The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-10-11
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
SPEECHOF CIV. ESKRIDGE
Delivered u rIynsasA. Eaa.. Oss. 3. n.

Delivered as PIynsasA, Kan. Oss. .. n
After some preliminary remarks
Mr.. Eskridge said:
The Republican party came into
power nearly twelve years ago. In
entering upon the administration
Of the government it found the
national treasury bankrupt, the
southern states seeding from the
Union, the navy scattered in re-
mote seas. the standing army OF
the country under rebel command
ers, q divided sentiment at the
north. . unity Of purpose at the
south, and . rebellion, such a. the
world never Witnessed, actually
commenced. u Notwithstanding
this chaotic condition of affairs.
the republican party, penniless
and defenceless, assumed the du-
ties and responsibilities imposed
upon it It was, IS it we're, COM
meneing government anew, with
difficulties rising mountain high
on either aide. Every effort to
restore peace and fraternal feeling
was made by the republican party,
and in return for these peaceful
overtures, the Gag was fred upon
and Fort Sumpter demolished.
Rebel hands were apprepriating
the property OF our common
country, and planting their cannon
for the destruction of the capital
Of the nation. Under these cir
cumstanccs, after every effort for
peace had been exhaused, after
every csmpromiss had been spurn.
ed and rejected by the south, the
republican party, reinforced by
many loyal democrats, called upon
the country for SeVenty-five thou
sand mentor whatl To attack
the South and overturn her insti-
tutionsH Mol To make war upon
q section Of our beloved Unionp
No! To attack the army OF trail
tors lowering around the capital?
No, not even thati For what then
were these seVenty-five thousand
men called outS Simply, IS you
will remember, gentlemen, to de-
fend the capital Of your country
from destruction by rebel hands Z
Up to this point the republican
party will certainly be Endorsed
by every loyal man in the country.
Yet it was jpst a. bitterly de-
nounced at this period or It's pow
er as it is to-day. Still it pressed
forward, supported by many able
democrats who could not follow
the southern wing OF their party
into open rebellion, nor the north
ern wing into the " Knights Of the
Golden Circle" However, the re-
sponsibility OF saving the country
Infect, depended mainly upon the
republican party In its administra-
ton Of the government, For four
years Is Conducted the .conntry
through the terrible war which is
still fresh in the memories Of youf
all.
Shortly after, the democratic
party, in convention assembled,
had declared the war e failure,
the hosts Of the rebellion surren-
dered to the armies Of the Union.
Contending on land and on sea, at
home and abroad with open enc
mics and with secret foes, the re-
publican party, in the majesty of
its might, surmounted every obsta-
Gle. and pretetTed Ms as q nation!
During the few years Of its power
It took Frustrated government
from the hands OF q feeble and
fossilizSd party whose At repre-
sentative was James Buchanan,
and infused into it the most vigor-
Gus life; It prohibited the extern
sion Of slavery into the territories;
IL created currency and estab-
lished q credit beyond the power
of the Confederate States to even
initiate; it raised invincible armies
and supplied them; it produced .
navy that def1ed the world; it lib
Grated four millions of people from
Gbject slavery and placed them
upon an equality before the Law
with ali other citiZens; it crushed
the great rebellion; it spanned the
continent with the Pacific railroad
it gave every man g quarter Sec
ton OF land under the homestead
law; it established colleges for the
more intelligent cultivation Of the
soil; it carried out the principles
OF the. Declaration Of Indepen-
dence; it sustained republican in
stitutioAs; it indicated the capa-
city Of the people for self-govern-
ment, ana. under Grants admins
ttatiOn, it proclaimed general am
Hestys and exteaded the hand Of
reconciliation across the "blo ody
chasm," upon the conditions ofloy-
atty 70 the government and 0bedi-
ence to its laws; 10 completed the
restoration Of the seeded states,all
Of which are now Represented in
both branches OF the Congress of
the United States; it has faithfully
and closely collected the revenues;
It has established the public cred
It beyond Q question, and totally
exploded the greenback theory
OF the democratic party, it has
sseared = peace J ct J home Il and
abroad; it has rapidly paid of the
public debt; it has greatly reduced
the public expenditures, and re-
lieved the people from the burdens
LOT taxstio6s Sc has forever inter
dicted the payment OF the rebel
debt and all claims for slaves; it
has carried out every promise
! Which it made 30 the people; it has
. policy on all the great questions
affecting the financial and COM
mercial interests Of the country,
the practical operation OF which
has proven satisfactory to the peO-
| pie ii protects labor il opposes
/ molOpolies It stimaiAtes agficul-
ture; IL fosters the industries Of
the country; 1t reaches down from
| its high position and lifts mp the
oppressed and dOWn-trodden, and
islands them upon! their feet,
and the humblest individual can
exclAim, with moro than Roman
pride, al am an American citizen"
/ For what it has done, and for what
it il doing, and for what it propos-
es 70 do, I for one, shall stick to
hhA ram hlicnn narkz until II sroaa