Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-04-19
The Administration-th Republican Party

The Administration Republican farty.
The good works of the Administration
the policy of the Republican party-the ne
cessity of preserving its unity for the gene
raj welfare of the country, are well set forth
in late number of the N. Y ,Standdrd.
1t says: However much sections of the Re
publican party may differ among themselves
as to the best means of putting down the
outrages in certain portions of the Southern
States, or as to the expediency of the pres
ent annexation of San Domingo, there Is
leaven that will continue to keep them to-
gether as a great national party. Its whole
policy has been founded upon national ideas
and it has in practice carried them out. 1t
is this policy which so materially distinguish
es it from the Democratic party, whose pol
cy has been based upon sectionallsm,
which was the cancer that eat into and de-
stroyed it, In the days of slavery and Dem
ocratic rule not only was there wide and
sectional breach existing between the North
and the South, but the spirit of hberalIty
and intolerance sprung up in different States
and localities, and between their inhabitants
which emanated from causes of which sla-
very was the remote one. The basis of the
Republican party has been its national char
acter, and ample proof was afforded OF this
when the sword was raised for the destruc-
ton of the Union. The vitality of the par
ty was then more than ordinarily manifest.
Its spirit and power were then seen combIn-
ed for the preservation Of the nation. What
other party-what party unless imbued with
this spirit could have carried the country
through that trying period, not only in the
face of domestic foes but of the enmity and
jealousy of foreign nations Has the Re-
publican party forfeited the confidence of
the people since the termination of that san
culinary strife? If it be alleged that 1t has.
we ask in what way? Has it not placed
powers than ever il stood before Has not
the firm and decided policy of its ministerial
officers placed our claims before England in
such an unmistakable manner as to induce
that proud nation not only to regard them,
but to become so anxious for a settlement
that it sent us commission to arrange the
terms? Has it not secured to US that
peace and repose which was so much needed
after long and bitter domestic contest ?
And ha. it not been successful in reducing
the enormous debt then necessarily incurred?
Upon this latter point the New York Times
very truthfully described this part of the
policy of the Government:
President Grants administration opens
the third year Of its term with reduction
for the month of the national debt of Sill,
Oil $50 O.. This is about two millions in
excess of the average monthly reducti on of
last year, and nearly double the amount of
reduction effected in March 1870. 1t brings
the total decrease since the advent to power
OF the present Administration to S2l5, T65,-
Cos "A, and leaves US the total OF interest
and principal of our public debt of s., 434,
O76, ,643 05 Taking the basis of our pop
ulation at thirty nine millions, this gives us
proportion Of S62. 4 per head as the meas
ure OF our national Obligations In England
| the existing proportion is about 1928 per
| head, and in 1866 our own was over 500.
Now, these are facts and figures, and as
it is not possible for either to lie, so the pol
icy which has effected this resuIt cnnno. lilo
1t is not false policy, but true one; and
in pursuing it the Republican party has
shown itself true to the people and their in
terests.
Let not the Republicans sacrifice the great
| national interests of the country, in the
promotion of which every individual is more
| or less personally interested, to minor SQUAD
bleS and petty quarrels. IT they do they
may repent it when it may be too late. Re
pentance may be too late when sectional an
imositics arc again kindled which, extend
ing over the whole country, may ren6 US as
sunder, and cOnsummate that terrible break
ing up so frequently predicted by foreign
writers and ardent foes. We 60 not believe
that the great mass of the people will turn
recreant to the party of the nation, because
it is loyal to the general interest of the
country.