Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-11-30
TheI.esson for Republicans.


The Republican party, says the
Cleveland Leader, is to-day at
at the zenith of it's popularity and
power. 1t has behind t an unexam-
pied record of usefulness and honor,
and before it an open prospect of
prolonged supremacy which nothing
but its own misconduct can distroy.
Organized as national party less
than score OF years ago, that party
gained controle of the Federal Gov
ernment in its second contest for the
Presidency, in 1860, and has securely
held the leins ofpower ever since. 1t
has carried the country safely through
the most critical periods of its histo-
ry-the war of the rebellion, the ab
clifton of slavery. the reconstruction
of the Southern States, and the fund
ing and partial liquidation Of the pub
lie debt. It's policy has been Uni
formly liberal, patriotic and pro
gressive as well as honest, impartial
and courageous in the handling of
the momentous issues that have been
submitted 10 its decision. Its first
and second President was "Honest
Abe" Lincoln, and ITS third and prob
ably, fourth, has likewise conducted
the Government with unimpeachable
integrity.
BY nothing more than by its finan-
cial integrity and administrative hon
esty has the Republican party OBJ
to;nol o,d bo1l tho ,onulor q. IN fiIa ,oo
which has so often endorsed its
measures and renewed it's lease of
power, The people believe not only
in tae sincerity of Republican convic-
tions but in the honesty of Republi
can intentions. which can by no
means be said to be the popular view
of the Democracy. For instance, the
position of the Republicans on the
question of paying the public debt in
gold according to the ''letter and the
spirit of the bond'' il which it stands,
has given the Republican party i'm
mense strength the country over;
while the green back reputation the
oIies of the Democracy have been
a cause of internal distraction to the
party itself, and warning Of danger
to the country against letting the
party ofrepudiation come into power
And when to this we add the admin
istrative dishonesty Of the Democrats
in New York, where they have been
in power, and the administrative
honesty of the Republicans, as a
party, in Washington, we have given
sufficient account of the causes
which have contributed to shatter the
Democratic party beyond hope ofIe
organization. and to maintain the Re
publicans in tEeir prolonged ascen-
dancy in the national government
Now from its past ecord the Repub-
lican party must draw its future
strength. 1t can stahd hereafter
only as it has stood hereG0 fore-by
governing the country honesty and
well. The utter overthrow of the
Democracy should be lesson to thu
Republicans to preserve their integ-
rity in the midst Of success. But
just here temptations will be multi
piled on every hand. With no for
midable rival in the field, and an as
surance of another four years term
OF Federal rule, the Republican party
will lie more than ever in danger of
forgetting that it can only retain its
standing aud supremacy by adhcring
faithfully to the simple and honest
tr iditions of its early history. The
people are determined on an honest
administration of all public trusts
The overthrow of Tammany in New
York is proof of that. Official ras-
cality will not be tolerated alter it is
found out. We are glad that it is so !;
and we cal Republican politicians
and office holders, high and low, to
witness, that they will be swept out
Of sight and better men put in theiI
places, the day the American people
make up their minds that they have
abused their trust and turned plum
derers instead of protectors of the
public funds. The great questions Of
the present and immediate future are
financial questions; the public debt,
taxes, expenditures, and the like, will
occupy the minds of the people, and
test the character Of the government,
more than all other matters for years
to come. And the lesson of the ell
ectiOns for republicans is to turn out
rogues from office, and put and keep
in on.y honest men. Let it be'done !!