The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-11
Certainly no ono ough. to h.v, claimed Tina.

Certainly no ono ought to have claimed that
they should bs re-admittsd under such rule
that their organisation a. States could ever
again DO used, a. at the opening Of the war,
to defy the national authority, or 10 destroy
the national unity. This principle has been
the pole star Of these Who have inaeribiy in.
sisted on the Congressional policy your con.
ventidn so cordially endorsed. Banned t3r
scutivs opposition, and BY persistent rsIxsais
TO accept any plan Of reoonstruction prodsrsd
oy Congress, justice and public safety at last
combined TO teach us that only by an enlarge.
ment Of suffrage In those States could the de-.
sired end DO attained, and that II was even
more safe to give the ballot to those who loved
the Union than TO those who had sought in.
efectunlly to destroy II. The assured success
Of this legislation 10 being written on the ada.
mant OF history, and will be our triumphant
vindication. More clearly, too, than ever DO.
fore does thsi,it on now recognise that the
greatest glory, . republio 10, that II throws
the shield Of It's protection over the humblest
and the weakest Of Its people, and vindicatss
the rights Of the poor and the powerless as
faithfully as those Of the rich and the power
full.
/ rejoice, too, In this connection, to End in
your platform the frank and fearless ayoval
that the nsturalised citizens must be protected
abroad "at every hasard, as though they were
native born" Our vhoIs people are foreign.
ers or defendants Of foreigners. Our fathers
established by arms thsir right TO- be called a
nation. 1tremains 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, Is only another name for perpet ual
bondage, and would make all slaves to the soil
whsre hrst they saw the light. Our national
cemeteries prove how faithfully these oaths Of
fidelity Il. their adopted land have been sealed
in the lifo-blood Of thousands upon Thousands.
Should We not thsn bs faithless to the dead If
We did not protect their living brethren In the
enjoynsnt Of that nationality, for which side
BY side with the native born our soldiers Of
foreign birth laid down their lives
II was fitting, too, that the representatives
OF party which had proved % true TO nation.
al duty In time Of war should spsak 90 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.
l do not need to extend this reply BY further
comment on q platform which has ELECTED
such hearty approval throughout the land.
The debt Of gratitude II acknowledges to the
brave man who saved the Union from destruc.
tion-the frank approval Of amnesty based on
repentance and loyalty-ths demand for che
most thorough economy and honesty In the
Government-the sympathy Of the party Of
liberty with all throughout the world who long
for the liberty We here enjoy-and the recog.
milton Of the sublime principles Of The Decla
ration Of Independence. are worthy of the
organic ition on whose banners they are to be
written in the coming contest.
Its past record cannot be blotted GU. or for.
gotten, If there had been no republican
party slavery would to-day cast its bsleful
shadow over the Republic. Ifthere had been
no Republican party, free press and free
speech would be as unknown from the Poto-
mac to the Rio Grande rs ten years ago. If
the Republican party could have been stricken
from existence when the banner Of rebellion
was unfurled, and when this response of mo
coercion" usH heard ut the North, We would
have bad no nation to-day. But for the Re.
and draft laws, our flag could not have been
kept flying on the field till the long looked for
victory came. Without a Republican party,
the civil rights bill, the guarantee Of equality
under the law to tho humble and the defence
less as we'll as to tho strong, would not be to.
day up.n our national statute book.
With such Inspirations from tho past, and
following tho example Of the founders Of tho
Republic who called the victorious General Of
the Revolution to preside over the land his
triumphs had sRved from Its enemies, I cannot
doubt that our labors will be crowned with
success And 1t will DO a success that will
bring restored hope, confidence, prosperity,
and progress, South as well as North, West as
we'll as East, and above all, the blessings IN.
der Providence Of national concord and peace.
Very truly yours,
SCHUYLER CoIFAN