The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-10-01
4 Party without Rrineipls-Ihs Trinners Of
Nevada ID

two platforms, adopted by the respective con-
yentions, it will be apparent that the Enter
prise made mistake in the name Of the I'M
fortunate party which could not define its
principles. Let any unprecedented reader take
the Republican State platform, read it, and
then tell, If he can, what are the principles
upon which that organization goes into the
campaign. We defy any Republican to find
in that platform any definition of the political
attitude Of the Republican party. Resolutions
can he made brief, yet contain much. The
Nevada State platform is brief, and even
that abbreviato cd bIevity substantially contains
nothing at all. 1t was evidently constructed
to mean nothing, or anything. as circum-
stances may require. 1t commits the party to
| no policy on any one question. No stranger
to American politics could take it up. and
make ont what the party was. is. or intends
to be.
II anything were wanting TO demonstrate
how wildly the Republican party of Nevada
compartments its perilous position, this plat
form would supply the clrurest evidence. AT
IA time when the nation is recovering from
bloody war, and thousand new questions are
ahSSNlub future DOIcy Oh
| the General Government, the State govern
ment, and the nultifarious interests of the
people, here and through all the country, IN
der the new order of things-at a time above
| all others when u party which expects to be "A
power in the future should have opinions. and
should boldly express them, it is AS silent rs
the Egyptian tonibs. 1t has no decided
opinion on any subject. Political charla-
| tans themselves, the trainers of these resolu-
| tons just far enough conform to custom to
| write out a fictitious. unmeaning string Of
noneutities, having no more application to
the nineteenth century than they have to the
days before the hood. One single resolution
declaring briefly that the Republican party of
| Nevada has no principles-thut it is simply
an organization OF sharpers ION business
would be truthful platform, which these
| Elko resolutions are not. and would sum up
the entire list of ideas Of the Republican party
of the State of Nevada. II there be any diff
ference between the Republican party of this
State and AN organized band of highwaymeu,
intent to get what there is. and keep what
| they can, unable To See it.
| There was IA time i'll the history Of the Re
| publican party when genuine and earnest
spirit pervaded that organization; when to he
a Republican meant something. In 1886, it
meant freedom in the Territories; in 1861, it
meant vigorous prosecution of the war; in
1870. what does it mean but "spoils?" Old
time Republicans have no business in this
fight. Not principle for which they have
contended is necessarily involved in the sue
cess of the anti Democratic party in this
State. 1t is simply n contest between the
Democratic party and band Of plundcrers,
whose sole ambition is to dcspoil the State
and replenish their own purses. The success
of Republican ideas, the permanent good OF
the State, or the lasting interest of the people,
count no more with these unprinciplcd dema-
gogues than puff of tobacco smoke. They
ARE simply Tin to the death" where there is II
dollar in sight. If that dollar could be won
through the Montgomery constitution, these
political outlaws would be ready to adopt that
instrument to-day, and, having secured their
money, be equally rs ready to desert from il
Tomorrow. They fhmiliarly talk of the peo-
pie rs so many cattle" to be bought and
sold at 50 much per pound. Their platform
men. There is nothing in it that interests
living men any more than il concerns Major
Brdleys beeyes." Every reading man is
aware that Radical editors have devoted more
space and ink to those cattle Of the coming
Governor than to their own so-called plat.
form. There is reason in il; the Major has
some cattle but the Republicans of Nevada
have no principles.
We appeal to every thoughtful Republican
whether the following extract from Henry
Ward B.>cher's paper, The Christian Mon
IN not as perfect II portrait of the party in this
State us peu could make it.
The REPUBLICAN PARTY.-The impending
question III our national politics seems To be
whether the Republican party can long main.
tainiis Integrity mud exist, nee. 1t hns uu.
doubleday rendered great services to the
country, bat the issues on which IL wns
founded, and " hch under various forms have
remained hitherto the most prominent bcGur,
the country are rapidly being superseded BY
ne,c questions. The Republican leaders, for
the most pnrt instead Of facing in the inter.
est vi the country these new sub, cls. seem
chiefly bent OH derterViLsly erddmg them, and
preserving the discipline If the party by pctiy
tnctjcs. while they ny to rouse its spirits by
WORKOUT wntchwUrds. 1t is the old story
great ideas mud expression and form through
II new political organizations they succeed OF
fail, and III either cisc pass from sight; bui
the party continues as m instrument for he