New-York tribune., 1872-03-14
al the lesson pass unhccded 7
.AN "1yJI-REPUBLIC1Np SPEEC

IN IL Ji-Al>I tIi<itiN Sfi>fi ~.
when Mr.. Trumbull made his speech in the
Senate during the French Arms debate, ac-
cepting the principles of the Missouri Liberal
Convention he was denounced on the spot by
the Administration leaders as an apOsate from
the Republican party. Mr. Morton, Mr. COnk-
ling. and tho other distinguished gentlemen
on that side of the fence have been trying to
cast Mr.. Tumbull ont of the synagogue, and
the real old high-stung party men like Nye,
and Chandler and Harlan, have looked down
upon him with scornful eyes from the nights
of their superior virtue. And now the editor
of Harpers lJcckly takes the cue from the
Senate, and tells us that the platform which
Nlr. Trunbull approves is TO al inteDts and
purposes an anti-Republican declaration di-
rcctcd against certain great measures of Gen.
Grants Administration. Mr. TrumbEll dis
posed Of that charge pretty well in the speech
itself. Perhaps it viii b. worth or willie TO
look over it again:
The platform Of the Liberal Republicans
then, according to Mr. Trumbull, opens by a
promise that "by no act or woid" will they
cndanger the lightful sovereignty of the
"Union, emancipation, equality of civil rights,
"Or cnfranchiscmcnt.o Is that anti-Repubi
can ? 1t demands "with equal suffrage for all,
"complcte amnesty for all." Does not orr
Republican President recommend the same
thing in his latest messagel II denOunces
taxation which "invOlvcs an increase in the
"price Of domestic products and consequent
"tax for the benefit of favored interests
Well, does Mr., Morton want TO help favored
interests at the expense of the public IL he
content TO go into the campaign as an aycwed
advocate of unnecessary taxation Does he
suppose that TO bo protection to American
industry The Missouri Liberals further
object TO the abuse Of Government
patronage III tie control OF conventions
and elections, and with Gen. Grant they
call for civil service reform. They commend
Senators who have exposed "gross misdeeds.'
They believe that local self government,
with impartial suffrage, viii guard the rights
" of all citizens more securely than any cen
"tralized authority They dcnounce cn.
" croachmcnts of the executive powcrb the
use of corrupt means to atify treaty, tho
packing of the Supreme Court, the seating of
members of Congress not elected By the
people, and unconstitutional laws upon tho
Ku-Klux, irclgion, and intempcrance.
These. said Senator Trumbuil, are tho
"principles upon which the Republican party
"has won all it, triumphs, and which will go
"dowm to postcrity upon the annals Of the
future history of the country as constituting
" its prOudest record"
Does any reasonable man suppose that Sem
ators can be read out Of the Republican party
for accepting a platform like ;hs il it trea-
son TO the Republican party TO avOw ones de
voton to the doctrines upon which that party
has always rested, and which it was created
for the purpose of dcfcndingP The policy OF
Senator Morton and his followers is to make
this n party not of principles but of men. TO
them the shibboleth of orthodoxy is the namc
of Grant Ii is little matter what one does,
or what one believes, provided there be no
word against the denomination of Grant. You
may oppose civil service reform, amnesty
equal rights, respect for the constitution, in
aujry into abuses,.cquitabc taxation; indeed,
you may oppose AL Grants recommendations
and still he o good Republican but oppose
his denomination, and you shall be cast out
Gentlemen, you have ovcnatcd your strength.
You cannot rccOnstitute party on the plepos-
tcrous basis you have chosen any more than
YOU can make one OF the pyramids Of Gizch
stand upon lis apex.