Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-08-22
COUNTY NOMINATIONS.
he ssu Q.

We are glad to note the decline
of the third party movement. 1t
was started in the interests of De-
mOcracy, and kept alive through
jealousy and hate. Its extinction
will grieve no one but those pOliti-
cal hacks whose prosperity and life
depended upon it's growth. The few
good men who were led to it's sup
port in the belief that it honestly
meant reform have opened their
eyes to its object, and are found to-
day, where they belong, in the ranks
of the Republican party. The crowd
of hangers-on, the camp followers,
whose desertion from our ranks gave
us strength, have gone over in a
body, where they should have been
at first, to the lines of the enemy.
The issue is made up before the
country. 1t is not an issue on fl
nance, transportation, civil rights,
or any other economic question. 1t
is the old issue which the people
have been called to face for the past
fourteen years: Shall the country
be governed by Democracy or Re
publicanism? That is the simple
question at issue, and all others
growing out of the campaign are
incidental to it. The Democratic
party arraigns the party in power
for it's extravaganza and corruption,
not to secure purer state of az
fairs under Republican management
but to induce the people to accept
it's government in lieu of the one it
arraigns. The simple questions to
pass upon are: Will the affairs of
government be conducted as hon
estly in Democratic hands as if kept
in the hands of Republicans? Will
the nation be as safe in it's industri-
al and financial interests under the
Democratic rule as it now is under
Republican ? Will it's citizens, es-
pecially those who have recently
been invested with the rights of
citizenship, be as secure in the en-
,joyment oftheir constitutional rights
under Democratic administration
as they now are under the fostering
care of Republicanism 2 These are
the questions which will be asked
and answered throughout the land.
Democracy has nothing but empty
promises to offer. It's past and
present record, wherever 1t has held
or now holds power, is against 1t.
1t stands before the world convict
ed Of crimes against free govern
ment and the most sacred rights of
mankind, 1t has been tried and
found wanting, and can no longer
claim the restoration of a confidence
which it once abused by open be.
trayal. The Republican party has
a record filed with proud deeds aud
glorious achievements. Its history
is the record of a nations salvation.
1t has never failed in it's duty. 1t
has led, by its example, not only
nation but the whole world to a
higher plane of civilization. We
have right to be proud of such a
glorious past. We rest the present
upon it, feeling secure Of the foun-
datiOn on which we have rested.-
We work out through its teachings
the problems of government which
crowd the future. To accept the
rule of a party that has been so
true in the past is to accept safe
guide to serve us with equal fidelity
in the future. We have faith in the
integrity of the American people.
We leave the issue in their hands,
for we feel that nation that has
been saved through the devotion of
a party will not turn aside from its
best friend to seek the embrace of
the enemy that once sought it's life.
and only courts it's friendship to.
day that it may deal with more Ger.
tain force the fatal stab tomorrow.