New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-02

forecast and economy; business in all part
OF the country, in consequence of peace, pro
/ lection, and wise administration is prosper
GUS and profitable, while the people, in mos
parts of the country. without disturbance o.
molestatiOn. enjoy their freedom aud thei
| rights, which were saved, advanced, anc
protected by the Republican party.
| Were to close my utterance at this point
and say no other word in favor Of the Repub
lcan party, its vindication stands complete
for no man can successfully deny the histor
cal and legal facts already stated.
OBJECTIONS AND CRITICISMS.
But objections are urged against this party
| They are not, believe, fundamental ones
regarding the essential principles Of the party
but have TO do simply with matters of admin.
istration. And criticisms Of a severe charac.
ter are made with regard to its indifference
to take Congressional action upon what is
known as the civil rights BILL" and its
neglect to give colored men official position.
As regards the former matter, the ii on. Allen
&. Thurman spoke in his usually able and
elaborate, though somewhat unfair manner,
in his late Wavcrly speech. In this speech,
after declaring that the Democratic party
sought to revive no dead issues, he said
" The great and vital question of the pre.en.
hour is, can we preserve oar free institutions
by once more maintaining public virtue, or
shall our public places become mere places OF
rottenness: Shall public trust be turned
into private adventure? And again, shall
public duties Of members of Congress and
other officers I've all the time, or nearly all
the time, simply exercised for their own profit
or for the profit OF all the rings whom they
represent"
CHARGE OF CORRUPTION REFUTED.
Then he proceeds to expatiate upon the
Credit Mobilier frauds, the salary grab, dis
honesty practised in certain Departments of
the Government, and concludes by charging
upon the Republican party responsibility and
guilt with regard to these corrupt and iniquit-
Gus proceedings. Were one to admit that
Republicans only had to do with the Credit
Mobiier, the salary grab, and such iniqutous
transactions, before it could be Justly claimed
that the Republican party, in its national or
State capacity, were responsible therefor, it
must be shown that the party itself, and not
individual members, has inaugurated and
supported such measures.
1t certainly will not be claimed, now after
the almost universal, certainly the very gen
eral, denuncation and reputation of all
these matters by the Republican party, that
as a party it approves or tolerates the base.
ness and the corruption connected with these
transactions. If it be asserted still hat the
names of leading Republicans are associated
with these transactions, it will not be forgot
ten that "Crcdit Moblier" can never be pro-
nounced by an intelligent American without
by association bring ing to mind the name of
the late Hon. James Brooks, leader of the
Democratic side Of the House of Representa-
tives.
1t would, indeed, be hard, | think, to day
to find even n Democrat who would be rash
enough to offer public opposition to those
distinctive principles of the Republican party,
whose vindication and establishment distin-
guish and immortalize the record of its
achievements since 1861, when it came into
power. To oppose these principles, would
be to make war upon the dearest and most
valuable doctrines of the Declaration and the
Consttution-dOctrine for the defence and
maintenance Of which the fathers put in
pledge life, property, and sacred honor; and
to support and perpetuate which the people
in our late war sacrificed life and expended
thousands of millions. tits remarkable that,
while opposing it, the leaders of the Demo-
cratic party, constantly compliment this
organization by attempts to make the people
believe that as to the distinctive principles
of freedom, citizenship, enfranchisement. and
the perpetuity Of the Government, the Demo-
cratic party is as sound, tolerant, and posi-
tive as the Republican party itself. Here
we need only call to mind, in passing, the
late National Cincinnati Liberal Republican
Convention, including the platform there
adopted, and its Endorsement subsequently
by the National Democratic Convention held
at Baltimore. This period of our political
history, in connection with which the name
of Horace Greeley stands so conspicuous
and the conduct Of the Democratic party was
so unique, may l say, and remarkable, cam
not soon be forgotten. 1t certainly is still
fresh in our memories. Every intelligent
and earnest Republican, who would conserve
the highest interests of the country, must be
determined and outspoken in his denuncia-
ton of corruption in high places; and it is
immaterial whether the individual found per-
petratng dishonesty belong to the Republi-
can or the Democratic party, his denunciatlon
should be positive aud unmstakable. Nor
should the people, by any subterfuge at
| tempted in his behalf, or any unjust eXplana-
ton or apology, be induced to advance Or
sustain him upon their suffrages. 1t is al
ways, however, to be borne in mind that
individual dishonesty and corruption is one
| thing, while the dishonesty and corruption
of a great political organization is quite an
other. And while individual integrity NAV
not be determined by ones relations to and
membership OF given party, SO the integrity,
the character, OF party may not be deter
mined by the dishonesty, or otherwise. OF
individual members thereof. But when the
| individual members Of the party, the leaders
! thereof, corrupt and dishonest, control it to
the accomplishment Of their selfish purposes
the party allowing this, and sanctioning
these purposes, both they and it are dishonest,
and unworthy Of confidence and support
This cannot justly be said of the Republican
party. This statement is fully confirmed by
the fact that the very leaders of our party In
Congress, whose names are associated with
the Credit Mobilier fraud, so called, and the
salary grab, are utterly repudiated, and the
regulations which they labored for quarter
Of century to make, with the influence
which they formerly cxerted, are broken and
, destroyed. The history ofour country affords
no example of utter condemnation and repu.
dlation for corruption and dishonesty on the
part of some of its leaders by any political
party, such as has been lately exhibited by
the great National Republican party. Ger
tain!y not in connection with the Wing party
do we find such record; and the past history OF
the Democratic party justifes no looking for
such immaculate purity within its ranks as
to warrant the leaving OF the Republican
/ party To gain association Herewith. No in.
teligent American can wisely consider the
overshadowing purpose Of the Republican
party, and the means adopted by it to accom-
plish this purpose, and pronounce it dishoues,
gF~I n Il 81