Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-11-25
The Duty Of the Republican Party.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25. 1868
The Duty Of the Republican Party.
The elections in November have placed
the control of all branches Of tho govern
ment in the hands of the Republic"n parry
for at least the next two yesr~- iii' 'o'u''
Ia. h..n owing not 90 much to the convIc-
7,,5s that the Republican party |
ar has done all that was expected
:. or all that it might have done, as to /
fbc fact that the Democratic party had
nothing to recommend it to the favor of the
voting population Of the country. The
large vote given for candidates like Seymour
and Blair, with such record behind them
A. the Democratic party have made for
themselves in the last eight years, is the
highest evidence that the Republican party
has not done for the country all, or the best,
that it might have done; and now that i.
has the opportunity Of administering the
government until another election. il should
not lose sight for 3 moment of the duty
which this election has cast upon it. This
duty Is not to maintain itself in power, to
distribute offices and patronage to its friends
and supporters, to give the spoils 10 the
victors, to favor one friend with . fat con-
tract and another with a lucrative appoint
nent; but the paramount obligation which
the party owes the country for this triumph,
ie TO administer the government in the in
terests of freedom, securing to every person
in the whole extent OF the country the
largest liberty of every kind which can be
enjoyed by any one without taking from
another the enjoyment Of the life, liberty
and pursuit Of happiness which he claims
for himself. No government should be ad-
ministered in the interest Of a party q
class. The triumph of party should never
be construed as the triumph Of men, bus
always as the victory of principles If the
Republican party has anything to dis
tinguish it from the party which voted for
Seymour and Blair. it is its honesty, and its
loyalty,-as that word has been used to dis
tinguish between those who preferred the
triumph of freedom to the triumph of
slavery 10 the late war. The people knew
it had done better in the past, and they had
confidence it would do better in the future
sHdii tuC AHiS SOOA
record, and this faith in lis future. gave it
the victory. 1t must now use that victory
with the utmost fidelity to it's pledges, and
with single eye to the good of the country,
or it will deserve the condemnation which
will surely overtake it if it fails 10 answer
the expectations Of the people
No party ever had fairer future before
it than now waits upon the party which has
just elected Grant. 1t has triumphei in
three successive national elections. Is has
preserved the nation from destruction
free republic. While its record is not spot
less, it is yet blazoned with the grandest
achievements that ever illustrated the annals
of any party Emancipation, the subliaest
achievement of this century, was its work.
In spite of the pistol of the assassin, and the
treachcry of Johnson, it has insisted on max
ing emancipation something more than a
name Eminent men, who claimed to be
leaders in its ranks, have attempted to stop
its march, and break its solid front, but it
has left them soiIed in the miro of their own
treachery, has closed up its ranks and steadi-
" advanced. And it has now, by a grand
movement all along the line, carried its q ,g
once more to a decisive triumph.
Bat this victory must not be meaningless
The purity must not be one of high resolves,
only, but It must honestly carry out in its adj
ministration it's principles. 1t must be pure
and honest 1t must keep clear from even the
suspicion Of corruptly administering the gov
eminent. 1t must turn deaf ear and
cold shoulder to the opportunities Of the
thousands of soldiers of fortune. who will
ask for reward for political service. Ii
must keep swindlers and peculators and
thieves out of Office It must reform the
administration of the government, AMI make
the virtue of honesty of prime value in
every department of public afiirs. 1t must
set itself about the business of taking care
Of the country, and let the MN who follow
it's victorious march for the plumber they hope
to find in its train, understand that the
g1vernmen. does MT fee l hungry a1ventur
ers, but employs itseif in the decent work Of
consulting the public god, and making and
administering laws for the vast populations
which now, and shall hereafter, inhabit the
Unreasonable territory between the Allan
tic and Pacific.
And it must never forget that it is the
party of progress. the party of new ideas
the party that ever assails all forms of des-
potism and caste and privilege, and work
ever for expanding and progressive hu-
manity.-the party that learns everything,
and is not ashamed to forget the knowledss
that the new ago has shown to be useless. Is
faith of to-day shall thus become its expert
ence Of tomorrow, while the new day shall
ever bring to its hands new work, and to its
brain new ideas, its eye sweeps wider
horizon, and the wants and possibilities oil
this mighty western empire ever make new
demands upon it.
If the Republican party will take up the
responsibilities which this election has put
upon it, in something Of this spirit, it will
not only secure to itself permanent posses
sion of tn. government, but it will do what
il infinitely better, it will make the govern
ment, the purest and the best in the world
And it will thus fulfill the most hopeful
dreams of those who laid the foundations o
our government, and make for the untolt
millions who shall yet fill our broad land,
great, free, peaceful and prosperous com
vron-ealfh