Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-12-01
"4cquit Yourselves Like Men. /"

'ACqUN \ ourselves Like MeH.
This language is little apostolic, but
might well be adopted in addressing the
members OF the Republican party. 1t
may, with great prOpliety, be applied 10
the past: You hare acquitted yourselves
like men. You maSsed the honor and
common sense ofthe country into 4 great
party, and attained power by appealing
TO the Justice OF your cause. You marched
to victory with Liberty, UuiOn and per.
sonal rights as opposed 10 slavery and
rebellion inscribed on Your banners; and
established forever the principles OF
emancipation. tue rights OF citizenship
and the rights St suffrage. You have
maintained the honor OF the nation at
home and abroad and practically dem-
onS,Tated 10 all tbs world that your ability
and capacity for selI-governmeni has
never been exceled; and that your policy
aS a general rule has been wise, humane
and successful Notwithstanding the
dangers and the thyea,enings OF men in
power sometimes within Your own ranks;
and at all times outside Of them. your
patriotism has been so true that the peo-
p'e-the true democracy OF the nation
almost without exception, during the last
fourteen years. have rallied to the support
OF your standard with unshahen conf
dence in its truth, fidelity and honor
But this is denied by those VINO have
always opposed the Republican party. 1t
j. true that q part. very small part
really. OF those who deny all this, pre-.
tend to acquiesce in the Constitutional
Amendments securing freedom, citizen
ship and suffrage. and wish to bury old
issues 50 deep that they can never be dis
inferred; while another part are already
engaged in making laws to reduce great
numbers to peonage or seridOm. Not
wi,hslandins the afirma,ions and denials
OF the present Democratic party concern
Ing the Republican policy OF recens'ruc-
ton Of Finance OF Revenue aud lis col
lection. the great body OF Republicans
and the republican party have been. even
up TO The present time, true to the best
interests OF the country. Some OF lis
members have gone sslray; and invaIi-
ably tie party and It's members in
authority have investigated The wrong
scSnow lodged and confessed the AG.,.
and s,iiVeu. especially he great body OF
is members. 20 10 better. No party wiki
50 much 10 DO. could have done better
or. IS q general rule. as well. The great
body OF the Republican party 10 not
amenable 70 the charge OF general cor.
ruption. Ii republicans doubt this, look
around you in this Stale and in every
County OF the State. and find the filst
man from Governor down to Deputy
Sheriff that can be pointed out as 4 coz
rupt man-as man who is incompetent
or has delrauded the Stale or the County.
And with very few exceptions (and
those Of . subordinate characier) The l.
s. officials OF Maine cannot with truth be
called corrupt. The man who makes
such charge. whether it relate 10 Tie
management Of the Post Oaice or tie
collection OF The Revenue Of Maine. says
wha, is not true and cannot be proved.
What Is true OF Maine, is true. OF nearly
so. OF every republican State. The party
could not hold together moment if its
members aud It's officers were generally
corrupt. What honorable man would or
could belong 10 such party2
Il. then. the Republican party has &C
Quilted Itself with honor in the past, and
aimed 10 establish those principles which
are right and just; and IL now as q party
endeavoring. and in The future will Gu
deavor, to practically carry out the policy
which will render those principles per-
manent-estaJiish stable currency
tranquiIze the South, remodel the Tariff,
&c.,-ils mission will continue in process
OF fullfilment. No temporary defeat.
produced by the general false cry Of cor
ruptiOu, can taruish its name or prevent
It's final triumph. The heart Of the Re-
publican party and that OF lis members is
in the right place. IL desires q country
free iromi oppression or aggression,
whose people shall cultivate the arts Of
peace. and prosper under equal laws.
That heart IS as true as Truth itself. and
its rythm is in fall sympathy with the sad
but hopeful voice OF Abraham Lincoln,
who At the dedicatory exercises at GsttYs.
burg uttered these memorable and stirring
words:
1T IS for US, the living, rather to be
dedicated 10 the unfinished work that the
dead have thus far so molly carried on. 1t
is rather ior Us TO be dedicated to the great
task remaining before Us. that from these
hOnored dead we take increased devotion
TO that cause for which they here gave
the last full measure Of devotion; that
we here highly resolve that the dead shall
not have died i'm vain, that the nation
shall. u1ler God, hare HeJc birth D
freedom. and that government Of he PEG
pie, By he people, aud J0r he people,
shall l0t PERISH from tie edrth."
II We have few sins let US comics:
and forsake them, as has already been
done, and no, like 4 culPrit, cloak them
if our troubles have arisen from causes
which could not have been avoided by
any party; if we have done As well as