The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-10-26
LESSON FROM HISTORY

1t WAS from Pennsylvsnis that in the hour
OF defeat came the only indication of any
disposition to lower our colors and sure nder
one iot or TITLE Of the just principles of Re-
publicanism. We are glad 10 see that that
momentary weakness was not .. all shared
BY the real heart Of Pennsylvania Republi>
canism. We are willing, nay, glad to hear
the loyal men of that State give their judg.
ment upon their late contest; pronounce
their future purpose IN view Of the true re-
suit. So We make this lengthy extract from
the editorial column Of the pi,tsburg Gazette,
ia which. while teaching "a Lesson from
History" it shows that Pennsy vania Repub-
licanism has pluck and will hold fast he
faith
At the commencement Of the year 1862
the Wing party was full of vitality and rave
promise OF long life and many beneficent tri.
umphs. In Juiyn received it's death wound.
aud, lingering some months, expired at the
ballot. boxes the following autumn. II Was
wounded in the house of its friends, and from
the first recovery was hopeless, except in the
minds Of ths devotees Of the false god. E1.
pediency. We were in the Whig National
but mistaken or base representatives of that
party slaughter it. The sight made US sick
at heart. There were cold impassive N gu
there, who reasoned only from the standpoint
of their ambitions, and Thought the way to
success ran only through the door of cruel
and mischievous concession. There were
hmid men there who crawled because South.
ern men clustered. Shiny men were there,
Who crowed about hawking monstrous plat
forms, which they we're anxious to exchange
for their individual preferment Men we're
there who had won fame, genuine eminence,
troops of followers and friends, to sach a do,
gree that their presence attracted sill eyes rs
spontaneous homage, who sought the Vice
Presidency by the sacrifice of manhood. and
they went away shorn, powerless and de-
spised, aud have remained 30 ever since.
BY the platform, which was framed to salt
the Conservatives, and which was more de.
testibiy pro>ssvery than the Democratic one
OF the same vear, all the earnest and disln-
terested men Of the Wing party were paral
yEed or alisnated. All that was lief, them
was acontest for places or contracts, and for
that they had no stomach. They could not
consent TO gam either by surrenderng the
principles they cherished, aud believed to be
essential 10 the prosperity of the country and
the perpetuation Of free Institutions therein.
Alter the Convention Adjourned, We re-
turned 10 our Pennsylvania home, meditate,l
lew days over the shame and humiliation al
the great party to which we were attached
then packed our portmanteau and grati6ed a
long-ehefisbed desire TO know some hat her
socially OF New England BY spending the time
up to Saturday before the election il explor-
ingIt. Multitudes more drew off.
when the election was over, no sane man
aoun.sd out the Wing party vas dead. and
aesHned 70 experience no resurrection. It's
Iue friends sorrowiully buried it from the
sight Of the living Mos. Of the men Who
aided potentially in destroying it, be.ook
themselves, with indecent taste. to the demo.
cratic ranke
:, mere are men who are now plotting q sim.
liar catastrophe TO befall the Republican or.
ganzalion. Greedy of personal influence and
power-loathing . minority AZ the greatest
possible calamity-indifferen to all fund..
mental pr,ue'ples Of right and justice they
seek TO WIN BY lowering the Republican ban.
ne', even 70 trailing Il into the dust. They
Jodge otaers ~ themselves; and % think the
unSorny soAtsmsnts they propoee will offend
and repel uone, but attrsct and retain tens ~
thousands. At best they are self-dece,ye-i
The true function of the Republican party is
The Establishment of Equai Rights before the
Laws Tor all classes OF American citizens.
wren 1t shall discard and contemn that duty,
its days will be numbered, and speedily draw
70 an ignomncus close. If any form of csete
isto be re eetabiished and maintained. thein.
fanny OF the deed will not attach 70 the Repub.
lican but 70 the Democratic party. for the
former VIII have expired before the guilty
communication. No reason exists wbv .nv.
body should be deceived on this head ~
should deceive themselves, touching this mat.
YER The great bulk Of the republicans are
controlled By profound convictions. So lone
as the banner of the party shall symbolize
those convictions they will follow with hearty
tsalty, but not day longer