The weekly standard., 1870-07-20

| drill the marty. or to contend for what is pow
asserted 10 be party faith -
| We must lament that Legislature, in which
| was majority OF Republicans, should pc liable
| to be SO stigmatizcd. That much IL is lair that
| we should concede. But 1t is no less iair 10 as
sert, that no party ever disciplnes its members
for Shortcomings unconnectcd with party dpGs-
tions. Whoever heard, in old times, that the
Whig or the Democratic party excluded from
| their fold man because he was immoral! On
the contrary, was it not admitted to be u pallla-
ton of his fI1lti that lic. was, neucrtheess
good Democrat" or, "a Henry Clay Whig!"
So il WIS upon both sides. in the last Legkla-
turc. And SO it continues upon the Democrntlc
side to go beyond the Journals into the Address,
where we SEQ in the guise of oracles, quai HE'D
to warn the people upon matters OF eXtravaSnhce
and corruption, gentlemen whose hands were
in everything to which those terms are uheet- =
stood to apply What is worse is that all the 1ity y
stand together. They all recommend each other
Indeed, we have in the preamble OF the address
the principles upon which they have acted. II
is there advised, in terms of eloquent cxpostuia
tion that all good Democrats shall forgive ana
love one another! lam disposed to oencoulsge
that, and indeed l carry it farther, and advise
that all North Carolinians forgive each othsr.
If the charity of the Democratic party however,
is to be confined to its own ranks, II secesslr
lists and union men are to forgive one ano
also, so far as they please to vote together
be tempted to doubt the gcnuineness OF
tclc However it is to be feared that sue
extent of their doctrine For the ecI
and uncorrupt of the fifty signcrs ST
address apparently undivided from
among them; in like solemn garb
part and gesture, and altogether.
countcnance do they award their
tencc. How greatly docs it dek
!. inferior effect to be produced,
national distinction apparentl
stlnat, ti'at ~t.isiss when done by
feilace all partyS-serviecs, 4,
eclipse all the splendor of IL
behalf of the State, and bury-tn9
my-when done by Democrats isl
not even to disqualiiy for acting
priests Of purity and economy.
have no doubt that Lxtraraganc
ruption affected many who, within an
tho Legislature, had to do with lcgisll
preparations. The records will show
temptation was set upon foot, and most
fruit reapcd by men who never cooperated
the Republican party, or entertained an as{ q
tion for its success in any part of its career Tic
records will show further no party action by the
democratic party, as party, to defeat those
which they now charge to have been party meas
ures OF extravaganza and corruption.
The fact seems to be that in Raleigh there has
been exhibited the same decentralization which
elsewhere has followed the war Extraordinary
temptation acting upon human nature has eye-
rywhere produced extraordinary results in the
way OF venality, perjury and general ruin OF
character. All over the State this moral
associations Men who in ordinary times would
have left the heritage of Il good name to
their children, will not do So now 1t would
be preposterous Tor any man to consent that
this disaster has been confined to any sect in
religion, in politics. 1t is no less so to assert
it as regards public characters whether in or out
of Office, around Raleigh since 1868. Political
belief, has had nothing TO do with the matter,
and nothing but great death oI political prin-
ciples could have compelled the siguers OF the
Address TO assert il. When they arcloltcr, they
may well smile on reckoning up the treasures Of
that party, which upon entering upon the cam
paign of 1870 boldly asked Office because lst,
1t had been wrong in the only advice which it
had ever rendered to the people. End, 1t bad
nothing to Charge against the Republican naiipn-
al administration; and, 3rd, 1t proposed TO
persuade the people that that was Il party doe
trine which in the two years OF its existciice,
with numerous opportunities for SO doingi it
had failed even to attempt to establish as such.
For the intrinsic constitutional proc. of what it
had been for, and against, 1t tenders AddrtSs
The school boy who could not comply with bis
mastersiorder to fTove his sum in addition saidat
last, in despair, that he would x,cear to it We
have that offered by the Conservative party as
regards its character Tor public purity and econ
omy. In the face OF the record it is rather an
extraordinary affair."
a noble work in North Carolina. Ii has done
more service TO tine State than any party that
has existed here since our Revolutionary aDces-
tors returned their rifles to the hooks above the
doors. Ispcak OF it the more freely because lhad
10 part in it. Its glory is none OF mine | have
taken no part either Tor it, or against 1t. Hav-
ing been banned under thc rccOnstrucion acts,
i quietly looked on, and gave my exclusive at
tention to my professional business. Ny vote
Tor General Grant at the election in November,
1865 is the only vote that have given for po-
litcal reasons since 1866. Having had no part
in bringing about the present condition OF
things, and having come, alter some difficulty
and some inclination, at first, TO the contrary,
10 approve oft heartily, lam the more pxious
To CO operate in giving stability TO TO
prevent the wheels which / had not -
ssra, trsses l,ing .ds'sn again.
reason that co.opcfnie with
Party. II seems to me that all quiet II -
wish TO establish foundation upon W le
fabric Of private fortune, for themselves Dir
children, may be erected, will be apt IN SO
too Industry cannot flourish but with'an as
sured peace. Labor cannot prosper win one
eye aycrtcd from work and fixed apprchYssively
upon public affairs. We have had arA Garth
quake too recently to hear without greA emo
tion rumblngs. or ighttremblinss of the earth.
Let us consolidate the peace which We are be-
ginning to enjoy. Providence seems suspicious
in blessing the farmer with promise OF an
abundant crop. trust that private skill and
enterprise arc at once TO respond to the augury:
"That North Carolina is to join in the gIcat race
10 prosperity and glory which animatcs her
sisters"
l submit for your consideration that first
step in this direction will be the continuance of
public affairs in the hands of those whom pride
of opinion, good wishes TO their political Off.
spring, and every motive which actnatcs men,
conspre to render friends and iostcrcrs OF the
new social organization in North Carolina-thc
Republican Party.