The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-08-12
THE OPENIG GUN.
ODJECTs AND AIMS OF THE RE-
PUBLICAN PARTY.
what IL Has Done and What 1t Pro.
poses to DO.


A MAsTERLY vINDICATION OF
! ITS POLICY.
Scathing Review or the Democracy
And Its History.
GREAT SPEECH OF Hon. o. p. NOR
TOy. US. SENATOR FROM md
Delivered at Terrc Haute, Friday
Evening, July 3l, Is74.
My Friends and Fellow citizens:
The Democratic party is out of
power, and is struggling to regain it.
1t is the Opposition and attempts to
seize upon every popular discomfort,
and to avail itself Of every local pas
sion to injure the Republican. party.
1t present. no policy for the admins
tration of the government, and makes
no attempt to preserve consistency.
1t feels at liberty to profess in one
locality what it denies in another, and
to take any position in one State to
strike the Republican party a blow,
without regard to the ground which
it occupies upon the same question in
other States. 1t does not hesitate to
use any. weapon of assault, knowing
that there rs little responsibility at
atached to those who are struggling to
gain power as compared with those
who are in possession of it and who
are responsible for its exercise.
As an.illustratien of this | may re-
fer to the fact that in the State of
Maine the Democratic party has just
declared for absolute free trade and
for raising the revenue by direct taxa
tion. In Pennsylvania it declares in
favor Of a protective tariff, while in
Indiana, 1T afirms its belief in reve-
hue tariff, to be so adjusted and franz
ed with such nice discrimination as to
afford no protection to American in
dustry. .-t..
+ On the temperance question the
Democratic position is as varied as
the circumstances surrounding it in
the different States and Territories
with this qualification, however, that
there is a general leaning TO the side
| of intemperence. 1t may be said, gen.
orally, to go as far in favor OF the un-
restrained traffic in intoxicating liquor
asit can, not to wholly forfeit the re-
spect and friendship of those who are
inclined to the side of temperance. II
| the Temperance men are tor prohlbi-
tion, the Democracy are for license
law, always striking lower and max
I ing bid for the support OF those who
J traffic in Intoxicating liquors. If the
i temperance men asked only for Ii
cense law, the Democracy would put
the license very low, or have no licens.
lat all, still Offering inducements fol
the support of that class of men
4 Whatever measure may be proposed
in any State or Territory whereby t,
4 diminish. the evils of intemperance
| for some reason it is sure to com
short of receiving Democratic support
and they never fail to find some ex
cuse for opposingit although they ma
Ideal in glittering generalities in favo
of Temperance and reform. 1t is so t
the general tendency and proclivit
I Of the Democratic party against tn
4 temperance reform to which | call at
tention. -sf2 u Ai5
SPIRIT OF THE REPUBL ICAN PARTY
H. Resolutions against corruption ar
the cheap clap-trap of parties. A
parties profess to be opposed to col
ruption, and are ready enough to ex
pose and prosecute it in other parties
The true test of an honest party is i
its self-examiuation, and the exposur
and punishment of corruption in i,
own ranks, in it's continued vigilanc
for self.purifcation, in doctrine an
practice Tried by this test the Re
i publican party is distinguished abov
every otherin the history of this cour
try Nearly all that is known of col
ruption in the Republican party ba
been shown by its own diligent sell
examination and to the prompt c1
poser of every official delinquent wh
has been discovered. Nobody bt
ilieyes that the Democratic party
particularly sensitive about corrul
ton. In fact, when it was in powt
it was noted for the industry an
4 skill with which it covered Up th
speculations of its own member
Committees to investigate the offici
conduct of its own members were :
rarely appointed by Democratic mi
jorities in Congress as not to be +,
nembercd. The Democratic and r.
publican parties seem to have pr,
ceeded upon different principles f;
self defense and preservation. III
4 IN, A. o,.fx ht 70 70
itself against public opinion by CO.
bers; while the Republican party h
proceeded upon the principle tn
self examination and the exposure al
punishment of its delinquent membe
was the best guarantee for its contin
) ance in power.
=. There are good and bad men in
. parties and in all human organization
and the bad meE will ultimately &C
rupt and take possession of all organ
!. zations unless they arc repressed, e
posed and brought to punishme1
The detection and exposure of t
, Credit Mobilier, Sanborn, and D
trict of Columbia transactions we
{ the voluntary and earnest work of t
: Republican party; and while 1t m
= show here and there diseased me-
:. Der, yet it certainly reveals the healt
:. tone, vigor and condition of the ma
: The principles and constitution of t
= Republican party put it naturally up
the side of temperance as against
Temperance. of freedom as agair
f slavery, of the people as against mo
v oply OF labor, free schools, intellect,
and moral progress. 1t is progr,
q sive party, and whenever it ceases
. be SO and becomes conservative, tn
J; you may begin to talk about its m
i, sion being performed. II is qualifi
= to grapple with every new issue Il
;. is presented, has its face to the futu
q and holds that the work of reform
Q its normal and necessary condition
I, wt4r THE PANIC.
Il L