Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-07-23

' !" "icheuhess lhtoa perfect garder
OF love, peace, AID b~eneyoleuce. We
must bear with the faults of u neigh,
bors, remembering our own. We mus
do.the best we can. Perfection is beyond
our reach-inprovement within it. II
50 1--we that BY u example we shall dc
good elevate mankind, make the earth
better for our having lived and acted
is the sum and substance ST mans duty
to himself, his country, and bis God.
AS tits with the church and all mora,
organizations 50 it iswith political parties.
We must judge them, in the aggregate,
by the results they produce on the com.
munity, State, and nation. 1t is possible
for bad men to creep into power in q good
party, and equally possible for good men
to be found within the compass of q bad
party. There is no rule known by which
the one can be kept out or the other pre-
vented from staying in. A thief may
break into q so nCtuary and despoil its
altar; a saint may labor in q prison in
hopes of converting its inmates. We
may punish the one when caught, and
urge the other to extend his labors of love,
but the facts remain the same, and can
not we'll DO changed. To Judge the Re-
publican party by the character of a few
rascals that have been caught ~plundering
its altar would be as just and sensible as
to sit in Judgment over the Creator be-.
cause a few of his children have gone as
tray. Never since the birth of the ma.
ton has a party been as quick and willing
to investigate whatever had the appear
ance of wrong, and to punish with even.
handed justice the wrong doer, as the Re>
publican party. 1t has carried this spirit
Of justice far beyond the demands of DO
itical necessity, and has been censured
by its own friends for prosecuting its in>
vestigations beyond the requirements of
its inveterate enemies. But it stands Jus,
titled before all men for the purity, of its
intentions. 1t came into power to watch
over and preserve the Government, and it
has never lost sight of its original mission.
We challenge the political history of the
world for a party Of equal merit; for q
party that has done SO much to elevate
mankind aud secure personal liberty for
a party that has left so broad an impress
for justice and humanity on the c~iviliza.
ton Of the age in which it had existence
10 permit ambitious politicians, scured
statesmen, or the open and avowed enc.
mics of the Republic to break up this
grand organization would be to welcome a
calamity whole approach would be ruin,
whose presence would be death to our
peace and prosperity, whose end 10 man
is wise enough to forecast. 1t matters
little whether it falls before the sword of
Democracy or goes down by the treacher>
Gus blows Of those it thought its friends
its fall will be the same-the breaking
down of the only loyal barrier that guards
the liberties Of the people from the en-,
croachment Of that despotic power that
once held in the chains of slavery four
million human beings.
We would sound the alarm throughout
the length and breadth of the land. We
would summon every Republican and
every true friend Of liberty to their post
Of duty. Our enemles are active, un.
scrupulous, determined by threats or
promises to break up the party that saved
the nation and that now defends its honor
and its integrity. Every shade of opposi-
ton is being united little faults are be-
ing distorted into glaring wrongs the
speculations of a single official are being
held up as the rule of conduct on the part
Of all and if our friends are not earnest
anS watchful the noblest party of modern
times will be overwhelmed by this foul
tide of Misrepresentation and falsehood.
AS we judge the tree by its fruits, 50 we
judge the party by the fruits which it has
borne, aud is still bearing, for advancing
civilization. Do we seek reform, it has
the power to bring it about. Do we seek
continued development Of national wealth
its past career is the best assurance that
we shall have it. Do we desire peace,
freedom, and all the blessings conferred
by sels>government, it is the only party
that can bestow them and protect us in
their enjoyment.