The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-10-01
The Parties and their Principles.


So largely have the popular political
harangues aud newspaper arguments con-
sisted of mere neutrality-suspicious.
ad hon,inem aud gross misrepresenta-
tons, that we have sometimes wondered
if the average politician could compre-
heud sound, sober argument, or appreci-
ate an assignment Of reasons which were
free from these Objectionable features.
1t seems to us that there are reasons
for political preference not based upon
personal grounds, We may properly
have preferences for men; and it is not
entirely illcgtimate to compare candi-
dates, as it is always impossible not to do,
in our own minds. And yet these are
not, or should not be, always,the weigh;iest
reasons for our political action.
At this time we propose to consider
the parties and not the standard bearers,
as with us this view affords the real rea.
son for our earnest desire for the success
of the Republican party in the present
campaign.
The first thing to note is the fact that
both parties have adopted essentially the
same platform of principles. We have
not now to seek which Of them has the
better doctrines, but which of the two set
of men will best carry out into practice
the principles Incorporated iD their plat
forms. As a writer in the Old and New
happily puts it, the Cincinnati-Balti-
more platform is the Endorsement Of the
Republican party by the Democratic
party. ave adopt your doctrines" say
the Democrats therefore vacate the gov
ernment, and give US the credit Of them
and the further work of completing this
establishment.
Admitting then that there is no essenti.
al difference in the enunciation Of their
creeds, both intensely Republican, and
crediting them both, as we do just now
for the sake of argument, with the best Of
faith IN adopting these principles, why
not suppose they are equally worthy OF
trust to carry them out?
To this we answer: Looking at the same
subject from different standpoints and
with different lights we see it differently
like the prismatc lays which show the
rainbow's colors though reflected from the
same sunbeam. Education and prejudice
are everything in determining a mans
bias. The page before us is white or blue
or green just according to the color of the
medium through which we view it. With
Republican prejudices, Republican edu
cation, Republican interests, the declara
ton of principles will receive a Republi
can Interpretation. With Democrat,
bias, it will be Democratically viewed
Besides, we are not very closely boun(
by platforms We allow ourselves
great degree of freedom III all cases ant
if our inclinations are very strong we taxi
the bit in our mouths and ignore part,
principles; and especially so when tn
whole party can together agree to 81
ignore it.
Then, in the issues now before tn
country, in the Presidential campaign, W
are to Inquire, which party, if in power
would best carry out the spirit Of tn
Republican principles. taking eithe
enumeration as we interpret them.
. For the Republican party and Gran
as our leader, we have no new issues
This party has nearly accomplished Ger
tain very important measures and it
work now is to defend and complete then
in the interests Of humanity and justic
aud equal rights.
The Liberal party is mostly compose
Of Democrats. They now seek to tax
this work out OF the hands Of the part
which inauguratcd it, and carry it fol
ward to completion, getting at the sam
time the credit of its accomplishment an
their fingers upon the purse, strings c
their dear old uncle whose life they fai
ed to take in 1860.
Now the question is, shall We Civ
these important trusts into the hands {
those whose every effort for the last Fl
teen years has been to prevent their az
complishmeut, by fair means and fou
their conversion to the new and friendl
view of these measures only dating bac
to the 10th day of July 1872, shall W
commit the completion Of this work
their hands at the asking, or, shall "
continue to trust the party which, in spit
Of the greatest opposition, mas gloriousl
begun and almost completed, the work {
suppression of rebellion, the destructic
Of slavery, the restoration of healthy fnal
ciai condition and business prosperity, tt
elevation OF the country to an unprec
dented international dignity, the maint
nance of the laws, the promotion Of gre'
projects for internal improvement, al
the infusion Of economy and eficienc
into every department Of the government
Too Many on the Right Side.
One of our distant correspondent
write us in complaint against town
this county for its light Greeley vote.
his region the Republican party has be-
greatly benefited by the withdrawal
the Liberal Republicans. The town
which he complains, never musters fl
Democrats. He thinks he could fiji
forty whose absence from the Republics
party would be an improvement to it, b
the Greeley vote was not half that nur
Der. But if its scanty ranks contain Il