National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-03-22


think and act, as If tnc past achieve
men,s and tiiumphs OF the Rcpnbli
can par,y were alone sufficient 10
atone for amy present deiihinehcleS
and 10 constitute a claim 10 ~ per
prtual lease of power.
That this illusion is tar too preNa'
lent among Republicans no one can
deny. 1t will Prove very serious.
and ifpcfsisted in, a fatal mistake
The most lnhorcd and ELOQUENT
,ulogics upon the past admlnistra
tlon ofthc Republican Party, justly
deserved as they may he, can not he
substituted for present 'luties, nor
supply the place of present and IN
ture action. The party may, indeed,
cherish, with patriotic pride, the
memory of the heroic past. but the
duty Of constant, unweaiied action
is due the wants and interests OF
the living present.
If the Republican Party would
continue to be what 1t SO far has
been, the advocate of equal and i'm
partial laws; if it would rejoice III
the future, as in the past in adNanc.
in. the liberties and rights Of man,
il must plant Itself upon Il wise aud
benclicicnt system OF public mca'
suieS, and relying not too m"ch npoA
the past, must address itself, with
fresh energy and activity, to other
yet unacconlllshed good.
True it is that the great mission, h
limitation of slavery, upon winch
the Republican Party was organic
Ell, has been, aided by the Rel, lllon,
more than accomplished, by its ut
ter overthrow.
True it is, too, that to have &C
complishcd this is sufficient fame
and glory for any Party, aud that
this alone would Justly entitle it to
the eternal remembrance and graft
tude Of mankind.
But this fact will not justify or
extenuatt any present or tutue d :
linquencics or wrongs of the Party,
nor will it alone be sufficient to keep
the Party in power 1t will hot be
sucl N excuse IS the people Will
acceI , to alkge as an apology tor
crimes and ntisdcnfeanors commit
ed by nominal but false friends OF
the Republican Party, raised by III
deserved confidence to places OF
trust that "our Party accomplished
tie deli> erance Of our country nom
Slavery" The people neithcr would
nor should listen to this, II moment,
not even in mitigation OF the wrong
and injury done them.
But "a pure and unsullied admins.
tration, stained by no fraud or cor,
ruptlon, is not all the Republican
Party should present.
1t should enter actively and siren
uously upon the work of reforming
other great NATIONAL evils and
wrongs. TO neglect this work viii
render it culpablc in the eyes Of the
people, and unworthy OF their future
friendship and support. Among
the chieiest duties, among the high
est uses Of parties in free countries,
is tn 'uty OF introducing The wis,
es. ..ud best measures, and ofrelorm
ing existing evils.
Are there not other evils, beside
Slavery, for the Republican Party
to reform! Other wrongs to he
rightrd Other abuses to be put
down. Are there not other new
and good measures demanded by
the people !
standing still is childish Gobly5
Going backward is crime;
Onward there are ills to conquer,
Onward keep the march OF Time
No the task of the Republican
Party is not yet done, nor will it be,
while any political evils remain in its
power to remedy.
Its past is secure. Its proud and
triumphant record for Justice aud
humanity, has become history. No
political calumny, no PARTISAN ma
lightly can blot, OF erase one line
or word of il.
The great question then is not
what has been the past but what is
to be the future OF the Republican
Party!
is it to descend, like the old Wing
Party, into the political arena, to
become another Champion with It's
old adversary still living, Tor the
spOilS Is the gallant and chivalrouS
Party, which III its youthful spirit
and enterprise SO fearlessIy entered
the lists, and did such noble deeds
for freedom, to devote its manhood
to such sladiatolidl STRIFE F! Is il not
rather, to stand for years, the guar
dian genius of our land with 'Ex
celsioI' displayed upon its banner OF
Liberty aud Equal Rights, and GOV.
eriDg with its broad shield the weak
AS well as the Strong.
The Future OF the Republican
Party is, under Providence, in its
own hands. Upon its own conduct
and management, depend It's dura-
ton ana destiny: whether that du-
ration shall be short ar prolonged,
and whether that destiny shall bc
worthy ca un worthy OF lis past high
achievements.
70 that Party may he well adj
dressed the lines once directed 10 Il
noble statesman
"Oh woulds't thou have thy eountry'- ,oud
applause,
Loved as father as a god adorcd,
BE siill the bod assertrr Of ner cause.
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