The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1875-01-28
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
The Letter of the Vice President.
WASHINGTON, January 16, 1876


set OF men, in the opinion that it is dead
or hopelessly defeated On the contrary.
L believe that the Republican party
has 1t in its power to recover what it has
lost and to elect the next President. In
saying this | am not unmindful of the grave
questions at issue and which are pressing
| for solution of the disasters that have f,l-
len upon it, nor Of the hopes, expectations
and strength of the Democratic party-a
party whose strength and power l have
never underrated. believe it can recover
all 1t has lost, win back its former prestige,
and still retain its power in the Govern
ment ; and | believe this because l believe
1t to be a necessity Of the country. The
grand work Of liberty and patriotism it has
performed imperatively demands that it
should continue to guide the policy of the
nation. Liberty, law, order, protection
| and civilization cannot afford to have it
permanently defeated | saw quite as early
as any one the perils of the Republican
party, and more than thirteen months since
L warned my political friends of the danger
oflosing the next House of Representatives.
! The party has made mistakes, and is now
paying the penalty of those mistakes but
It's ideas, principles, and general policies
| have not been condemned. 1t has been
! taught by recent disasters that it is mortal
and if it is wise it will heed those lessons 1t
would seem that neither selfshness nor
stupidity could fill to understand them, or
could misinterpret their import. If the
| Republican party npw dies, it will die by
Il an Of the suici le, for there is no arm
other than its own potent enough to strike
it down. 1t cannot, | think, hope to re-
cover its lost prestige and power by policy
of rewards and run!shments, or by party
discipline. There are hundreds Of thous-
ands in the Republican party to-day who
spurned the bribcs and frowns Of power,
and left the Wing and Democratic parties
for the sake of principles deemed by them
important and sacred These men cannot
be seduced by the Establishments of power,
nor greatly moved by threats Of discipline.
Mere politicians, who think they can
govern by the whip of party discipline, will
| find that they cannot thus reach or control
| the thoughtful and Independent men who
struck the lash from the hand Of the slave
masters. Nor can we recover what is lost
in Massachusetts, or in the country by the
! impertinent intermeddling of otfice-holders
/ III nominations and elections Ohiec-hold
ers should learn from the recent elections
that they can serve the Republican party
/ best by performing their official duties with
scrupulous fidelity. The people should be
! left free to manage in their own way, and
without official interference, their primary
meetings and elections, for, rightfully or
wrongfulv, they have been compelled to
! believe that there are those holding Office
! in Massachusetts,, in the country, and espe-
cially at the South, some eff them in import
ant positions, who do not fifty represent
/ the desires and wishes of their localities,
and who have not the public confidence.
The party burdened by such is not likely
to be led to victory by their obtrusive IN
| reference, either in Massachusetts, or In
/ the country, North or South. The disas
trous division of the Republican party in
! 1872 was to me distressing event. 1t
seemed to me to be the unnecessary separation
! Of comrades who had toilcd together for so
many years for noble purposes and a glor-
! ious cause | did all could by remon-
strancc and appeal to prevent 1t, and have
since sought to reunite what was then so
disastrously and unnecessarily broken. And
| | would now throw the doors wide open
| for the return of those who voted for Mr
! Greeley in 1872, and earnestly invite them
to unite again with their old associates.
! Indeed, at any moment since that election,
| would have pursued a generous and mag
unanimous policy toward the men who then
IL, l,e q, ta.yl1
hour. / would, in all sincerity, extend the
hand of reconciliation. | would appeal to
! YOU. Sir, and to your associates OF the press
in that unfortunate division, to unite with
the great party which, with all it, errors,
faults AMI mistakes, has made glorious
record for the country, freedom and progress
/ do not ask you to refrain from criticism,
nor to leave unnoticed It's mistakes for a
party that cannot tolerate that is already in
its decadence. There has been, and now
is, class of men in the South, Douglas
Democrats. and old-line National Wings,
who were dragged into the rebellion, but
who have very little sympathy with the
Democratic party. | have believed, and
now believe that these men should be IN
yited to cooperate with the Republican
PARTY and share in its responsibilities and
honors. | believe that peace in the South,
the blotting out of divisions on the line OF
race. the advancement of real reconstruc-
ton. permanent Southern prosperity and
the success of the Republican party de
mand that all honorable efforts should be
made to withdraw such men from assocla-
t;on with those who led them into rebellion,
brought such fearful and indescrlbable rum
upon them. and who still adhere to the
.iost cause" 1t seems to me that Repub-
licans everywhere, in office and out OF ofilce,
should subordinate all personal desires,
aspirations, and ambitions sacrifice their
interests if need be, rally again for the par
! ~, invite everybody TO crowd its ranks,