Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-10-25
FACTIONALIsM I'm THE REPUB-
LIGAN PARTY.


The history of the Republican party in
the United. States is the history Of progress
and liberty. We're it to die to morrow, it
would leave such record as no other party
iu the history ofthe world has le.f IL ba
sed upon the eternal principles Of liberty and
justice, and though now eud then bold men
have endeavored to WELD it fortheir own pc
litieal aggrandizement, yet when the great
masses of the party have been reached, they
have adhered steadfastly to principles with
out any regard for the creatures Of their
will.
This is as it should be The Republican
party was never organized for the mere per-
sonal aggrandizement Of men ~ individuals.
1t was organized and maintains its ureauiza-
tion for the promotion oftho principles pro
mulgated by the Declaration oi AHotican
Independence And when il ceases to adro-
cate such principles, then it has no longer
any right to ask the adherence ofits hereto
iure faithful advocates. The bond which
has heretofore bound them viii then bo
severed, and they will be left free to act
where they find congenial principles.
In Pennsylvania, however, afew men have
cndeavored to elevate themselves to the pre-
judice of the principles so plainly laid down
III the Republican creed. II ~ og,tisst this
that zee desire Ia e9,ttr our Soi,aiR protest.
There is no reason why the Republican par
ty should throw itself into the hands Of any
individual or individuals. Every locality
has within itself sufficient talents and patriot.
ism to sustain the vitality necessary to give
it success, and to proclaim its great funda
mental truths This being the case, no one
man is necessary at its head to hold il togeth-
cr, aud the man who attempts to force him
selfby money or other improper means, un-
less it were by mere weight of talents, to
position where he wiz be regarded as the
exponent Of Republican principles, is
usurper and should be diseountensnged by
every well wisber ofthe organization. 1t may
be dangerous to give utseranee TO such en-
timents, lest che author Of them be mark
ed for future reference. But we want it
distinctly understood that the only standard
Of superiority with US is brains, aud that we
shall We allow the Republican party to be-
come the mere vehicle to carry selfish aud
vain men into power if we can avoid it.
The great Republican party Of the great
state of Pennsylvania, for the last half dozen
years, has presented the humiliating spectacle |
of contending between two individuals, as if /
upon the success of the one or the other de-
pended the success of the principles of po- /
litical liberty for all time to come The con-
test between these gentlemen reminds Us Of /
an old sohoolboy play, wherein the leaders
or captains endeavor to seize the party at (
tached to the coat. tail Of the opposite leader
or captain, and attach them to his own
The little wanJon DoYs VINO participate |
in this play are truly to be pitied, ifnot exc.
Grated. And strange TO say not unfrequent- /
ly men of talents have figured in the rear Of /
these partizans, and kicked and foundered /
about as if all depended upon the amount of
dust that they could kick up Such men
generally have their price and are rendering |
service in return for value received, - or
for what they expect TO receive.
The Republican Party must raise itself
above these rings, formed for mere spoils, |
or die Of corruption. It is the fate of every |
great party, and the only manner in which |
The evil can be efadicated is for the rank
aud filo to ignore politicians and select men
from their ranks who are known to be hon
est. Men stand ready in almost every COM
munity to sell out to the highest Sdder,
without any regard as to who is sacrificed /
Legislatures are bribed almost by wholesale,
and corruption stalks abroad in high places
as if It were honorable for men to deaI in
the conscienees Of their fellow men. Much
of this corruption comes from the factional-
ism of which we speak The time has ar
rived when the honest advocates Of Bepub-
lican principles should apply the rod to
their trickey brethren, and we mean to do
and spare not, - let come what will