Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-03-15
sl SdH VOL. q, NO. 81.
The Future of the Republican Party.


There are those who think the
final success of the Fifteenth Amend.
ment to the Constitution brings the
Republican party to an end. Iti
mission, these persons think has
been performed. Organized in the
first instance TO prevent the extern.
sion Of African slavery on this con
tinent, il was enabled, chiefly by the
folly and madness Of the friends OF
that terrible institution, TO bring
about its abolition everywhere; tC
break every bond and set every man
free. That being accomplished not
only, but the freedmen now having
been put Gn their feet, having equal
advantages with other men, in so far
as government may justly interfere
in such matters what more is TO be
donef
What the Republican must now do
say some, is to settle the tariff ques-
ton, tho.6nance question, measures
of taxation, and other matters press
ing directly upon the attention and
interests Of the body polite. These
persons think that we shall have new
party organizations upon these is
sues that the old party machinery
will fall to pieces, and ell things be-
come new,
We think this "a not a correct view,
1t involves the error Of supposing
| that, while the Government has made
great progress Of late years, the
people remain IN StGtu quo ante bellum
Thore could be no greater mistake
The new and better ideas, which
have now been incorporated in the
Constitution, are but the result OF
popular progress. The American
people have, many years since, ccas-
ed to chronicle small beer; aud we
may be sure they will not again 80
into that business
Unless these questions OF tariffs,
banks and taxes can no taken from
he sphere in which they naturally
belong--taat Of mere detail-they
can never again DO the basis for per
manent political parties. The Amei-
ican people viii never again debate
through the medium OF separate par
IS organizations questions which do
not involve principles, IS distinguish
ed from mere measures and
policies. And this, for the conclusive
reason, that the people can settle
these matters of mere detail within
parties organized for more import
ant objects. Parties should have to
do only with essentials. Non-essen-
tials are managed on different prin-
ciples.
The difference between the Repub-
lican party and the Democratic party
is that the one is party of progress
and the Others party of retrogression.
The Republicans believe in marching
on. The Democrats believe in NOV
ing backward. The mission of the
Republican party cannot be ended
until the end of all political evil shall
come; until all misery and wrong
springing from government shall
have passed away. The adoption OF
| the Fifteenth Amendment will I'M
questionably result in great good
but not Immediately. The embodi-
ment in law Of other reforms brought
about by the Republicans will result
in great good. But TO stand still is
a crime to retrograde ID both q
crime and blunder. Between the
progressive retrogressive elements
Of the body polite there 10 an ire
pressible conflict. 1t can no more
be repressed than storms can be re-
pressed with umbrellas, or the tides
driven back with mops.
Just now, there must needs be q
transition period of all the different
parties. The Republicans will have
enough to do for the present and
immediate future in securing the
victories Of the past; in keeping
down the rstrograders. Meantime
new issues, involving principles and
PROCESS, will arise. The retrogres-
sive party will rally around their old
banner to defeat them. Such is but q
law of national nature, if we may SO
say. Such party movements, in the
present stage of civilization, are nc
less natural than that rivers flow
down stream. What those issues
may be, it would not DO safe yet to
expressly predict. We think the
question of popular education may
bc one Of them and we feel quite
sure the emancipation of labor from
the thraldom of overgrown capital
aided by stupid and vicious rules 0
political economy, will be one o
them But whatever may be thu
issues, they will involve progress
and beniticence for the people i
adopted, retrogression and misery j
defeated They have but bat-lik'
Of our situation who do not see wher'
the Republicans will stand whe'
these great issues OF the future shal
take form and shape The Demo
Gratis will stand by Chaos and Ole
Night, the Republicans will help on
with the glorious work of making
the world brighter, and better, anc
happier. The Democrats will STAND
gaping at the dead body cruelty
dangling in the air; the Republicans
will reverently rejoice, moving for
ward at the same time, that the sou
goes marching on.
R@s-Gold has been discovered nea