River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-01-29
THE VICE PRESIDENT.
How He Thinks the Republican Par =
~ Lsn Re Saved.
WASHINGTON, Jan, l6. Is

party is dead" beg leave to say that
! do not agree with the Republican or
with any man or set Of men in the opin.
ION that IT is dead or hopelessly defeated.
On the contrary, | believe that the Re.
publican party has it in its power to re-.
cover 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 fallen uponit; nor Of the hopes,
expectations and strength Of the Demo
cratic party-a party whose strength and
power ! have never moderated. | be.
lieye it can recover all it has lost, win
back its former prestige, and still retain
its power in the government. And | be-
lieye this because ! believe it to be a ne
cessity Of the country. The grand work
Of liberty and patriotism it has performed
imperatively demands that it should con.
tnue to guide the policy of the nation.
Liberty, law, order, protection and ciyili-
cation cannot afford to have it permanent
ly defeated.
! saw quite as early as any one the
perils Of the Republican party, and, more
than thirteen months since, | warned my
political friends Of the danger of losing
the next House of Representatives
The party has made mistakes, and
is now paying the penalty Of those mis-.
takes. But its ideas, principles, general
policies have not been condemned Ii 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
sellishness nor stupidity could fail to un.
derstand them, or could misinterprct
their import. If the Republican party
now dies, it will die by the hand of the
suicide; for there is no arm, other than
its own, potent enough to strike it down.
1t cannot, | think, hope to recover its
lost prestige and power by a policy of
rewards and punlshments, or by party
discipline. There are hundreds of
thousands in the Republican party,
to-day, who spurned the brides and
frowns Of power, and left the Wing and
Democratic parties for the sake of prin-
ciples deemed by them important and
sacred. These men cannot be seduced by
the Establishments Of power, nor great
ly 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 hands of the
slave.masters.
Nor can we recover what is lost in
Massachusetts,, or in the country, by the
impertinent intcrmeddlng Of office.hod.
ers in nominations and elections. Office
holders should learn from 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 man
age, in their own way and with
out official interference, their primary
meetings and elections; for, rightfully or
wrOngfully, they have been compelled to
believe that there are those holding office
in Massachusetts,, in the country, and
especially at the South, some Of them in
important positions. who do not fitly rep
resent 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 obtrusiye interference, either in
Massachusetts,, or in the country, North
or South.
The disastrous division in the Repub-
liean party in 1871 was to me distress
ing event. 1t seemed to me to be the un-
necessary separation of comrades who
had toiled together for So many years for
noble purposes and glorious cause. /
did all could, by remonstrance and APP
peal, to prevent it, and have since sought
to reunite what was then so disastrously
and unnecessarily broken. And | now
would throw the doors wide open for the
return Of those who voted for Mr. Gree
ley in 1873, and earnestly invite them TO
reunite again with their old associates.
Indeed, at any moment since that election,
would have pursued a generous and
magnanimous policy toward the men who
then left us. And now, without the loss
of a single hour, | would, in all sim
cerity, extend the hand of reconciliation.
would appeal to you, sir, and your as
sociates of the press in that unfortunate
division, to unite with the great party
which, with all its errors. faults and mis-.
takes, has made a glorious record for
country, freedom and progress. do not
ask you to refrain from criticism, nor to
leave unnoticed its 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 invited TO Co.
operate with the Republican party, and
share in its responsibilities and
honors. believe that peace in the
South, the blstting out Of divisions
on the line Of race, the advancement of
real reconstruction. permanent Southern
prosperity and the success Of the Rcpub.
lican party, demand that all honorable
efforts should be made to withdraw such
men from association with those who led
them into the rebellion, brought such fear.
ful and Undesirable ruin upon them, and
who still adhere to the "lost cause"
II seems TO me that Republicans every.
where, in office and out Of office, should
subOrdinate all nprennal daeirec asp;ro