The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-14

these democrats, and they will, some of
them, explain the treason why !" they are
opposed to an United States bank, go for
"hard money" sub-treasury, etc, etc. -
questions which they, in their youth, or
their fathers before them fought and set
tied long ago. In like manner, one of
these republicans would tell you that he
was opposed to the extension of slavery
into free territory another favored legis-
lation III this or that direction for the re-
construction of the southern states, etc. etc.
Is il strange, after all, that so few are ia
miliar with the principles they profess ?
Herein is found the answer to the question
"whats in n name ?" Names, more than
anything else, keep parties together. The
republican party first had national exist
ence some seventeen years ago, and local
habitation and name two yours earlier. 1t
was formed on distinctive principle, and
upon that principle it took issue with the
democratic party. The contest of 1856
was fought upon that issue, as was that of
1860, when the battle was won for ever.
Practically, the republican or democratic
parties arc not the same now they were
thirteen years ago. The issues and princi-
pies, an adherence to and support of which
then constituted the parties, are settled,
dead and buried. In 1864, new republ-
can party was formed, so to speak, COM
posed, to be sure, mainly OF the men
although the national convention of that
year, at Baltimore, contained vast num-
Der of delegates who, four years before,
would have considered it an insult to have
been called republcans-bu founded upon
a new and distinctive principle, namely
vigorous prosecution of the war An ad.
herence to this, land its furthcrence in every
possible way, then constituted republi-
can. If voter subscribed to this doctrine
then he was a republican if not, then he
was on the other side
When we come to 1868, we find the same
state of facts to exist. The army had made
the platform of the republican party, as
lad down in 1864, something more than
declaration of principles. They had en-
forced it at the point of the bayonet, and
there remained no authoritative denlaration
of principles upon which the people could
range themselves, and go before the voters
of the country for an endorsement thereof.
The old issues were thus. again. settled,
dead and buried. There were enough is
sues before the country, but no authorita-
tive declaration thereof. We say eau
thoritative declaration" for such it is and
such it must needs be, in order to form
party or continue it in existence, as our
politics now is, and has been, for years,
conducted. This Authoritative declara-
ton is obtained through Il national con-
vention. Prior to the meeting thereof, a
man may be an honest, sincere republican
or democrat; at the adjournment thereof
he may be as honestly and sincerely bit
ter opponent of the party bearing the name
of that with which he had long been associ-
ated. In May, 1868, delegates from the
| republican party, as it had before existed,
| met at Chicago, and made new declara-
| ton of principles entirely different from
any which they had before announced. In
deed, up to that time, or to within year
or two prior thereto, they would have been
meaningless. We have no reference to
those glittering generaities, which always
form the larger part of every platform, -
but to the living, vital questions upon
which men differ. The burdens of this
declaration consisted of an endorsement of
the reconstruction policy of Congress
and equal suffrage" The belief in and
advocacy of these measures, or the reverse,
determined a mans political standing.
-Four years more pass by. The southern
states have all been reconstructed" in &C.
cordance with the "policy of Congress,
and equal suffrage was secured. The
republican party had accomplished all il
had set out to do, and, in our judgment,
had accomplished it in the best manner
possible under the circumstances All is.
sues being again settled, dead and buried
the people, who had heretofore acted with
the republican party-and some who had
not-went up to Philadelphia to declare
where they placed themselves upon the
issues of the day-if, indeed, there were
any tissues of the day" Whoever hon
estly acquiesces in that declaration and en-
beavers to give them practical effect, is {
republican not 1t is not {
question of men, but of measures it is no
a question of Irregular nominations, but o.
principles it is not question of subservi
ency to caucus dictation, but of an earnes
advocacy of a belief in sentiments promul
gated at Philadelphia in June 1872. w,
are republican we believe in each ant
every principle enunciated by that conven
ton and we propose, tomorrow, to pro
pound a question or two in order that tn
people may see who are and who are no
true republicans.