The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-08-14
NEW S.
FRIDAY, AUGUST IA, 1874.
SPHRHr OF THE REPUnUL
CAN PARTY


The following is an extract from
Senator Morton's great speech at
Terre Haute, Ind, on the 31st of
July:
Resolutions against corruption
are the cheap clap-trap of parties.
All parties profess to be opposed
TO corruption, and are ready
enough to expose and punish It in
other parties. The true test of an |
honest party is in its self-examln- |
alton, and the exposure and pun
ishment of corruption in its own
ranks-in its continued vigilance |
for self-purification in doctrine and |
practice. Tried by this test, the |
Republican party is distinguished |
above every other in the history of |
this country. Nearly all that is |
known ofcorruption in the Repub-
lican party has been shown by its |
own dilligent determination, and
the prompt exposure of every off, |
cial delinquent who has been dis
covered. Nobody believes that
the Democratic party is particu-
larly sensitive about corruption.
In fact, when it was in power, It
was noted for the industry and
skill with which it covered up the
populations Of its own members.
Committees to investigate the off,
cial conduct of its own members
were so rarely appointed by Dem
ocratic majorities in Congress as
not to be remembered. The Demo.
cratic and the Republican parties
seem to have proceeded from diff
ferent principles of self-defense
and preservation. The Democrat
ic party sought to protect itself
against public opinion by conceal
ing the delinquencies of its mem
bers, while the Republican party
has proceeded upon the principles
of self-examination, and the expos
ure OF it's delinquent members,
as the best guarantee for its
continuance in power.
There are good and bad men in
all parties and in all human organ
izations; and the bad men will Ill
timately corrupt and take possess
ion of all organizations unless they
are repressed, exposed and brought
punishment. The detection and
exposure OF the Credit Mobilier,
Sanborn, and District of Columbia
transactions were the voluntary
and earnest work of the Republi-
can party; and while it may show
here and there n diseased member,
yet it clearly reveals the healthy
tone, vigor and condition of the
mass.
The principles and the constitu-
tion of the Republican party put
it naturally upon the side of tenn
perance rs against lntemperance,
Of freedom as against slavery, of
the people rs against monopolies,
of labor, free schools, intellectual
and moral progress. 1t is n pro-
gressive party, and whenever it
ceases TO be so, and becomes con-
servative, then you may begin to
talk about its mission being per-
formed. II is qualified to grapple
with every new issue that is pre-
scented, has its face to the future,
and holds that the work of reform
is its normal and necessary condi-
tion.
For years TO come, the contest
will be between the Republican
and the Democratic parties, and
between them there is no room Tor
third party, and every one that
is organized will be feeble and
ephemeral. These parties repre-
sent different ideas, tendencies,
and modes of thought, which are
in irrepressible conflict.
In conclusion, am proud TO say
that whilc the Republican party
may have erred it has not proved
false to any great principle nor
cowardly in the presence of any
great question. Its aims are no.
BILE and patriotic, and it does not
seek n continuance in power by
pandering TO vice and prejudice
It refers to its past record of great
actions in behalf of the Union, OF
liberty, education, equality and the
material growth and improvement
of the nation as an earnest of what
it seeks TO accomplish in the fu-
ture. And there must be no ces-
sation in it's labor; it must not
presume to live upon its glories
and memories of the past. Its
first and ever present duty is TO in
trospection, self.examination, the
correction of errors. the introduce
ton of reforms, 1t must look to
the execution and enforcement OF
the Constitution and laws, and
while asserting the existence OF
the nation and the just powers OF
the National Government, il
should ever be vigilant to preserve
in all their just extent the rights
and powers of the States, ever car
rying before it, rs lamp to guide
its steps, those great fundamental
principles which have gwen to the
party its power and glory-equal
rights to all-equal and exact jus
tice to all men.
AN AVER aaHS