The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-09-27
THE ISSUES OF THE DAY
Eloquent Speech of George Will
liam Curtis, at Ashfield, Mass.
The Republican Party and its Great
Services to the Country.
Why Grant Should be Re-elected--
The Central Issue: Can Demo
Gratis be Trusted!

Mr.. PRESIDENT AND FELLsw-CITIzENs: Amid
all the music and shouting, the bitter mis-
representation, the fervid eloquence, the rhet-
oric, the ar sument and the Islander of the
hour, We must not forget that we are engaged
in our most serious political duty. We are
providing for our Government for the next
four years. and the precise situation which
now presents itself this generation has not
seen. In 1920, at the second election of James
Monroe to the Presidency, the Federal party
disbanded. disorganized, presented no canii-
date and disappeared. Mr.. Monroe received
every Electoral vote but one. The passage IN
the next year Of the Missouri Compromise
opened tho slavery debate, which gradually
absorbed every other tissue, and became the
dominant interest of our policies until forty
years afterward, in 1860, the question was this
only: Shall slavery absolutely control the
Government Of the United States? There
were two parties; the Democratic party cried
Eyes," the Republican party said mo.
Abraham Lincoln was elected, and slavery in
the new world was stayed forever. In 1864
the issue was again simple. IL was whether
the [ Mon should be saved to liberty, or
whether the Government should surrender to
slavery in arms The Republican party pro.
nounced for union and liberty; the Demo-
cratic party cried for surrender The result
was Abraham Lincod Was reelected, and amid
tDt heavenly ullIslC VI t,UUO,uuU VI Ditdhlhb
chains Gen. Lee surrendered the broken
sword of slavery to Gen. Grant. In 1868 the
issue was again simple. 1t was whether the
Union, saved by the war, should be recon-
structed upon the principles of liberty and
justice that had prevailed in the war. The
Democratic party, led by the rebel element
within its ranks, said again, mo the Repub-
lcan party said yes" The result was that
Gen. Grant entered the White House, saying,
LET us have peace"
In 1872 the spectacle is extraordinary. The
Republican party. reaf1irming its principles,
declaring for that progress and reform which
are implied in those principles, which logically
belong to the constitution of that party, re-
nomlnates the President, as it before re-nom-
mated Lincoln. The Democratic party sud-
denly turns its back upon its record, declaring
that what in 1868 it avowed to be unconstitu-
tional and revolutionary will be now accepted.
The Democratic party, not disbanded, not dis
organized like the Federal party in 1920, but
full Of enthusiasm full Of hope, In convention
adopts Republican platform, takes con-
splcuous Republican for Its banner-bearer,
and appeals for your votes on the ground that
it will be more Republican in the administers
ton of the Government than Republicans
themselves
But, fellow-ctIzens, this is precisely the
moment in which, each party making the
same professionalism there is no difference
between the platforms-this is the moment
in which every honest citizen Will ask himself
the question, which Of the two parties Is more
likely to keep its word? | think, therefore,
the duty which all of us owe ourselves and the
country is first to ascertain what Is the para
mount necessity OF the country at this mo-
ment, and then decide which Of the two par
ties Is
BEST ENTITLED TO OUR sUFFRAGEs.
In my Judgment, the great overwhelming and
absolute Leed of the country at this time, in
Guiding in the details of administration all
possible reform and progress, is that the Gov
eminent of the new Union which sprang from
the war shall how and forever be administered
In the full. living faith of the principles that
prevailed in the war, and that amended the
Constitution. The people of this country
have declared that every citizen Of the United
States, white or black, born where lie may be.
beng what he may be, az citizen of the
United States shall have equal protection I'M
der the law. We demand that, wherever the
sun shines upon our dominion, citizens shall
be absolutely secure, in the everglades of
Florida as well az among the hills of Massa-
chusetts. We demand further that this shall
be placed beyond all doubt. If any man. or
any combination OF men, lay the slightest fin
ger Of injury upon the poorest and humblest
OF our citizens, he shall instantly, either in
State or National law find the majesty Of the
people saying to him: "As We do to the least
of these my little ones, ye do unto me- This
is the issue of the campaign-the equality and
over all other issues, because without il,
there is no reconciliation: because without IT,
there is no reforms: because. without it, there
is no progress. We are ending the first CEN
curry Of our national independence in vain, if
we have not learned that, without this certain
ty Of absolute equality of citizenship, there
can be no peace nor reconciliation.
Twelve years ago, fifteen years ago, how
proud we were No nation in the world could
dare to rank with us. How splendid our
statistics? What man, it asked, in this
country has ever felt the weight of taxation
of the Government? Our orators were never
tired of celebrating the glories of our country.
They deiied the future. Who shall modest us
or make us afraid? In an instant we were
plunged into the fiery abyss of civil war, and
after four years we came to the shore, bur-
dened with debt as il we had been nation of
ten centuries. The equality OF rights, gained
at such a tremendous price, IL not to be Sc
cured by any formal acquiescence. 1t is not
made sure by the letter OF the law The new
provisions Of the Constitution will not of
themselves help liberty at the South, until the
South can respect liberty, az it does not respect
it to-day.
We all remember the teachings of history.
This IL a campaign in which we are told TO for
get history. to remember nothing: or, in
the slang Of the day, the American citizen is
told to shut his eyes and " 20 It blind =" am
here to speak for the dead in their graves, who
cannot speak for themselves If by their
death something has been gained. something
must be secured. Now, which OF the two par
ties, both OF which promise the amendments
of the Constitution shall be enforced-which
is the ono entitled TO our confidence A party
is not fungus. 1t is not the growth Of a
night. 1t il an association OF men holding
certain principles, functions and PHILOSOPHERS
in common. IL is an association which has
certain tendencies, opinions, and certain
spirit. Which Of these two parties, judged by