The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-06-29
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OF their agreement In the great prlncl
lples upon which their party was founded
Prominent among these principles wer
love of liberty. not for self alone, but TO
all; hatred of injustice and oppression
and patriotic devotion to the Union
Upon all of these points, save the last
they encountered the active opposition
Of the entire Democratic party, and i
was in the same party that secession ane
rebellion found all their adherents anc
supporters. Opposition on such vita
points, implies not only profound differ
ences of opinions and sentiment in regard
to the question at issue, but even eonsti-
tutional differences of character among
the masses ofthose who make up the two
parties. The main issues which have di
vlded the country since the time when
the Republican party was organized to
have been, preeminently, issues involving
the question of moral right, and the atti-
tude men assumed in regard to them;
that is, the party with which they
themselves, must have depended largely
upon their inherent moral tendencies.
Doubtless there were many Individual
exceptions, but the rule was sufficiently gen.
eral to determine the tone and character
of the parties. 1t is not too much to say
for the Republican party that it has been
In truth what it is sometimes derisively
called by its opponents-''th party of
moral ideas. That grand sympathy of
sentiment and purpose which has bound
together its members in holy struggle
for the triumph of humanity and justice,
gives full warrant for the claim that it
contains within its ranks the best moral
elements in the nation. Whatever chan
ges of party name or party organization
the future may bring about, We may be
assured that so long as the men who
have fought side by side in the great bat
tie against human slavery, shall survive,
large majority of them are likely to be
fouEd fighting on the same side again,
whenever the issue is one involving a
question of moral right. In short, it is
in the ranks of the Republican party chat
any party intend on wholesome progress
to higher and juster civilization, must
find the majority of it's adherents.
Suppose now that portion of the mem
bers of this party, feeling that it falls
short Of what they desire Of it, should,
through apathy or detection, bring about
the success ofthe Democratic party. They
would find themselves an insignificant
handful in party with whose controlling
they hadfew political aims or SEN
timents in common. Unable to control or
stem the current, they would be as drift
wood upon its surface Their only hope
would be in again affiliating themselves
with the tried comrades they bad desert
ed, and in .endeavoring to undo the mis-
chief they had done by helping them to
regain their ascendency.
Does it not seem evident that there
must be better remedy for any political
evil which may exist, than the abortive
one just described? Is it not, at least,
probable that all progressive spirits, all
who aim at true reform and aspire for
the elevation of the masses to better con-
dltion, will find more congenial co-workers
In the Republican party than elsewhere?
Are not these things in perfect accord
with the work to which the Republican
party has heretofore been devoted?
What then is to be done? Inquest
ionably our party has new and great Gu
ties to undertake and social and eccno-
mical questions ofyast impor' ance to solve
in the interests of the great body of the
people. 1t there are those who think it
slow to comprehend the issues of the
hour or reluctant to begin its proper
work, what better can they do than to
advocate and urge their views within it's
ranks? Where else will there be equal
occasion to find sympathy and co-opera-
ton? 1t is the right even of the hum
blest member Of party to endeavor to
impress his views upon its policy. It's
actual course being the resultant of the
various forces at work within it, each
may hope that his influence will not be
wh oily without effect, and it is the duty
Of each to do his best for the success of
those ideas which seem to him most con-
ductive to the public good. The official
representatives of the people are on the
alert for every whisper that may indicate
the will Of their constituents; and while
the dishonest among them may take ad-
vantage of apathy or inattention to pro-
mote their personal interests at the ex-
pense of the nation, there are few if any
among them who would not hasten to
bow before pronounced public opinion,
If, however, this In any case should fail
there would still remain, the remedy of
an early exchange of the representative
bimself for one who would be more re-
gardful of his duties. A change of men,
when it is they only who are at fanIt, is
far more rational than change of party.
without any improvement in party prin-
ciples.
It is this studious attention to politi-
cal affairs in which a remedy for political
maladies is to be sought, no matter what
may be the names of platforms of the
parties which divide the country. That
indifference, negligence or ignorance in
regard to public affairs on the part of the
people, should be punished by neglect or
hot ayra1 OF 4 bni + O
fault Of any party but of human nature
itself. Their remedy for such evils here
tofore. is not to be found in the over
throw ofa party, but in a reform of their
own condnct. They must develop upon
larger range of political Subjects such
a pronounced and definite public senti-
ment as will control the formation of par
ty platforms and they must prepare them
selves to exert commanding influence
upon political nominations. In short
they must learn that whatever their vari-
Gus individual persuits may be, there is
an equally serious business which belongs
to them all in common and which impe-
ratively claims their attention, viz: poll
tics which simply mean that which con-
Germs the interests of the State. When
this is done, any political party which
may be placed in power will be tolerab-
| bly, true to its trust. and we shall not see
men descrting party whose recognized
principles they endorse in the vague
hope that some other party will conduct
itself with a more conscientious regard
for the welfare of the people.
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| TIE Cleveland Plaindealer rises to ex
| nloin that No Democratic ma ner in Ohio