Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-05-28


two noble men Who are 70 carry the han
ner in the coming political campaign,
The great principles Of equal rights and
justice to all men sparkle through every
sentence. and the platform as whole Is
in all respects model structure, and
gives ample evidence that the delegates
were true men, who have faithfully per-
formed their duty a, the outset the
country is congratulated ON the success
II the reconstruction measures OF Con-
gress. as eyineed by a majority Of the
States lately in rebellion, presenting loyal
constitutions for re-admission to the
Union. II is declared that equal suffrage
TO all loyal men at the South is demanded
by every consideration Of public graft
tude and duty prononnccs against all
forms OF population Of national indebt-
edness as crime: demands that taxation
shall be reduced and equaliscd; asks the
reduction of interest on the public debt,
ss soon as it can be honorably done. and
that the true course 10 accomplish this
result is TO elevate the national credit !;
and demands the administration Of the
government Upon the strietest economy !,
the tragic death Of Abraham Lincoln is
dep.ored, and the accession OF Andrew
johnson regretted, and the action of the
thirty.five Senators who voted 10 impeach
him is indorsed emphatic doctrine on
foreign relations is assumed, and that the
principle put forth by some Of the Euro
pean po wers, that once a subject always
q subject, must be resisted at every haz-
ard, and every man swearing allegiance
10 the American government must be de-
Tended a. one native born. The debt Of
gratitude due to the sailors and soldiers
is duly acknowledged, and that our obi
cations Is them, by provisions for the
widows and orphans Of the gallant dead,
who are the wards of the nation, should
be saeredly fulfilled. Foreign immigra-
ton is invited, and sympathy is expressed
with every people struggling for their
rights. A liberal spirit of magnanimity
and forgiveness is extended to all who
engaged in the rebellion, but who now
frankly and honestly accept the issue and
labor for reconstruction Of the States,
and favor the removal of all disqualified
items and restrictions which have been
placed upon them, and recognizes as a
fitting coronation the great principles laid
down in the Declaration of Independence
~ the true foundation OF democratic gov
ernment, and the expressed determination
TO make them living realities on every
inch Of American soil Nationality was
never so well understood in American
politics, in its full import; and every
voter can step upon this platform-the
repentant rebel, the Union soldier, the
late master and his former slave, can all
subscribe to this national platform, and
find themselves all equally embraced in its
comprehensive spirit,
Thus has the fourth Republican Ma
tional Convention done its work and an
nounced its platform. The first conyen-
tim failed in its appeal to the people, be-
cause it had not the courage to confront
the treason of the slave power. The see
ond convention prevailed at the polls, and
was the instrument Of suppressing the
most gigantic rebellion the world ever
saw, of elevating four millions Of chat
tells into freemen and citizens, and Of
making equal rights the corner stone Of
the reconstructed republic. The third.
though shorn of the fruits Of victory by
the assassination Of Lincoln and the re-
creaney of Johnson, yet has made pro-
gres. towards the end Of reconstruction.
The whole history Of party organizations
may be searched in vain to make a record
of so much good accomplished in 50 short
a space of time
The Republican party Ii a party of pro-
gress, and its work is not yet done. SO
neither is it, strength abated People
think for themselves to-day to a far great
or extent than ever before in human his
tory. Stern experience has taught them
the worth of self-rcliance and the value
of acting according to their own wisdom.
The party which preserved the Union is
10 mould and fashion it from the wreck
created by the rebellion, and no tempta-
'ion is great enough to induce it to prove
recreant to the great reform it is its mis-
sion to accomplish. Leading men have
deserted them. but the people have stood
patient and firm. a Republican Presi-
dent has been won over to the enemy, fol-
lowed BY nearly his entire Cabinet, in
which were men whom the party had
learned to respect; but the party occu-
pies its old standpoint and has even made
an advance. Defeats from various causes
have thundered warning and Whispered
policy, but yet it has nerved 10 greater
efforts. Finally, tie great measures OF
impeachment fail, but there is no wayer-
ing in the ranks Several individuals,
some OF them recognized as leaders, have
drifted away, at an important moment,
but they carry no one with them but
themselves, The party remains immov-
able to man and principle There is
no change in purpose MOI in strength.
Onward is the motto, and these failures
and defections make more certain the VIC
tory which is to come off in November,
and which viii be the final triumph of
the many that have been necessary to the
preservation of the Union and the pro-
gress Of free principles in the new world.
ARMY OF THE JAMEs.--The ex-officers