National Republican., 1875-11-08
The Ideas of 1876.

lETOm Inc ' allty NlrglulansJ
The country is fast becoming acquainted
with the fact that ideas and fallacies are two
crent parts of the intellectual realm. The
people are being educated into the conviction
that mere visionary schemes, devoid of sub
stantial principle, and calculated only to dis
turb essential interest and unsettle values, are
not adapted to government so intimately as
sociated with and springing from the popular
volition, and governing its practical relations
in life. They are coming to the conclusion
that there must be ideas corresponding with
the experience of nations, and sustained by the
practical economy of politics, at the base of
government, TO give to it stability and inspire
confidence.
Theoretical craftsmanship, that was COM
mended to the acceptance of the people by
metaphysical refining and forid imagery,
worked out its results in the organization of
armies, the conflict of arms, the desolations of
war, the sombre drapery of broken families,
and the furling of national emblems. From
the days of Madison till 1860 the popular in
teIligence was confused and blinded in the whirl
of passion and the perversion of thought Incl
dent to the specious theories that appealed to
the worst passions and engendered animosities.
These hatreds found congenial soil and vigorous
growth where sentiment was encouraged that
had not as its foundation principle based upon
philosophical ideas and harmonizing with the
logical teaching of common sense. The suffer
ing and desolation which have followed the
adherence to impractical theories by means of
false teachings have brought the people to un-
derstand that there must be something tangi-
bly, practical in government to be useful and
socially progressive.
1t is with no assumption of prophetic wis
dom that we undertake to predict that the
next national contest will rest upon tlCo prGeti-
cal ideas, addressing themselves to the accept
ance of the people because of their direct bear
ing upon material interests and Intellectual
progress, as well as the development in their
full vigor of the true principles of our system
of government. These two ideas consist in
currency based upon established values and
popular education. The Republican party, in
every State in the Union where it has incor-
porated its belief In formal resolutions, has
prominently presented these two thoughts.
The resolutions of the New York Democracy
declare that the "public free school system OF
the State of New York, which strengthens AMI
illuminates our republican form of govern
ment, must and shall be preserved, unawed
| and untrsmmeled by conditions, sect, creed,
or nationality" Prominent in the resolutions
| of the Republicans of Ohio, upon which they
| have Just emerged from heated and exaspe-
rated contest with the laurels OF victory, was
| "a sentiment of similar strength and directness
in relationto this important and vital question.
| The President of the United States has re-
Gently announced in sententious sentences the
same cardinal doctrine, and predicts that the
| forces of intelligence and patriotism on one
eide, and ignorance, superstition and prejudice
| on the other will be marshaled against each
other to contest the control of the National
Government and the destiny of our free insti-
tutions The earnestness and directness with
which this declaration was made, on the occa-
sion of the assembling Of the veterans he had
led to victory in the sanguinary engagements
of the war, only shows how. deeply his sympa-
thies are with the people, and illustrates the
devotion to the popular interests and the true
idea of our Government, which has ever dis
tiRguished his public career. No announce
ment of his life did his head and heart more
credit than the pregnant utterances at Des
Moines. They will stand out in history as the
all-suficient answer to the calumnies Of his
enemies, which would grid him around with
bayonets, and encircle his brow with the en-
| blems of despotic authority. From his first
| official communication to the country he has
studiously aimed to conform to the will of the
| people, and recognizing that as the supreme
authority in our system of government he ex-
hibits his earnest solicitude for the perpetuity
| of our institutions by presenting as a primal
| consideration the education of the masses at
| the public schools as the sure palladium of
| American liberty.
| The Republican party will enter upon the
| Presidential contest of 1876 with the two ideas
we have suggested, regulating and controlling
| all others. They touch the sources of our
future growth and greatness as a free nation