The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-22
REPUBLICAN UNITY.

lno DemOCiatic pi0eo 10 m"nih6 ''eS-'-
very happy over the disruption of the Re-
publican party. Already the programme
of the succession is marked out, and they
are jubilaut at the prospect of "a snap at
the sloaves and fishes" Amid the general
rejoicing, however. there comes up voice
of mourning. These wailing Jeremiahs
grieve at the displacement of Mr.. Sumner
from committee. Suddenly, as upon
Saul of Tarsus, there has dawned upon
them the great light of his splendid fame.
They see him, the embodiment of all the
honesty, ability and craftsmanship OF the
Republican party, struck down in the
house of his friends. So they rub their
eyes with onions and cry, "woe woe r
amid their tears. These lachrymose gen.
tlemen may as well dry up their crocodile
weepines. Mr.. Sumner will not be won
to their side, nor will the Republican
party crafty the hopes of these mourn
ing patriots by any serious disruption.
The Republican party is too vast and
weighty to be swayed by trihing causes.
If it we're mere mob, scrambling for
place and held together by the cohesive
power of public plunder'-a slight shock
would disintegrate and destroy it. Bat IT
is not merely an organization for the pur-
pose Of possessing the places of profit and
power, composed of leaders who want
Office. and blind mass of ignorance and
prejudice, who are their dupes and tools
The Republican party is held together by
the magnetism Of great principles and pro-
found convictions. 1t shares the common
sympathies and aspirations of true men
the world over. Wherever liberty rises to
re,ist oppression; wherever the people
struggle against prescriptive right and
aspire to nobler life; wherever the right
triumphs and the wrong goes down, Its
mighty voice cheers on the strife for God
and freedom, and the progress of human
ity. 1t shares the throbbing life of the
worlds growth, and shares, therefore, its
vitality and permanence.
The disappointments and dissensons ol
its leaders, transient and local defeats, nc
more affect the unity or the grand advance
of its columns, than the fash Of lightning
disturbs the magnetic currents which
vitalize the globe; than the splash OF
stone in the ocean affects the majestic
movement of the tides than the passing
meteor in the sky sways the firm earth
from its orbit.
We are bound together by tho memories
of the past also. For fifteen years TIM
Republican party has written the grandes
mage in the history of the world. 1t ha
led the van of the army of emancipation
from the shackles of the past. 1t ha
carried the nation safely through tn
greatest civil war on record. With treason
and imbecility in its own ranks, embar
rassed with constitutional restraints, shan
neutralties and diplomatic tricks, agains
. a foe united, able, and devoted to despe
rate cause, it has triumphed over ever.
, obstacle. From the dust and smoke Q
the conflict it emerged triumphant, bearin
aloft the sacred ark of the covenant Q
mans freedom, and the enduring pledge
: of National unity.
We cannot wholly forget the gloriou
mast and descend from the proud hsigh'
I of its achievement to quarrel over tn
! crumbs that fall from the table OF powel
a, From the past, we are called to the com
pletion Of our work in well-ordered libel
. tv. universal intelligence, prosperity au
70 National growth. If we turn aside
quarrel for place and power, the memol
Of heroes and martyrs will recall us fro
narrow sel6shness to the higher claims
3 the nation and of mankind.
4 "Know we not our dead are looking
y, ~ Downward, with sad surprise,
Of Of All our words of strike rebuking,
with their mild and blessed eyes.
en- From the eternal shallow rounding,
All our sun and twilight here
a. Voices of our lost ones sounding,
oo Bid us be of heart and cheer
90 Through the siehces oo"h tno oP"ee''
90 Falling on the inward ear.
Let us then, uniting, bury
All our idle feuds in dust
And 10 future conflicts carry
Mutual faith and common trust;
Always he who most forgiveth
: In his brother is most justP'
o. Of Let none fear disruption because we
low free discussion. 1t is the very life
= the party of progress. Agitation brin
. up the pearls aud gold of truth. L
stagnant pool generates only pestllent
miasmas and ignis .fatai, which lure
lay death. Let the storm-winds stir the lead
waters of conservatism into foam. Let
T. pillows roll and great waves lash the la
ssd strewing the shore with the wrecks OF WI
policies and rotten systems. Our goo
. Republican ship, "steel-ribbed, with he
of oak" freighted with the precious no
MI, of freemen, shall outride the storm,
ssw sns come grandly into port.
an -------s
| f@~ attx IA a