The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-08-25
Continuation of Republican CazD.

system, the timid councils OF conserya-
tism and the apostacy of the Executive.
Great interests and powerful combine
tious sought to SO reconstruct the South
as TO place the power in the hands of
the late slaveholding class, and leave the
hopeless freedmen in the abject condition
of practical serfdom. Seldom In history
has there been imposed upon any body
of men work of greater magnitude or
difficulty. The republicans might have
shrunk from and avoided it. They were
sorely tempted to do So But they resist
ed the temptation of official power and
patronage, the threats of Executive dicta-
ton, and all other adverse influences,
and with sublime fidelity and courage
addressed themselves to the herculean
task To aid in recognizing disordered
industries, caring for, protecting, and IN
strucGing the emaucipated bondmen IN
the new duties of their changed condi-
ton, the Republicans established the
Ffeedmen's Bureau, which, by the wise
expenditure of few millions of dollars,
did an ipcalcuIabIe work for order, peace,
and the rehabilitation of Southern society.
To reconstruct rebellious States on the
solid basis of equal rights, they gave
suffrage to the freedmen in the recon
struction measures. To secure citizenship
and civil rights to wronged and hated
race, they proposed and adopted the
Fourteenth Amendment, and enacted the
bill of civil rights. To establish by
irreversible guarantees equal political
rights and privileges, they adopted the
Fifteenth Amendment, and, as crown
ing act for freedom, they provided by
law for the enforcement OF these amend
ments thus newly enshlined within the
Consti ution. Thus the Republicans,
against the sternest opposition, against
Misrepresentation, against appalling
obstacles, have struggled on until the
rebel STATES, reconstructed on the basis of
impartial liberty, have been restored,
and the sublime doctrines of the Declare
ton of Independence made assured and
practical realities. L the progress Of
the ages it has been given to few, in any
form or by any modes, to achieve work
so vast, so grand SO beneficent, so sure to
be recorded by history and applauded and
remembered by coming generations.
IT'S FOURTH ERA.
Having achieved this grand work, hav-
ing passed through these eras OF its his
tory, the Republican party, entering its
fourth era, was summoned to deal with |
questions relating to the national debt, |
the currency, finances, and taxation, to re |
forms in the military, naval, and Indian |
service, and whatever remaining burden
and legacics were left by the war. Con |
corning these questions there are appar-
ept diversitles of interests and real diff |
ferences of opinion The solutions OF
some OF them are embarrassed by grave
difficulties. They require time as well as
financial skill and practical statesman
ship for their adjustment. Differences
of opinion on matters so reconcile and
complex, in an organization embracing
so many men of large intelligence, traln-
ed to ha bits of independent thought, ex
preston, and modes of action, are newt
able. They are, indeed to be expected
and desired, for from such freedom of
discussion truth is elected and proner
modes of action are deduced. The men,
therefore, who stood so firmly while in q
minority, amid tne denunciations, AFRO
gance, and scorn of power; the men who
met the stern exigencies of civil war wi h
such heroic courage, who assailed the
slave power and extirpated the slave sys-
TEN; the men who grappled so success
fully with the perplexlng pregnant issues
Reconstruction, lifted helpless freedmen
up to citizenship, exalted them to the
heights OF civil and political rights and
privileges, and made the nation free in
fact as we'll as in name, should not shrink
from the less momentous and less embar-
RAISING question now before them.
WORK TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.
Patriotism, principle, the continued
existence, reputation and renown of the
Republican party, and a due sense of self
respect and pride of character demand
that Republicans now, as in the past,
should nave faith in this capacity to car
ry forward to completion reforms SO au-
spiciously begun. 1t came into being as
an organization Of reform and progre SIS,
and should be ever ready to accept the
living issues OF the hour and march
abreast witch the spirit of the age Tn
aided it has fought the battles Of reform
with constancy and courage. Nor in the
work still before it can it hope FOR aid
from those who still cling to the traditions
Of the past, pride themselves on their con-
servatism, and who, during the conflicts
of the past twenty years, have resisted ali
reform, and mourned over every effete and
hateful abuse as it fell. Ii there are Re
pubicans who are weary of the ascend
ancy of party which has achieved such
browning victories, who are tired of the
RESPONSIBILITIES Of power, and would re-
linqu1sh it to other hands, they should |
remember that they are not worthy to |
accept it. For surely they can not,fail
to see that the Democratic party, by It's
policy during the closing year of its pow
er, and by its blind and unrelenting OPP |
,oonitin,, -, rnfnrma1nru measures Nhiln |