Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-09-17

lVldeu NOrtn, plot tne burning Oh
Northern cities, wield the pulpit, the
rostrum, and press to incite disaffection
and paralyze the energies of loyal men
in the North, in Congress, and in the
army?
"When freedom in the battle storm
Her weary head reclined,"
did she go and lay it on the bosom of
the Democratic party; or did she find
refuge and sympathd, and succor in
the Republican sentiment of the couD-
try? Had the Republican party stood
where its present opponent has all
along stood, where now would have
been the glorious fabric of our Union +?
Where would have been the national
life and the sacred trusts the Democrat
ic party now asks to have committed to
its care?
We should inquire, too, what has
been the animus, the spirit of these
two parties under the reign of peace.-
The Republican party proposes, as al
ready stated, to continue its work,
proffering no material change of course
or modification of policy. We are
bound in duty to surselves, to our
State, to the country, to inquire what
its course has been in peace as well as
in war. If, when the clangOr of arms
was hushed and the horrors of the bat.
tle-tield had passed away under the
showers and sunshine of heaven, that
party could not comprehend the diver
sified necessities of the situation; or,
them, had not the wis
dom and the courage to meet them, 1t
would be hazardous to continue its ad-
ministrstion, or trust the eountry's
present interests to its keeping.
If, on the other hand, the Democrat
ic party, though in disabling IninOri-
ty, has been the one to rise to the Dig
nifty of the occasion with the ability
and will to meet the emergency, exc
cutting wise and just reconstruction
of the rescued States, at the same time
holding back the revolted elements
from endansering the work, instead of
labOring to bring in the very forces that
had been suppressed in battle 10 wrestle
with us in perilous strife in the vari-
Gus departments of Federal and State
legislation, then has that party COM
mended itself to our confidence.
But we will not hypothesize. We
know the records that have been made.
We know the party forces that have
met step by step the rehabilitation of
the national life, carried on by Repub-
lican energy, wisdom, and courage,
and we know the voices and votes that
have contemplated its overthrow, eth
er by party ascendency Or by the inter-
position of our supreme Judiciary.
This much the country knows of the
Republican record in the war. When
the national life was assailed it battled
for it till victory perched upon its ban
ner, and union and nationality tri-
umphed. Its magnanimity also in the
hour of triumph was equal to its cOur-
age, endurance, and faith in the terrible
hour of conflict. 1t raised no gallows,
and employed no guillotone in dealing,
under victory, with the defeated enc
mics of the Union. 1t only held them
back from some of their forfeited rights
till the country should be safe from a
of the strife, and the work of
rehabilitation could no longer
be imperiled by their political combi-
nation with those who had been in
sympathy with them in their thwarted
and disastrous work of rebellion.
The country knows, too, what the
party has done for the en-
slaved, lifting up more than 100000
of human chattels into the rejoicing
life of American citizenship.
ALI know its legislative work and en-
of laws for the protection of
the emancipated and enfrancbised,
yusrding the exercise of rights that the
minions of the fallen slave power would
gladly wrest fiom them.
Financially, also, we know its record.
The tOuntry has been made to prosper
10 most remarkable manner. Our
interests have steadily
toward national and indi-
yidual aff1uence. The industrial activ-
ties have been fostered and encourag-
ID, and the vast resources of the coun-
Try prompted to development. During
President Grants administration the
party has reduced the tax
3 $500, ,OOO, 900, and yet third OF the
public debt has been paid. We are at
peace with the nations, and honored
md respected by them all. The in
.rease of population and national
wealth is without precedent in the his
ory of the nations. A few years more
# peace, of order, and similar advance
nent will make US the most happy and
prosperous nation on the globe. The
lewly emancipated people among us
est with wonderful confidence under
he fostering care and guardianship Of
he Government, advancing in educa-
ion, intelligence, and thrift, in every
art of the country, asking only for the
of the same aegis Of pro-
rction and the same common equal
'rivileges of citizenship AWARDED 10
thers.
This is but partial and meager sur
'ey of the doings and record of the Re
ublican party. Amy unprejudiced
nan would say this was reasonable sue.
ess in administration; that foreign
laticns and bankers so regard it, is
ertain, from the estimation in which