The Portland daily press., 1875-01-21
The Vice-P President on the Political Stu
atiOn
WASHINGTON. Jan. 16, 1O7J


To the Editor of the Springfield Republicans:
find in your Journal statement that |
agree with YOU that the Republican party is
''dead." beg leave to say that do not agree
with the Republican, or with any men or any
set of men, in the opinion that it is dead or
hope lessly defeated. On the contrary, be-
leve that the Republican party has it its pow
er to recover what it has lost, and to elect the
next president.
In saving this, l am not unmindful of the
grave questions at issue, and which are pressing
for solution; of the disasters that have falieu
upon it; nor of the hopes, expectotlons and
strength of the Democratic party-a party
whose strength and power | have never under
rated. / believe it can recover all 1T has lost,
win back its former prestige, and still retain lis
power in the government. And believe this
because l believe it to be necessity of the
country. The grand work of liberty and pa
trotism it has performed imperativey de-
mands that it should continue to guide the pol
icy of the nation. Liberty, law, order, protec-
tion and civilization cannot afford to have 1t
permanently 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 Repre-
sentatlves. The party has made mistakes, and
is now paying the penalty of those mistakes.
But its ideas, principles, general policies have
not been condemned. 1t has been taught by
recent disasters that it is mOrtal and, II it is
wse it will heed those lessons 1t would seem
that neither selfishness nor stupidity could fail
to understand them, or could mislnterpret their
import. II the Republican party now dies. it
will die by he hand of the suicide; for tlere
is no arm, other than its own, potent enough to
strike it down.
Ii cannot, think hope to recover its lost
prestige and power by a policy of rewards and
punishments, or by party discipline. There are
hundreds of thousands ir the Republican party,
to-day, who spurned the bribes and frowns of
power, and left the Wing and Dempcratic par
ties for the sake of principles deemed by them
important and sacred. These men cannot De
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 fiDd that they
cannot thus reach or control the thoughtful and
independent men who struck the lash from tine
hands of the slave masters.
Nor can we recover what is lost IN MasSa-
chusetts, or in the ccuDtry, by the impertirent
intermeddling of office-holders in nominations
and elections, Office holders should learn from
recent elections that they can serve the Repub
lican party best by performing their ofhcIai ou
ties with scrupuous fidelity. The people should
be left free to manage, in their own way aud
| without official interference, their primary
meetings and elections; for, riShtfnlly or
wrongfully, they have been compelled to be
lieye that that there those holding office N
Massachusetts,, in the country, and especially
at the south, some of them in important posi-
tions who do not ftly represen ut the desires and
| wishes of their localities, and who 5aFe not
the public confidence The party, brrdened by
such, is not to be led to victory by their cbtrn-
sive interference, either in Massachusetts, or In
| the country, North or South.
The dsatrous division in the Republican par
ty in 1872 was to me distressing event. LII
| seemed to me to be the unnecessary separation
of comrades who had toied together for so
many years for noble purposes and glorious
cause diJ all could, by remonstrance aud
| appeal to prevent it, and have since sought 60
| reunite what was then so disastrously and un-
necessarily broken. And now would throw
| the doors wide open for the return of those
| who voted for Mr.. Greeley in 1872, and earnest
| ly invite them te reunite again with ,helr OLD
associates Indeed, at any moment since that
| election, would have pursued generous and
| magnanimous policy toward he men who then
| left us. And now, without the loss of single
/ hour would, in all sincerity, extend the haud
| of reconciliation. would appeal to you, sir,
and your associates of the IIess in that untort-
upate division, to unite with the great party
| which, with all its errors, faults aad mistakes,
| has made glorious record for country, free
i dom and progress. do not ask you to refrain
from criticism, nor to leave unnoticed its ms
| takes; for party that cannot tolerate tDat is
| already in its decadence
i There has been, and now is. class OF men IN
| the South, Douglas democrats and old line
i wings, who were dragged into the rebellion,
but who have very little sympa ny with the
| Democratic party. l have believed, and now
| operate with the Republican party, aud share
| in its responsibilities and honors. believe
that peace in the South, the blotting out OF di-
| visions on the line of race, the advancement OF
| real reconstruction, permanent southern pros
| perity aud the success of the Republican party
demand that all honorable efforts should be
made to withdraw such men from association
with those who led them into rebellion, brought
such fearful and indescrbible ruin upon them,
| and who stll adhere to the 'lost cause. -..
i 1t seems to me that Republicans everywhere,
| in office and cut Of ofich. should subordinate
| all personal desires, aspirations and ambitions,
| sacrifice their interests if need be, rally again
for the party, invite everybody, crowd its ranks
and bring to the 'front.' to the important posi-
tions of the government, all the experience,
| ability, and character they can command. A
| broad, wise and m 9gnanimous policy should be
promptly inaugurated, and steadily and bon
| estly pursued When the country clearly sees
| as it will see, the only alternative presented,
| the real issues involved, the policies and men
| to be supported, their records in the past, and
their present affiliations, who and what shall
prevail if 1.-THE Republican party be set aside
| when the country sees where the loyal men OF
the land are found, and where they stand who
believe in the perfect equality of the races, and
who come victory or defeat, life or death,
| mean 10 maintain IN its completeness the equal
| rights of American citizens. of every race, ma
tionality and faith, then will the Republican
| masses rally again, ach eve new victories, and
give the party new lease of power. ..-
Ir Truly yours, HENRY WILSON.