Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-11-20


If Republicans were only striving for tn
possession Of the government, it is easy !
zee that the late elections make it advisabl
for them to abandon some of the positions !,
respect to suffrage which they have taken
but which have proved unpopular in som
states in which they have Just been submit
ted to vote. Politicians who look wit
disiavor upon principles which have bect
voted down in an election. are just now bus,
in trying 70 persuade Republicans Doc
little tried two years ago-that their first
duty is success and there are many who ar,
ready u listen 10 such persuasion Men il
ohce surrender their positions usually witt
the greatest reluctance, and few of them ar,
Steidfast emo Igh not u Weld something 81
their principles to save their places and
when party i in power, as has been the
case for the ut six years with the Repub!i
party. this subordination of principle
20 success more o. less fleets the whole par
y Those in Office willing to stay in
and those ont of Office are willing to be pur
in, and both are therefore anxious that tie
party shall make winning fight. The lon
ger party has had power, the less easy or
pleasant 1t Is 10 surrender it, and the more
.iilhcUlt it l., in case elections result unEayOr-
ably, to keep the party up to the support Of
ideas which put in peril party success.
Why should party have any existence ,
Obviously there two objects which may
lead to d party organization. One is 4 de-
-ire for Office. and the power and patronage
that comes with Office. TIE other is a de
termination to give shape u the institutions
of the country. and administer the govern
ment shall be for the wei are of the whole
people The Republican party had its origin
in the latter idea. IL was not a large body
at the outset The pioneers in the old party
Of freedom advocated the unpopular idea.
that all men were created equal. and entitled
to equal lights in any government which
could be called rightly a government of the
people They never advanced this idea be-
cause they thought it would lead to political
promotion, the SPOTS Of office, but rattle
because they were convinced of its inherent
justice, and were willing t. become the teach
ers and preachers of an unwelcome truth
were the reformers who were recalling the
thoughtful and conscientious voters of the
country to the true theory of the govern
ment- For years the party had nothing to
give; no Office at its command; nothing bat
q remote prospect of success before it. 1t
however, succeeded in touching the con
science of the nation, and gradually grew
Str - I 1 l.
every Jrthsfn S-tte. As its increasin.
numbers gave some promise of not distan
party triumph, it, ranks were swelled rapid
ly by those who are always ready TO - oven
q the winning side To share the fruits of vic
tory and it has. therefore, since coming in
t. power had its full share of men who have
no CONS -ientiOus devotion u principles; an,
during the storm Of the recent rebellion. il !
has been reinforced with large additions 0
those who voted with the party be ause ii /
was patriotic. and stood by the fag against
all enemies Now, wien the storm Of wal |
has passed, and the old party cries are re |
vived, 1t is not prising that some whc 1
joined the party, not because they belicveC |
in universal freedom, but because they de |
sired a stable government. should scet |
az in their old party associations; nor Is |
m,rc surprising that those who joined til,
party because it was successful should. In |
view of this weakening of its power at the |
ballpt-box, advise the party to abandon it,
princip es in order to keep it, hold on tn, |
government.
But as the party had its origin in pur-
pose to reform the administration of the gov !
eminent, and make it thoroughly Republican, |
it cannot yield that purpose to hostile yer
dict at the polls What progress would tic
old Liberty party have male in the grandcst |
work of this century. the abolition of slavery |
if it had not stood fast by its principles |
against majoritics, mobs and cannon shot |
OF what use is party of reform, unless it |
pre- 'ches It's principles to unwilling we'll a.
willing ears ? OF what Consequence is it to
the country whether Republican or a Dem /
ocrat occupies the presidential chair. if the |
policy OF the administration is to remain ur-
changed Ii the people are not vet per
suaded that equal ri ,hts lie at the foundation /
OF all honest republican government, is hat /
any reason why equal rights should be thrown /
overheard? Rather, is it not a reason vi V |
those, who believe that governments can onl, |
rightfully exist by the consent of the gov
erned, should more earnestly and emphati- |
cally insist on a recognition of that funda- |
mental principle?
The recent elections only chow that there |
is still the greatest need Of the Republican |
party, and OF Republican principles. | |
maJorities are now adverse. the same WORK |
which gave the party, from its small begin
nings, the strength it had in 1860, may over
come them. 1t may do the party no hurt t.
be out of power, but it would not hold IT,
gether week if it deserted its principles |,
has no alternative, and ought to seek none
but it should keep its flag defartly flying
with not one of its stars of principle dinmed.
The future of this country must he CON
tro'led by Republican principles The con
science of the nation will yet fully subscribe
to them. And no Republican worthy of the
name will postpone that result by any base
compromise or cowardly surrender row when
we have advanced SO far into the enemy
country.
K,SsAs--The ohcIal maj )rities of q cour-