Representatives, our Governors.
But gradually, is purposes developed themselves
-iu mask waa laid aside, and Il stood forth re-
vealed TO tho world as the champion Of slavery, |
as the protector OF that aecursed system Of bon.
dage aud tyranny that 20 long rendered the Cni- |
ted States and he boasied rPHbiieaH institutions
a reproach 10 the uame Of civilization. Gnadu-
ally, the best ren Of the Democratic party fell
away from their idol. They saw iis utter rot
tenness--its complete adherence to the doctrine
ofslAvery and State Rights, aud could no longer
trust IL. The Republican PARTY was lormed
/, told tho world that Il eontended for the abo.
lition Of slavery 10 tho land-no more, no Ices
IL announced lie purpose Of battling on until
there should be no Stare in any State Of the
Union. Il prospcred ike green bay tree.
because iis purpose and objects found ready
response in the breasts Of all whose ideas Of rrh,
had not been warped and blun,ed By the work
ings Of the peculiar institution, aud al las,
came the hour Of It's great triumph-whcu Abra-
ham Lincoln was elected President Of the United
States The Democratic party now FASTENED To
tear the mask from their faces, a. an appendayc
longer useless and uHnecrssary Il announced
its purpose to break ~ ne Gorsrn,sem TO rni,,
what il could not rais--,o withdraw the States
welded 10 its doctrines from the Union, and Ia
set NJ Government Of ia own, where vass.lagc
and slavery nigh, he forever propsga,ed, and
where the hated Yankee nigh, never come
TO interfere. But here another and the noblcst
irai, IN the character OF the Republican rAr,y de-
veloped itself Republicans everywhere announc.
ed themselves as opposed TO a dissolution OF the
Union-io breaking up Of the government 81
our fathers. and with plain constitutional provi-
sions To guide them, declared that the Union
should not be dissolved determination reach
ell calmly aud deliberately, and one in whicl,
they were joined by hundreds OF thousands who
had heretofore acted with Democracy aud the Bell
Everett party. Democrats withdrew eleven States
from the Unon-stole government property. and
dehed the power Of the United States 10 conauer
or subdue them. The spirit Of the Republican,
part! arose equal TO the emergency All over
the land-by loyal men everywhere--i; was De.
creed ,ha; dissolution was impossible--,ha, the
Union should not b. broken up-that the ln.,
man and the last dollar should Lc furnished IN
the suppression ~ the rebellion and the es,ab
lishneni OF the general Governfnen; rs the Su.
preme power Of the land War cnsued. and for
four years waged with fury unparalleled an!
carnage Unprecedented There were periods in
iis history when the prospects fcf the triumph
OF the Union cause were gloomy enough--wheu
dark clouds lowered around Us. and when i,
seemed that We must lose al for which We were
eoniending. Bur never, during even the dark
est periods Of our war history. did the Republi.
can Marty of the country WAIVER in lie grea, pur.
posc. AS fast as the fortunes and expenses O:
the war depleted our armies or exhaus,si our
treasury. both were bull, up again. EIuudre,,
OF thousands Of gallant men leii their Northern
hOmes, TO die, IL need be, upoH our fair South.
'ern land in the great efsor, OF building ~ our
-alnosi-shai,ered Confederacy; millions dol.
las were Podrcd into our national treasury. to
furnish the necessities o. the war, and liaeul,i-,
seemed TO only deepen the determination OF the
loyal men Of the nation tia, " treason should 60
" down" a, last, the tide OF battle turned
Victory after victory perched upon our banners.
and proclaimed that the high hopes OF patriot. |
ism were about being realized. Richmond. the |
great centre OF Rebellion the heart Of the South
ern Confederacy was captured land, as IL by a
righteous compensation, the capture was effected
by negro troops J the chief cities Of the South
were occupied by the United States forces Ice.
johnson, Taylor and all the military chief,ain, o.
the rebel army, Surrendered as prisoners Of war
Davis, their head. tn cir chief eonspira.o, their
leading traitor, Was fugitive, soon, however,
70 be captured in 4 disguise disxrAeefal 10 his
manhood.
The rebellion was ended-iis armies had been
scattered and iis war spirit crushed But vet
there was great work to accomplish The
status Of the lately seeded States had 10 be de-
fined, and the terms Of their coIspleie res,orA-
sion 10 tho Union clearly set forth. True TO ia
principles, the Republican party iaposei M
harsh terms. It simply demanded complete
annulling Of all the acts Of revolution, a full &C.
knowlsigmen, Of the supremacy OF the national
government, tho passag Of laws forever forbid
ding slavery upoo American soil and = reeoRni-
tioa Of those lately held 10 slavery az American
citizens, subject 10 our laws ausenahle 10 he nun.
ishments aud entitled 10 iis benefits. The old
spirit OF Democracy, true to is instincts refused
taFIa aaA swteh a -
eonquering than a conquered people, demanded |
immediate admission back into the u mon, with
out concession OF at0nsmeni for past offences o.
promises for future action. When the Republic |
can party sAw their &c aerous proposition soson-
ssnp'uousiy treated, they determined 10 recon
s'raei the Union on their own terms, without
further Concessions 20 traitors aud Is an aid 10
the accomplishment Of their grea, purpose, have
determined TO eniranehss al tsyal aasa--to give |
me privilege OF the halo, even 10 that dsspised
race 90 long held in bondage aud ignorance, bu,
"hose inherent patriotism wAa 50 great that they |
early recognized our Gag a. the emblem Of their |
dellvsranee, and In tho darkest period o. our |
var, rallied beneath lie folds and ba,,led man. |
fully for lie supremacy.
The Republican party stands to-day - the |
open and avowei friends of" manhood suffrage"
u advocates the doctrine Of the Declaration Of
Independence, that "al mes were created fs~s
" and equal" and all entitled alike 10 "liS.
liberty and the pursuit Of happiness" aud to
the benefits Of The Government under when they
livsi u contends tina ell who aided In the sup
preston Of the rObellon who risked their lives |
upon baiils-plains, on the lonely pleket-line and
on The frovnlng fortress, shoali have a voice
and vote In the formation and administration Of |
laws ass'snsa 10 Affect the whole people. Tho
kspuouoAn party cAsss no mora for the iomAnce
OF politics Than dess any other party Il has
saved the country ana a.. a..t... A.. ..,.i,,.A