The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-14
c.,,0,plv no ono ought 10 have o,,imod TIM,

Certainly no ono ought 10 have claimed that
they should be re admitted under such rulo
that their organization az States could ever
again be used, as at tho opening Of tho war,
to defy tho national authority, or to destroy
the national unity. This principle ha, been
tho polo star Of those WHO haya inasxibly In.
sisted on the Congressional policy your cor.
vention so cordially endorsed Baiied ~ Elk
eeative opposition and BY persistent refunds
10 accept any plan OF reconstEuclCh PrOIrrtj
By Congress, justice and public safety nj last
combined TO teach US that only b. an enlarge.
ueut Of suffrage in those States could the De.
sired end DO attained and that 1t was even
mere safe TO give tho ballot 10 those who loved
tho Union than to those who had sought in.
effectually to destroy it. The assured success
of this legislation is being written on the ada
mant of history, and will DO cur triumphant
yindicstion. More clearly, too, than ever be.
fore does thoitI on now recognise that the
| greatest glory, republic Is, that II throws
the shield Of its protection over the humblest
and the weakest Of Its people, and vindicates
the rights Of the poor and the powerless as
faithfully as those Of the rich and the power.
ful.
rejoice, too, 10 this connection, to end in
your platform the frank and fearless ayowal
that the naturaliEed citizens must DO protected
! abroad "at every hazard, as though they were
native born" Our whole people are foreign.
| ers or descendants of foreigners. Our fathers
established by arms their right TO be called .
nation. 1t remains for us to establish the right
to welcome to our shores all who are willing
by oaths Of allegiance to become American
| citizens Perpetual allegiance, as claimed
abroad, 10 only another name for perpetual
| bondage, and would make all slaves to the soil
whore 6rst they saw the light Our national
cemeteries prove how faithfully these oaths Of
fidelity to their adopted land have been sealed
in tho life blood Of Thousands upon thousands.
Should we not then be faithless TO the dead II
We did not protect their living brethren 10 the
enjoyment Of that nationality, for which side
by side with the native born our soldiers Of
foreign birth laid down their lives.
1t was fitting, too, that the representatives
Of party which had proved so true to nation.
al duty In time Of war, should speak so clearly
in time Of peace for the maintenance unfair.
nished Of national honor, national credit and
good faith as regards its debt, the cost of our
national existence.
do not need TO extend this reply by further
comment on a platform which has ELECTED
such hearty approval throughout the land
The debt Of gratitude 1t Acknowledges to the
brave man who saved the Union from destrue-
tion-the frank approval Of amnesty based on
repentance and loyalty-the dsn.Ind for the
most thorough econ"-- and honesty In the
Government s.e sympathy Of the party Of
liberty 18th all throughout the world who long
C5f the liberty We here onjoy-snd the recog.
milton Of tho sublime principles Of he Decla
ration Of Independence are worthy Of the
organization on whose banners they are to be
written in tho coming contest
Its past record cannot be blpttrd Out or for
: gotten. II there had been no republican
party slavery would to-day cast It's baleful
shadow over the Republic. II thore had been
! no Republican party, free press and free
, speech would be as unknown from the POtO.
nnc to the Rio Grande as ten years ago. If
the Republican party could have been stricken
from existence whom the banner Of rebellion
was uniurled, and when this response Of mo
coercion wa heard at the North, we would
have had no nation to-day. But for the Re.
publican party daring to iisk the Udium of tax
and draft laws, our flag could not have been
kept ayib- Un the field Till the Ions .look cd for
victory came. Without Republican party,
the civil rights bill, the guarantee Of equality
under the law to tho humble and the defence.
less as we'll ne to the strong, would rot be to.
DAY upon our tionAI 'tatute-bOok,
With such Inspirations from the past, and
following the example of the founders Of the
Republic, who called the victorious General Of
tho Revolution to preside ever the land his
triumphs had saved from its enemies, cannot
doubt that our labors will bo crowned with
success. And it will DO success that will
bring restored hopo, confidence, prosperity,
and progress South as well rs North, West as
we'll as East, and above all, the blessings un.
der Providence Of national concord and peace.
Very truly, yours,
SCHUYLER COLFAN