Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-28


One leading purpose Of the republicans, in
this presidential canvass, is to defend and up
hold the republican party against those who
would destroy it. That ex-rebels and iuyeterate
copperheads conspire TO destroy it, is not sur
prising 1t stands in their way. II stood in
their way when rebellion undertook to destroy
the Union. 1t stood in their way, enforcing
equal rights and clearing away the ruins of
Slavery, when the work of reconstruction became
necessary. 1t is in their way now, defending its
great work and seeking to establish reconclia.
ton by means of justice and good will Could
they destroy the republican party, it would be-
come easy for them to undo much that has been
done to secure freedom and equal rights, and
restore themselves TO the political position they
held before rebellion was organized. They
would nulliiy the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments; they would do much besides to
reduce the condition of the country to conform
ity with that from which it has arisen; and
there would be no party to interfere with their
doings
Horace Greeley wants to be president; and in
pursuing his aim, he is as reckless of political
consequences to the country, as he was when he
advocated a destruction of the Union, or when
he went to Niagara Fails to negotiate peace
with the rebels. If he were a man of strong
character, positive convictions, and sound judg-
ment, it would beimpossible for him to do what
he is doing now. Heretofore, no paper has
spoken more strongly than the New York Tri-
bune to show the Importance of maintaining the
republican party. Now it is an apostate, under
the condemnation Of its own words; but aposta-
cy cannot change either the facts or the Justice
which made its words effective. The time may
come when the republican party can safely give
way TO some new organization; but there never
can be a time when we should be willing to see
it give way TO the old democratic party, which
had, long ago, outliyed its usefulness and be-
come machine of the slave power, and which,
since the first outbreak of the rebellion, has, as
party, operated chiefly to obstruct endeavors
to save the Union, and to reconstruct the disor-
gained states on the basis of freedom and equal
rights. If there ever was national party
which had finished its work and become fit only
to disappear and never more be heard of, it is
the old democratic party. And yet, Mr.. Gree
ley through the lunacy of personal ambition,
and his 'liberal" followers in their blindness,
are doing all they can to destroy the republican
party in order to restore that old party to power
In this canvass men are of secondary import
ance; no matter how important they may be
in themselves. The republican party is more
important than any of the men in it. 1t has
saved the republic; and it stands now as the
5ulwark Of freedom and free institutions. Its
the party which aims 10 raise the condition of
the country SO far above the old condition of
injustice and darkness, that it shall actually be,
in itself and in the eyes of all the world, what
it processes TO be. Therefore, it will not be de
stroyed; and those who attempt its destruction
will find themselves bafied, disappointed, and
covered with confusion. Let no man allow
himself to lose sight of the real issue in this
canvass. Those who desire TO have the country
controlled by our American ultramontane Bour-
bonism, will, Of course, support Greeley and the
democratic party; but those who believe in
progress and think the future may be better
than the past, should stand by the republican
party and uphold ii against its enemies.