The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-05-23
Tur Repubhcan party is the outgrowth of

the nation d conscience and sense or Justice
1t was created by patriotic and god-fearing
men, who braved the wrath OF society and
wealth, the immense political influence OF the
slave-holding class, and all manner of insults
and prosecutions. and who devoted the best
years Of their life to secure it's ascendency.
AS soon as 1t obtained power the slaye-hold-
er's rebellion tried Its courage, patriotism, and
wisdom; but the people rallied to its support,
and thus it was enabled TO raise the armies and
supplies necessary to uphold the unity of the
American nation.
The Republican party. in it's past. has only
been another name for the nation. Ii enacted
the free homestead law, abolished slavery, en
franchised the slaves, swept from the statute
books OF nearly every State the remaining in
fragments upon the equal civil rights OF all,
and secured these fruits of the war in solemn
amendments engrafted in the Constitution Of
the United States.
We arc now told that It's mission ID ended
It's task accomplished, and that, therefore, it
must die. But we are unable to perceive why
the party that has been so capable, honest, and
progressive III the past. and whose achieve
ments constitute the brightest pages IN Ameri-
can history, should suddenly become incapable
10 grasp the issues OF the future as they arise I;
and we are fully convinced that If the Republic
can party Is incapable Of solving the pending
questions Of public policy no one else is-be-
cause no other party has put forward any pro-
gramme. plain aud consistent, pointing the
way to the future.
no atttr+x ot,1 IF III
lican party need not give any one the slightest
concern. Schemes for Its continuance in power
by patronage. by alliances with great monopo-
lies, by systems OF man9uyres, electloneerng,
and wIe.pulling, are utterly worthless. All
efforts N these directions are not merely
waste OF power, but quite often positively in
furious. lie alone serves the party who serves
the country; he alone contributes to the growth
and strength OF the party who advances the
cause OF justice, order, education and public
and personal morality; he alone is entitled to
rank as the foremost Republican who deserves
best Of his countrys gratitude.
Every lhi,anthropist, statesman, philosopher
pu6hcist. who gives birth to a new thought.
whose effect is TO lift the burdens from the
masses and to teach them to be better citizens
and men, is the real leader OF the party.
Whenever tie aims OF the Republican party
become selfish and corrupt, it will necessarily
fall to pieces, because the conscience and indie
pendent thought Of the nation, which it con-
tains, will never support it in bad practlces.-
In dealing. therefore, with all measures of
pubic polcy we may dismiss party entirely
from view and simply ask the question: Is 1t
best for the country for if we do this we can
safely trust to the intelligence and conscience
OF the people. who Will, IN their own interest,
continue is ascendeHcy.
In a republic political parties are essential
means but they are not ends; therefore the
editor who. IN the remotest part OF our land,
contributes one idea or thought towards the
solution u the intricate questions OF social re-
orgsni2at OF need not be afraid that it is lost
because II bears not immediate fruit We must
not be impatient like children who dig up seeds
that lheT nave planted to ind they viii net
sprout. The growth Of ideas and the develop
meut O.. me national HE are slow when COM
pared with human existence. Three thousand
years a. TO the life OF nation no moro than
eight years to the individual. He who plants
tree. ziow.ng that lie will never enjoy it,
fruit, l. 20 less benefactor than he who ex-
poets the benefit OF the sruition.
The Republican party places no limitation
upon TIE thoughts Of the people; it letters
not their enersies it encourages investigation,
and ii accepts them as brothers and friends up
on tie sole condition that they seek diligently
and dlsinterestedly the advancement Of the
common welfare. so tnat the happiness OF all
classes nnay be secured.
With aims Ike these inscribed upon It's BAN
ners, ard steadfast adherence to principles so
honora lie and grand, the life of the Republi-
can party VIII equal the life Of the nation, while
truth and justice will set the seal OF immortal
ity upon its brow.