The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-03
THE nEpUBLICAN PARTY,

Republicans at whatever impairs the
organic strength and vigor Of the party.
We are not insensible to the present unfor-
tuuate influences operating in this dlrec-
ton. But we neither participate in the
dstempered gloom which prevails in some
quarters nor perceive the wisdom of its
inconsiderate expressions. The party may
be under a transient cloud in this State. 1t
may suffer temporary reproach and defeat.
Such times come in the history Of all or
CARNATIONS. Bat below this surface there
is life and power which cannot be ex-
tinguished, which will infallibly assert
themselves hereafter.
The distinguishing feature of the Repub-
lican party is this moral vitality. 1t was
born of great moral impulse. 1t is held
together by the cohesion of profound
popular convictions and principles. Mere
party discipline, the mere force OF assocla-
ton, has never been among the principal
elements of its strength. As party force,
it is utterly unlike its Democratic antago-
mist. The latter is nothing but machine
1t is based, not upon principles, but upon
tradition and association. It's professions
are the mere garb of decency which it puts
on or off at pleasure. Its nearest approach
to principle is sort of ingrained habit
and temper which lead it to resist all true
progress and all salutary reform. The his
tory of free States is generally distinguish
ed by the existence of one party which
clings to old abuses, which has no SYM
patty with liberal impulses, and whose
animating spirit is blind, stolid, logged
adherence to the past, stupidity unprogres-
sive in temper and fagrantly corrupt in
practice. In our Republic, that party is
the Democracy.
The Republican party is precisely the
reverse 1t thinks. 1t is made up of the
elements of progress. 1t is susceptible to
the influences of the times. Instead of
being machine moving all its parts in
blind obedience to central power, it is a
concurrence of minds, swayed by similar
thoughts and moving in common direc-
ton. 1t is impelled by convictions and
has all the strength and all the weakness
which attach to such a body When
great moral issues are at stake, it is capa-
BILE Of tremendous efforts, for it has all the
force of moral enthusiasm. When such
issues are not prominent ia the foreground,
it lapses into tranquil and careless mood,
for it lacks in the mere discipline of organ
ization. It rose to lis grandest heights
during the war. 1t was reused to SINH
lar exertion when menaced by the perfid-
ity of Andrew johnson. Moved by the
power of principles, it fights splendidly
when they are directly at stake and Ian
gudly when they are not Immediately i'm
perilled.
Bad men will foist themselves upon such
an organization as they do upon others.
They will sometimes secure its places of
trust. It will suffer from recreant repre-
sentatives, as parties have always done in
greater or less degree. But the folly or
the criminality of such cannot destroy its
vitality, for its principle of life lies below
all superficial organization. They may
prejudice it for the time being. They will
certainly stamp their own repugnance to
its true character But when the time re-
turns for the reassertion of its power,
when the demand comes to put forth its
full strength, it will make worthy re-
Spouse. Until the conviction of public
duty is obliterated from the hearts of the
people, the Republican party will have
constant fountain of strength. 1t is iden-
tilted with the historic movements and the
commanding principles Of the past few
years, and the masses who will never con-
sent to see these triumpbs and securities
overthrow, and whose sense of duty will
impel them to perpetual vigilance, have
nowhere else to look.
Even if they were disposed to relax their
devotion, the Democratic party will not suf-
fer them. That party cannot omancipate
itself from the chains of its own character
Even if it were nomlnally to drop "dead |
issues" if it were to profess an acceptance
of established results, all men who have
watched its career and understand its
composition, know that it cannot be trust
ed. Wherever it attains to power it dis
plays the same character. 1t is tainted in
its nature. 1t is under the control of the |
worst men. The radical viciousness Of its
political character crops out everywhere;
and when in the Republic the issue comes
squarely between the ascendancy of this
Democratic party and the continued supre-
macy of its antagonists, the people will
move to the support of the latter with
their old enthusiasm.
EuzznzzzzszuzzzsznzzzsszzEx=zzzu
RELIEF FOR THE FRENCH SUFFERERs-
The sailing of the bark Hunter, from New
York, with A. L. Stewart & Cos liberal
donation of four thousand barrels of -four