The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1875-07-29

Southern rebellion, which was itself the
fruit of Democratic treason. These fel-
lows must be held to the record.
The Parties.
Among some excellent remarks in
HalPer'S Weekly on Parties and Plat
FORMS" are these words: 1t is some
times said that the Republican party has
accomplished all the purposes for which
it was formed, and is logically defunct.
Slavery is abolished, the Union has been
maintained, and the Constitution is
amended in the interest of liberty.
There is no reason, it is said, for the con-
tinued existence of the party. But if, as
this view comedies, the object, the final
cause, of the party was equal liberty,
and its dissolution would restore to
power the party that has always opposed
equal liberty, then it is plain that the
very purpose of the Republican party
requires its continuance. And if it be
said that the Democratic party would
be equally faithful to liberty, the reply
is two fold: first, that, by the same
theory, the Democratic party is logically
defunct, and, second, that there is no
reason to believe that it would be a
more trusty guardian of liberty than the
Republican. If the questions upon
which the country divided into two par
ties are settled, both parties, according to
the theory, should disappear. If they do
not, it is either because those questions
are not settled, or because the theory is
unsound.
The reason that the two parties remain,
and that third party is q chimera, is
that the American people, being prac-
tical and not theoretical, know that the
tendencies from which the parties sprang
are unchanged, and they read platforms,
or promises and professions, in the light
of knowledge. When party composed
of Copperheads; supporters of slavery,
State sovereignty, and the natural infe-
riority and rightful subjugation of the
colored race; skeptics of the principle
of popular government; panders to ig-
norance, and promoters of ecclesiastical
interference in politics; apologists of the
Ku-Klux, and the White League-when
such party grayely comes forward as
the especial champion of equal rights
and justice and the maintenance of the
Union under the amended Constitution.
and processes an edifying zeal for frater-
nifty, honesty, economy and good order,
there is a saving sense of humor in a prac-
tical people like the American which
enables them to measure the profession
at its exact worth. Take the Democratic
party in New York. Its leaders are
Governor Tilden, Mr.. Seymour, Mr.. John
Kelly and Senator Herman. Its follow
ers are well known. Now will any in
telligent New Yorker, or any American
who is familiar with these gentlemen and
those whom they lead, state why they,
with their traditions, associations, and
alliances, are likely to serve the cause of
liberty, justice, and the renewed Union
more sincerely or effectively than Gen
eral Dix, Senator Conkling, Mr.. w. A.
Wheeler, Mr.. Evarts, or any other con-
spicuous Republican leader? 1t is said
that old issues are settled. But certain
ly it will not be urged that equal rights
are not still to be maintained, and the
amendments of the Constitution to be
enforced, and the government to be ad-
ministered in accordance with the spirit
Ofthe successful party in the war. Every
thing else rests upon these. Business,
industry, enterprise, the finances all, de-
pend for their prosperity upon conf
dence. Confidence can be secured only
by the general conviction that the estab-
lished order will be resolutely maintained.
Now is that maintenance more likely
from those upon whose principles
that establishment has been made, or
from those who have strenuously and
even sincerely opposed it?
These are the questions which really
underlie the election of next year. The
platform of both the parties will affirm
the same general principles of fidelity to
the Union, to the Constitution, to the
rights of the citizens and of the States,
and will demand honesty, economy, and
efficiency Of administration. The Dem
ocrats, except in Pennsylvania, will de-
clare for a revenue tariff, and the Repub-
licans generally for incidental protection
to home industry. The Republican con-
ventions generally will pronounce for
speedy return to specie payments, and
the Democratic will favor imitation, as
in Ohio. The soldiers will be remem-
bered, and there will be Democratic
Buncombe about restoring the Presiden-
tial salary to the old sum. Both parties
will condemn third term, and both
will denounce sectarian meddling with
the public school-fund The intelligent
voter will read between the lines, and
decide from experience and observation
and knowledge of men and of parties
which party can most safely be trusted
to fulfill the pledges of the platforms.
He will choose between the general ten
dency of the Republican and Democratic
parties, determining whether the mis-
takes and ofienses of the party in power
have been so fragrant, and whether its
spirit is so debased, as to make sOunder
and wiser conduct hopeless, so that the
Union must be confided to the party,
unchanged in its general membership.
which ten years ago sought its destruc-
tion.