Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-09-26
THE ISSUES OF THE DAY
Eloquent Speech of George Viii.
liam Curtis, at Ashfeld, Mass.
The Republican Party and its Great
Services to the Country.
why Grant Should be Reelected
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 argument and the SANDER 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 can1i-
date and disappeared. Mr.. Monroe received
every Electoral vote but one. The passage in
the next year of the Missouri Compromise
opened the slavery debate, which gradually
absorbed every other issue, 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
''yes;" the Republican party said no"
Abraham Lincoln was elected, and slavery in
the new world WAS stayed forever. In 1864
the issue was again simple. 1t was whether
the Onion should be saved to liberty. or
whether he 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 Lincold was reelected, and amid
the heavenly music OF t,UUU,UUU Oh
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-
strueted 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, no." the Repub-
ican 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, reaffirning its principles,
declaring for that progress and reform which
are implied in those principles, which logically
belong to the constitution of that party, re-
dominates 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, bat
full of enthusiasm, full of hope, in convention
adopts Republican platform, takes a con-
splcuous Republican for its banner-bearer,
and appeals for your votes on the ground that
it will be more Republican in the administra-
ton of the Government than Republicans
themselves
But, fellow-cihzens, this is precisely the
moment in which, each party making the
same prof essions-for there is 20 difference
between the platforms-this is the moment
in which every honest citizen viii ask himself
the question, which of the two parties is more
likely to keep its word? l 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 SURFACES.
In my Judgment, the great overwhelming and
absolute Iced 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 Low 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 he may be-
beng what he may be, as a citizen of the
United States shall have equal protection un.
der the law. We demand that, wherever the
sun shines upon our dominion, citizens shall
be absolutely secure, in the everglades OF
Florida as we'll among the hills of Massa-
chusetts. We demand further that this shall
be placed beyond all doubt. If any man. OIL
any combination Of men, lay the slightest fin
ger of injury upon the poorest and humblest
of our citizens, he shall instantly, either il
State or National law. find the majesty of the
people saying to him: ''As ye do to the least
of these my little ones, We do unto me-" This
is the issue Of the campaign-the equality and
over all other issues, because, without it
there is no reconciliation: because, without it
there is no reform: because, without it, there
is no progress. We are ending the first cen
fury of our national independence in vain, i
we have not learned that, without this certain
ty of absolute equality of citizenship, Their
can be no peace nor reconciliation.
Twelve years ago, fifteen years ago, HOY
proud we wereI No nation in the world coul,
dare to rank with US. How splendid on
hat cd in
country has ever felt the weight of taxation
of the Government? Our orators were neve
tired of celebrating the glories OF our country
They defied the future. Who shall modest u
or make us afraid? In an instant we wer
plunged into the fiery abyss of civil war, an
after four years we came to the shore, bun
dened with debt as if we had been nation G
ten centuries. The equality of rights, game
at such tremendous price. is not to be sc
cured by any formal acquiescence. 1t is nc
made sure by the letter of the law. The ne
provisions of the Constitution will not c
themselves help liberty at the South, until tn
South can respect liberty, as it does not respet
1T to-day.
We all remember the teachings of histor.
This is campaign in which we are told to TO-
get history, to remember nothing or,
the slang of the day, the American citizen
told to shut his eyes and :" go 1t blind. a.
here to speak for the dead in their graves, WI
cannot speak for themselves. If by the
death something has been gained, somethln
must be secured. Now which OF the two pa
ties, both of which promise the amendment
of the Constitution shall be enforced-whit
is the one entitled to our confidence A par
is not fungus. 1t is not the growth Of
night. 1t is an association of men holdir
certain principles. functions and philosophi
in common. It is an association which hi
certain tendencies, opinions, and ce1ta
spirit. Which of these two parties judged