Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-01-17
GEN. GRANT FOR PRESIDENT.

GEN. GRANT FOR PRESIDENT.
DY HENRY WILSON. - 80
In this year, 1868, the people are TO-
choose Chief Magistrates Six millions
of men, wcaponed with the ballot, will
strive for the giittering prize. Mighty
issues are involved in the impending con-
test. The political organizations, with
sharply defined ideas, principles, and pol
ices, will contend for the mastery, for the
executive power Of the Government, dur
ing the coming four years, in which are to
be garnered up the fruits Of the victories
Of the terrific struggles of the past seven
years, or in which old issues will be re-
opened and old strifes renewed, that must
embitter the future of the Republic.
The people are ranged into two politi-
cal organizations, each with nearly three
millions of voters, name, and history.
The one claims to be the Democratic par
ty; the other calls itself the Republican
party. The history of the country during
the past thirteen eyeutIul years is record
Of the ideas, principles and acts OF these
antagonistic organizations Their issues
have not been, like the ordinary issues Of
political parties, mere questions Of admin.
istrations; but fundamental and vital, us
opposite as the zonith aud the nsdir.
The history of the country for the past
thirty years too clearly shows that the
Democratic party has been dominated by
the dark, inhuman and unchrstian spirit
Of slavery; that il was guided through
series Of years by the councils Of slave
masters, or by leaders in sympathy with
slave masters. That history teaches US
that under that fatal leading the Demo-
cratic party renonneed the faith Of the re-
publican fathers; took from black men
rights accorded by the founders Of the
Republic; struck at tho right Of petitions
annexed slayeholdiug people, syowedly
10 strengthen slavery; opened free soil,
won from Mexico, to human bondage;
enacted the Fugitive Slave law. and then
pronounced its Victories over liberty and
justice "inalities' That history teaches
US. too. that II reopened sectional agiia.
ton by repeating the prohibition Of sla-
very embodied in the Missouri Compro.
mise Of 1920; by sustaining the lawlsss
violence that seized the government Of
Kansas, iuauguraied the reign Of robbery
aud blood, established slavery, aud franz
cd the Lecompton Constitution; that il
hastcned TO accept the Dred Scott dogma,
divided into two hostile factions. the one
shamefully ayowing ths; II ''did not care
whether slavery was voted up or voted
down." aud the other proclaimipg the
right to take slaves into the territories
and hold them in bondage under the au'
thority of the Federal Government; that
il went into the canvass OF 1860 rent In
factions, and was inglorously defeated;
that its old slave master raised the banner
of rebellion; that many Of its Northern
chiefs and their followers gave sympathy
to their old comrades; but that hundreds
of thousands nobly stroye to save their
country, and tens of thousands found in
the Republican rauks new and more con-
genial associations.
The history of the Republic during the
past thirteen years, shows that the Repub.
Iican party has been inspired by the just,
humane aud ennohling spirit Of liberty.
Ii was brought into being amidst the
struggles to repeal the Missouri Compro-
mise aud carry slavery into Kansas. De-
ieaied in its first national contest, il ap-
pealed to the patriotism of the people, to
their love OF liberty and sense OF justice,
Ii called the battle-roll anew, went into
the canvass of 1860 for the freedom Of
the Territories and the restoration of the
Government TO the policy Of the fathers,
and made Abraham Lincoln President.
1t then accepted the bloody issues Of civil
war, rather than betray liberty, or sacrifice
the rights Of race, or the enduring IN.
terests of the nation. In the trials Of
civil war, it made the national capital
free; prohibited slavery in all the terrific
ries; repealed the rugitivs Slave laws;
armed black men TO fight tor their coun-
try; gave liberty to the slaves, when they
enrolled their names on the muster rolls
OF the country's defenders, aud freedom to
che wives and children of colored heroes;
emancipated three aud half millions of
bondmen by executive proclamation, and
all the slaves in the land by constitution
al Amendment. 1t achieved its series Of
splendid victories for freedom, justice aud
humanity in spite Of the stern and per-
sistent opposition of the Democracy.
Since the close of the war, it has through
the Freedmen's Bureau protected and in
structed the weak, aud lifted mp and Civ
en heart and hope TO the landless aud
houseless poor. Inspired by patriotism
aud liberty, and actuated by sense of
justice, it has given the emaucipated bond
men civil rights, the right to testify in
the Courts. TO sue. TO hold property. and
to be protected by equal laws Ii has
given suffrage to colored men in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, in the Territories and
in the rebel States. .f.
Believing in the brotherhood of HUI
inatity, the Republican party disowns the
brutal, vulgar, and wicked dogma that
"this is the white mans government" 1t
accepts rather tho Christian creed Of the
Declaration Of Independence, believing,