Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-08-18
PRINCIPLE vs.. EXPEDIEMCF.

1t Is IN old saying, hut one not
readily accepted in political affairs,
that " honesty is the best policy. >
The success that has been attained
hy the Republican party of this
country, has been attained. by its
fixed and positive devotion to prin-
ciple, us against the trichery OF mere
expedicncy. The positions taken
by the Republican party, a. the
commencement of its history, were
directly opposite in character to the
positions taken by the compromi
sing Democratic party. The masses
of the people realized this fact, and
longing for the stability and pro-
gress of conscientious admins
tration Of affairs in harmony with
distinctive, upright, pure, and noble
ends-gradually cast their votes
with the party having a conscience,
and well defined, and consistently
proclaimed principles.
Only a few years have passsd
away since the Republican party
came into power, but the progress
the nation has made by devotion TO
principle, as against tie destructive
and demoralizing Democratic theory
of expedicny, has been remarkably
brilliant, and excee lilgly beneficial
10 the country and the world But
It is difficult for a political panty to
hold firmly to we'll taken grounds
The song Of the siren. sounding
"never go sweetly, is ever suggest
ing that honesty is not the best pol
icy-and an inclination constantly
develops itself to adopt the tactics
of a suicidal expediency, and thus
trife with the qualities Of character
that make greatness and secure sue
cess, What the people want now is
what the masses have ever at heart
wanted in this country-not Good
Lord and Good Devil half light
and half darkness-but straight
forward, honest, consistent declar-
alton and maintenance Of sound
political principles. Sooner or Ia
Ter such o course must be victorious,
and even a temporary defeat, in
such circumstances, is noble in the
consciousness Of right; and tempo
rary defeat will only be the means
Of a more glorious resurrection and
enduring triumph in the end. The
psst history of the Republican par
~ teaches this lesson most pointed.
~.
This lesson the Republican party
in this county needs to learn mos
thoroughly. We lave timid people
in our ranks who are troubled will
chronic fearfulness. Who ar,
Always for expediency. Who ar,
afraid of the enunciation Of distinct
rallying principles. The conse
Quence is-a want of party cnthusi
nsm, aad want Of efficient organ
ization. and holiness OF movemen
directly upon the works Of the en-
emy. The Democratic party O
this county, with its present wan
ofrrihciple, lives BY strategy, and tll
whipping in process" of its unscru
pulous "clique %; and can be an
thing. or every thing-having NOR
faces than Janus of old, and n
more conscientiousncss- tn
Republican party IS party CT ideas
and principles, and progressivenes
in the pathway Of modern civilizs
ton, depending upon the educatio
and the intelligence OF the peopl'
The mission of the Republican pal
ty in Marshall county, or anywhel
else, cannot be trifsd with with an
hope Of real and substantial success
To tribe with TIE mission of I'll
party and then to reap defeat,
simply to cover ourselves with di'
grace and destroy all confidence