Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-04-18
Republican Ascendency Vital to the
Nation.
BY HON. SCHUYLER CoLFAx.

by able Senators and Representatives,
and many other distinguished men, turned
the whole power of his Administration
against the party whose misplaced con-
fidence had intrusted it into his hands, it
was fashionable for those who supported
him to exclaim: "The Republican party
having fulfilled it's mission of destroying
slavery and vanquishing rebellion, it is
time now for new organizations and asso-
Citations" But it proved to be a party
with a stronger hold on the popular heart
than any of the political parties of this
century, and instead of being overthrown
by this threatening secession, it came out
of the contest stronger and more powerful
than before.
What would have been the results to
the nation and it's interests, to those great
principles for which so much has been
achieved since 1866, if Congress in SYM
pathy with President johnson had been
chosen by the people, instead of one hos
tile to him and his policy-if the compact
and united Republican organization had
been disbanded, and new parties formed
is so well understood now that l need
not detail them.
Again, the unity of this organization
sanctitied though it has been by so much
patriotic blood and so many sacred tears,
do IL HAS, lllC COnSClGllCC VI lHc
nation to its profoundest Depths prayed
over by so many pious hearts, and with a
history of which millions are so Justly
proud-is imperiled by attempts to rend
it asunder into two antagonizing national
convocations, and to test the experiment
of affiliating one wing of the divided par
ty with those who from, the hour of the
birth of the Republican organization,
have sought, though Intellectually, TO stab
it to its death.
This experiment has already been tested
in Tennessee and Missouri, with exactly
identical results. In each State one wing
of the Republican party placed in the field
Republican State ticket in opposition to
the regular nominees. In each State the
Democracy declined to nominate party
ticket, but supported the Independent
Republicans. In each State, appeals were
made to the Republican voters to vote for
the independent Republican ticket, on
the ground that it was really only a choice
among men of their own faith. In each
State, by these appeals, and with the aid
of the Democratic vote en- n1dSse, the in
dependent Republican State ticket was
chosen, but with it Democratic Lcgisla-
ture and majority of Democratic Con-
gressmen. In each State a Democratic
United States Senator has been since
elected. And no States are now claimed
though perhaps, incorrectly,-as more
certainly against the Republicans than
Tennessee and Missouri. 1t is proposed
now to repeat these experiments on the
broader arena of the nation. "In vain is
the snare set in sight of the bird"
1t cannot be doubted that many earnest
Republicans joined in these State move
ments, who deeply but unavailingly re-
gret now their results. And, doubtless,
many earnest Republicans, influenced by
personal or legislative considerations, may
have given aid and comfort to the pend
ing movement, in the hope of more au.
spicious results. But fort which could
be easily held by its defenders is often
most difficult of recapture when lost
while party which comes into power is
always controlled by the elements which
constitute majority of its membership
To capture the fort, the aid of some of its
former defenders may be necessary.
Once captured, the majority of the victors
hold supreme sway. If this is doubted,
let Tennessee and Missouri answer the
doubter.
If quarter of million, or even as
many as half million Republicans could
be induced to join three millions of Dem
ocrats in defeating the regular Republi-
can organization, six-sevenths of the new
Cabinet would belong proportionately to
the dominating wing of the coalition.
The supporters of the new Administra-
ton in Congress would be of the same
political faith. And it does not need to
recall the history of Andrew Johnson,
nor of John Tyler, to prove that, what
ever might have been their political prin-
ciples when elected, Administrations
raTlidlxr LOFT
their political supporters in Congress. If
they must rely for defense ON political
opponents, that very necessity, by force
more potential than magnetism or gravi-
tation, draws them together.
Can the ascendency of the Republican
party in our nation be safely or wisely
surrendered? Virginia, West Virginia
and North Carolina were all, after recon
struction, Republican States. The former
State was carried against the regular Re-
publican nominees for Governor, etc., by
what was called Conservative Republi-
can ticket, the candidates on which
claimed during the canvass to be better
friends of the President than their oppo-
nents, even telegraphing their congratula-
tions to him when they won their vic
tory. Has any one heard of any tri-
umphs for Republican principles or ideas
Ill llS lCSlSldllOH vi III llC SOuSllIu-
tional Convention of West Virginia, OF
in the Ku-Klux dens of North Carolina :
When organized conspiracy, violence,
whipping, mutilation, arson and murder
defy, as in some States now, the national
as well as the local Government and laws,
despite President, Cabinet, Congress and
all the power of the nation being known
to be on the side of those whom they
seek to intimidate and outrage, how much
more deplorable whould be the condition
of their poor victims with the Republican
party out of power? Would their hopes
of protection increase? Would theil
wicked and brutal enemies stay theil
hands
Would our national credit, the right
arm of our country in time of peril (more
powerful than an army, because by il
armies and navies can be rapidly called
into existence when ueededl be strength
ened by the overthrow of Republican as
tendency? Under Republican admins
tration it has steadily improved, here a.
well as abroad. A party that never bowed
| the knee to prejudice, and dared to risl
| the odium of most burdensome taxation
when needed to keep our flag flying in tn,
| field, and which, when peace came, dare(
to reduce taxation, year by year, only tC
| such an extent as would not hazard ou
| finances, inspires confidence that no othel
organization could command. And its re
suit is seen in the prosperity of the ma
ton, the development of its resources, tn,
enlargement of its productions, the main
tenance of the wages of labor, the in
creased deposits of the poor in saving
banks, the steady decline in the gold pre-
MUM, and the appreciation in the valu
of our currency and bonds.
Every intelligent man knows that repu
diation can never come in this Republi
by any direct vote of Congress or people
Its danger is from indirect action.
party seeking present popularity only
consenting to reduce taxation hundre
and fifty millions, when but fifty could b
safely abated; or allowing hundreds O
millions of war claims, etc.-would, with
out doing anything else, impair, if it di
not shipwreck, the national credit Whe
pay day came, and an empty Treasur
failed in the payment of interes
on the national bonds, the shoe
to our credit and good name woul
be felt around the world All va
| harn I,