Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-09-13
The Party of Action.

can become or remain a power IN the
land, except as party of action.
The party that succeeds must net only
have the principles tenaciously held
and boldly avowed-it must supple
ment its declarations by positive
deeds, and it must neither exhaust its
capacity nor cease its activities. The
movements, the necessities, the respon-
slbilities, the opportunities, the re-
sources of country and an age like
this, are too many and too vast for
any party of mere traditions and
theories to cope with or control. The
party that succeeds must be able to
comprehend and ready to grapple
with the living present, and its face
must be evermOre towards the future,
not the past, Vain regrets over what
might have been will avail it nothing.
Inaction or indecision in the present
crisis, whatever be its character will
be fatal alike to its present and its
future, and in this country especially
political parties that are once dead,
do not live again. For party that
goes to failure and defeat, through it's
own faults and follies, there is no
resurrection. Common sense or sound
philosophy would teach US these
truths, but experience has taught them
with all needed emphasis. The Re.
publican party, still dominant in this
nation, stands just now in especial
need Of being reminded of these
truths, forgetfulnesS or neglect Of
which will bring it speedily and surely
to the close Of its record as party
of success.
The one great, positive, vital fact
Of our political history, for the last
quarter of a century is the work Of the
Republican party. Strike that out Of
the record. if it we're possible, and
there would be left only barren mega
tions and stupendou8 failures. Why
has the Republican party been able
to achieve for this nation more Of
substantial and benefcent progress,
within the last decade, than was ever
achieved before by, or for any nation,
in century? Because, it has been,
in the best sense, party of action,
and will be known in history and be
judged rather by what it has done,
than by what it has said, or what may
have been said of it. Because, to the
clearness, correctness and strength
of its moral convictions and its posi-
tive affirmation Of principles, it has
added the ready and resolute carry
ing out of these convictions and prin-
ciples in positive deeds. Let the
Republican party lose either of these
correlatiye elements of strength and
it will die, and die not to live again.
In this direction and this only, lies it's
danger. 1t is fatal political blunder
for any party, or administration. how
ever strong or securely entrenched in
the possession Of present power, to
/ presume that it can live on a do
nothing policy; and vaciIlation or
hesitation, when the moment for action
comes, is as fatal as total inaction.
There is inevitable political death in
either.
We need not go far to find ample
illustration, and proof Of this. Our
own political history will furnish both.
Why have those parties that were
fond of styling themselves conser-
vative, been thrown up, and left so
many stranded wrecks, to rot and
moulder to decay, along the shores Of
the stormy sea of American politics !?
| Because they lacked conscience, cour-
age, consistency, and more than all,
resolute sagacity. They were afraid
even Of the necessity, which is, in this
world and for all, ever recurring, OF
finding or using any new truth. They
shrank away, bat,like, from every
added ray of light. They recoiled
with shiyering dread, from everything
that looked like innovation or pro
gress, insisted that nothing could be
better than it really was, and gone
quite mad with the insanity Of conSer-
yatism, they CROPPED among the tombs,
cutting themselves with the stones
and if the voice Of one proclaiming a
newer or a better gospel fell on their
shrinking ears, they cried out in
mingled wrath and terror-"let ua
alone; why have ye come to torment
us before our time? ?" Has any one
forgotten how many Of these gibber-
, ing imbeciles stood by the wayside
, croaking and whining, when the fist
, "tramp, tramp" of the Union soldiers
moving Southwark was heard, and
how they were finally swept out Of
the way, by the tide Of patriotism that
= rolled from the North upon the rebel
lion-cursed fields of the South? Ii
that hour, it was because the Repub
lican party was the party Of action
p that the Republic was saved. 1t first
: learned itself, and then taught the
nation, the needed lesson OF what &
party may become and achieve by
daring to do, and by doing the thing
which ought to be done, caring les'
for the immediate consequences thar
for the assurance that the step il
! right and necessary to be taken. Re
solute and bold measures Away!
D characterize the party of action. |
1 must be so, because in its forward
movement it will come upon obstacles
new and unforeseen, that will no
> yield to ordinary appliances it vii
:, find itself confronted by yawnins
!, chasms, on the brink of which to paus'
: is ruin, yet which 70 span and over
. leap requires strength and skill
, hitherto untried. Of these expert
ences the Republican party has ha'
more than enough, to prove that it
safe and wise course lies always in th
u path of prompt, resolute action, G
IS assuming responsibilities without feal
e and executing its resolves withou
n hesitation. We are now in the mids
e. Of peace, not war, in prosperity, nc
O. in poverty or peril. Yet the neces
N sity for action has not passed by: no