The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1875-01-21
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY,
The Letter of the Vice President.
WA ASHINGToN, january Is. 1871

l lind IN your journal statement that I
agree with you that the Republican party
Is dead L beg leave to say | do not agree
with the Republican, or with any man or
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 L am not unmindful of the grave
questions at issue and which are pressing
for solution, of the disasters that have fa-
len upon it, nor of the hopes. expectations
and strength of the Democratic party-a
party whose strength and power 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 l bel we this because I believe
1t to be a necessity of the country. The
grand work of liberty and patriotism it has
performed imperatiyely 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 l 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
oflosing the next House of Representatives.
The party has made mistakes, and is now
paying the penalty of those mistakes hut
It's Ideas, principles, and general policies
have not been condemned 1t has been
taught by recent disasters that it is mortal.
and if 1t is wise it will heed those lessons 1t
would seem that neither sclfshness nor
stupidity could f il to undcrst. nd them or
could misinterprct their import If the
Rel u3Iican party n w dies, it will die by
Il e AMI of the suici lie, for there is no arm
other than its own p tent enough to strike
it down. 1t cannot, | think, hope to re-
cover its lost prestig. and power by policy
OF rewards and pun.shments, or by party
discipline There are hundreds Of thous-
ands in the Republican party to-day who
Spurned the bribes and frowns Of power,
and left the Wig and Democratic parties
for the sake of principles deemed by them
important and sacrel. These mon 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
ind 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 Ma. 81 ;husett or in the country by the
impertinent intcrmcddling Of officc-holders
in nominations and elections. Ofiiec-hold
ers should learn from the recent elections
that ther 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 aud elections, for, rightfully or
wrongfuliy, they have been compelled to
believe that there arc those holding Office
in Massachus its, 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
70 be led to victory by their obtrusive in
terfercnce, either in Massachusetts, or in
the country, North or South The disas
trou3 division Of the Republican party in
1872 was to Inc a distressing event. 1t
scene to me to be the unnecessary separation
Of comrades who had toied together for SO
many years for noble purposes and glor-
ious cause / did all / could by remon-
STRANGE and appeal to prevent it, 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
left US. and now, without the loss of single
hour. I 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 its errors,
faults and mistakes, has made a glorious
record for the country, freedom and progress.
[ do not ask you to refrain from criticism,
nor to leave uunotccd its mistakes (; for
party that cannot tolerate that is already in
its decadcnce. There has been, and now
is. a class Of men in the South, Douglas
Democrats, and old-liue 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,
maad that all honorable efforts should be
made to withdraw such men from assoca-
ton with those who led them into rebellion,
brought such fearful and indescribabie ruin
unon them, and who still adhere To the
..iost cause" 1t seems TO me that bepub-