Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1870-08-17

Address Of the Republican Congressional
Committee to the Party.
We regret that our limited space ex.
cludes this address in full. We. at this
time, can but give a synopsis Of it. 1t
addresses itself to all Republicans. and
clearly lays down the position Of the
party in the National Congress. and
urges the party to consider the impor-
lance of the coming Congressional and
Legislative elections. 1t says. )" These
elections will determine the political COM
plexion of the popular branch of Con-
gress. They will, too. determine the
political character of several State gov
ernments, and these results will be &C.
cepted as the verdict of the people upon
the ideas, principles and policies of the
Republican party"
The address reviews the history Of the
Republican party. and arranges it into
four great eras. In the first era the his.
tory of the origin of the party is finely
set fourth. 1t had its origin in the stern
and irrepressible conflict between slavery
and freedom-right and wrong. II" "rose
to the exigencies Of the time, of the
hour" and opposed the aggressive policy
of the slave power by constitutionally
electing Abraham Lincoln, President
The second era begins at the opening
of the rebellion. In the history of this
era we find the appalling responsibilities
imposed by the rebellion upon the new
administration and the party reviewed.
We are told how grandly the "Republi'
can party rose with the crisis" how it
struggled to save the nations life, and
that it saw that slavery was the relent-
less and unappeasing foe Of the country;
that it was the inspiration, the heart and
Sou If the civil war" and that its death
would be the annihilation Of the rebel
lion, the d'yity of the Republic and the
development of free institutions" and
that it, by serit's of executive and legis-
lative acts. broke tive bonds of the slave
and bid him 60 forth to enjoy that free
dom that others enjoyed.
The third era opens at the close of the
war. The address reviews the situation
of the Southern people, and though con-
quered by arms, they did not accept 1.-The
Just, humane, and generous ideas Of the
victors. nor did they return to their proper
allegiance and loyalty to the COVER ument,
but still bemoaued the lost cause They
remained unsubdued in will and u,nre.
pentant in spirit and purpose" This
intense hostility of the e1.rebels many
times multiplied the difficult task Of the
work of reconstruction. The apostacv
Of Andrew johnson here was also met
With its combination that sought t., 80
reconstruct the South as to place the
power in the hands of the late slave.
holding class, and leave the helpless reed
men in the abject condition of practical
serfs. To reconstruct rebellious States
On the solid basis Of equal rights Hhey
gave suffrage to the freedmen in the re.
measures. To secure citi.
.enship and civil rights to wrongea and
,ated race. they proposed and adopted
he Fourteenth Amendment, and err acted
he bill of Civil Rights. To establish
" irreversibls guarantees equal olitica.
lights and privileges, they. adop ed the
Fifteenth Amendment. and as rovninp
lct for freedom they provided BY law for
he enforcement of these am .ndments
hus newly enshrined within the Con-
titution.
The party is now in its fourth era, and
N entering upon this era it was sum
noned to deal with questions relating to
he NATIONAL debt, tie currency, finances
nd taxation, to reforms in the military,
avail and Indian service, ard whatever
emaining burdens and legacies were left
y the war" These matters requir. .
ime as well as financial skill and practi. {
al statesmanship for their adjustment.
resident Grant and his administration
tand pledged to these measures. They ,
re pledged to maintain inviolate the pub ,
&c faith, reduce .he national debt. dimin-
III taxation, a'ad to appreciate the cur,
ency. The tirm, just and generous pol .
y Of the Administration toward the
tates Lately in rebellion has brought
Il security, and crimes
nished. In the inter-
the services of thou
Is of employees, both civil and military,
been dispensed with. The curren- =
5 been appreciated in value by tens
-es of millions of dollars, and the |,
credit has been LARGELY strenoth- {