Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-03-15

now about the relative merits of diff
ferent candidates for nomination
(Which means eleetion) on the next
Republican State ticket. As time
goes on the plot thickens and the dis
cussion evolves the fact that there
are plenty of individuals fully capable
and still greater number who are
willing to serve the State. particularly
In the capacity Of Governor Among
those talked of who have formally de-
elined a nomination for this Office are
Messrs. sehenck. Garfield. Shellabar-
ger, Cox. Perry and Moody, and among
this number who have not thus de-
elined are Messrs. Cowan, DeIano,
Leggett. Bundy and Cutler It Is not
worth while now to discuss the rela-
tive merits Of any of these gentlemen,
but there are certain important con
siderations which should control the
choice Of cur next nominees, and of
the delegates to the nominating con-
gention, which cannot be too promin-
emily kept before the minds Of the
people. 1t should be remembered
that there can be bat two leading ele-
ments ia our politics and consequently
but two leading political parties, the
/ one conservative and the other pro-
Qrsssive. The instant the Republican
party ceases to be the party of pro-
gress il will lose more than half its
power apsb prestige 1t will lapse at
once into eoaserVatism and surely in-
cur defeat. At no period IN the his
tory OF the country did the exigen-
oiss of the tine more loudly demand
progressive party than now There
must be one-theTe 0iU be oue, and If
it is not the Republican party it viii
be some other. One 0f the principal
reasons why the Democratic party is
aot the party of progress Is because
he Republicans have 1ore-stalIed it.
Their party occupies q proud position
before the world. and the only one In
which an honorable name in history
can be achieved. Let Us retain It.
Let our eagles sin point forward.
There is no time in the history Of par
ties or of individuals at which they
can say, ''let us stop here for there is
no more TO be done we have got far
enough Improvement is just as
much law of politics and morals as
gravitation IS Of nature, and the world
is Just AS certain to go forward as the
sun is to rise iD the heavens on each
successive morning 1t is for parties
to decide which shall lead the advance
and which shall drop behind
There Is a class of men now-a-days
who are forever olamoring for this
thing as it is, aud that thing as it was
They insist that we shall 90 back
where we were before the war, or at
least not advance beyond where we
now are. They are opposed to taking
issue on any new measure, however
just, lest possib " we my commit a mis-
take. of policy. Such men are not iii
to be the leaders Of our party They
will make better rear than van guard,
better armor-bsarers- than standard
bearers or champions Letnone such
be placed upon the State or any other
ticket. Let Us have progressive men
OF the purest coinage-men on whose
political eseutche3ns there Is no stain
Of inconsistent compromise with the
enemy. What particular part of the
State they come from, how long they
have been in public life, or in the
army, or whether they have been there
at all OF not, or questions of minor
Importance The great thing is to
have men who are true as steel to the
great progressive ideas of our party.
These are our nourishment. our vitali
ty, our hope, and we must have caudi- /
dates whose record viii give that con-
6denee in their faithfulness to these /
great principles which will infuse Wig
or and enthusiasm throughout our
ranks.
Our platform, too, should be liberal I
and progressive. The party should /
stand upon the firm basis of equal rights
for all members of society 1t should
declare itself in favor Of renOUneing
forever all the barbarisms Of slavery,
all distinctions Of caste, al disorimina-
siOns against color, race or sex. With
such candidates and such a platform
our triumph viii be sure and it will be
worth something. Ib will not be bar
rem victory Of numbers over numbers
but a triumph of right over wrong, of
truth over error. Let US raise the
banner of progress and select men
worthy to bear it. Ye timid fearful
and unbelieving twenty-five Of the
General Assembly can just step around
to the rear where you viii be safe