The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-08-01
g5GisrelIaneupla.
REPUBLICAN REFORMERS.
CFrom Harper's Weekly for July r. }

REPUBLICAN REFORMERs.
from Harper's Weekly for July l2-)
As the autumn elections approach,
the Republican party, having accom-
plished its most pressing duty Of
establishing the Constitution and the
Union, is prepared to give its chief
attention 10 reform. From its teach
ing indeed, has already sprung up O
rapid improvement in the moral con
dition of the nation. 1t has taugat
and enforced political equality every
where; it has done much to break
down those barriers OF caste snd Of
personal distinctions which not many
years ago seemed about to overpOYer
the primitive idea ofrepublicsn unity,
upon which our institutions are
founded it has driven from power
all those Who would revive among us
the European notion of the necessary
inferiority Of any particular class of
the peoplG; it has inculcsted tie
necessity and dignity OF labor, and
bound the nation together in com
mon fraternity 1t appeals to the
principle of community as the true
source of national progress, and has
blended the 100000 of varied
races and fortunes who occupy our
prosperous territory in one broad,
tree, and united commonwealth.
Had the design OF its opponents
succeeded, it is easy to see that no
peace would ever have visited tho
divided people. We were threatened
with the harsh tyranny Of an aristo-
cratic Democracy in the South with
the imperious dictatiOn of their allies
at the North with the swift rise OF a
foreign Influence il our chief cities,
founded upon ignorance and tainted
with European follies; with the ex-
orbitant demand OF a foreign prieat-
hood, snd tue prospect of s. ceaseless
struggle between rival races and
creeds. The dangers we have es-
capped cannot be too highly estima-
ted, the good sense OF a majority OF
Dsople, which crushed them almost at
their birth, cannot be too often ack-
nowledged. Amid the clamOrs OF 8
thousand scandal mongers, the united
assaults OF e foreign press upon our
most eminent men, the gross calum-
nies of the Cincinnati TeLegraph, the
keener thrusts of the Universe, or
the London Tablet, the people clung
to their Republicsnism, and shattered
the hopes of European reaetiOnists
and their trans atlantic adm;rers.--
Never. We believe, was Republican
ism more truly the faith OF he vast
majority Of the nation than now,
when it has leisure to enter UDim-
peded upon a series OF internal re-
form.
The Republican party has, in fact,
ceased 10 be q separate political or
oanization, and embraces all who,
under any name or creed, desire the
perpetuatiOu of freedom and equal
rights OF all. Many of its founders
were known as Democrats, others by
different party names. It is hostile
to no sect, except where Sec en-
dangers the peace OF the nation, nor
to any race that is loyal to freedom.
II embraces all VINO are the !Iierds
of reform, education, the develop
ment of the national resource of
industry. peace, and general ease,
and hence from It's action alone can
come those further Improvements in
poIitical morality and public honesty
that are demanded 10y the progress
of knowledge. L. has Overthro~n
that rrcat center OF immoral Influence
wbien. under the honorable name Of
Democracy, preYed upon the city apd
State Of New York and spread ~
fnsIarious faint over the elections OF
every part % tha Union. 1t hiss re-
nressed cruelty and barbaTism ct The
South. Il offers security 20 The en-
migrant and the means Of free cnra-
municatiOn to the farmers Of the
Yegt. Il has reduced the national
taxes, but scrupulou-ly preserved the
financial honor Of the nation. 1t has
pledged itsel; 20 purify elections,
elevate the character Of its public
servants, extend the influence Of civil
service reform, and places in Office
those only who are competent and
Trustworthy. Nor, we believe, will
suy who compares the prosperous
condition of our own country with
the less advanced progress OF all
others fail to see that Republicanism,
although some times embarrassed by
the common faults Of human nature,
and sometimes erring in the choice
of representative, has already repaid
TO 2 wonderful degree the necessary
evils Of 8 period Of disorder, has
awakened a higher sense OF public
morality, laid the foundations Of .
Thorough education of the people,
promoted all industrial pursuits, aHd
/ raised the community TO e condition
Of general prosperity, toward which
al. other nations have yet to make
their way in the path in which it has
gone before
To hope for any honest projects OF
Of reform, therefore, from the pUliti-
cal fscti0ns and leaders who hsve
been the constant enemies Of Repub!i-
/ canism is idle. Experience hiss
shown their falseness. We have
! Democratic conventions assuming
the name Of RefOrmers IN Ohio, ana
I Liberal Republicans claiming 70 gaide
the policy Of Pennsylvania Iney
I have seen the Liberal Republicans
engaged in plot TO csTry the elec-
.ions a. the south by Violeacei re-
ioicing over the prosecuti0nS "i
wbi,e and colored republicans III
Georgia or Louisians; eTaliant over
tho rSisdeeds Of their cruel oppOsei7
r. r. hove heard the cry OF the We
- 90 ,i,a Liberal Republicans, and
III ,..1r,.-s their wrongs There
10 ,.n honesty with those vi"
5ave = share in such crimes Ihat
,Le Dem0cracy should prosecute any
ina, reform is impossible It's Whole
s,reugth lies in that portion o. Lhe
Toreign vote which is plunged 10
;gnoTance and ruled by foreign
n,iesthooo, and in that portion oi tie
Southern vote whose viOlen has
snIIied the fame of free ION. It's IN