Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-04-08


After fourteen years of Republican
rule, the majority is transferred TO the
Democracy in the popular branch OF
Congress. 1t is fair, therefore, in review
ing the Republican policy of that period,
to inquire whether that party has carried
the Government theoretically and prac-
tically nearer to the realization OF the
great central idea upon which the fathers
founded the Republic, or whether they
have drifted farther away from 1t. The
fundamental idea for which the old
patriots of 1776 waged war was happily
summed up in these expressions: That
all men are born free and equal, and that
we are an independent pcople-one ma
ton, not several.
The Democracy assert that the Repub-
lican party has carried the country away
from those early ideas and landmarks es-
tablished by the fathers. If this charge
is true, it is very grave; if it is false. it
should condemn the party which propa.
gates it, The fathers declared that all
men were free and equal But this doc
trine was never fully realized nor full
filed until the Republicans struck
the chains of slavery from four
millions of slaves, held exclusively by
Democratic masters. The fathers de
clared that we are one people-one ma
ton; but the Democracy declare that
each State comprises An independent ma
ton and is sovereign. Indeed, that party
actually set up another independent and
sovereign nation within the territory OF
the United States and battled for four
years TO maintain it; but it was crushed
by the Republican party; and on the
ruins of this Democratic Southern SOW
ereign nation they re-established and re
proclaimed the doctrine OF the old fathers
that we are, and Of right ought to be,
one free and independent sovereign ma
ton.
The Republican party, then, has not
carried the country away from the ideas
and landmarks OF the fathers, but 1t has
fulfilled them. The patriots of lT76 de-
clared that all men are born free and
equal, and that the United Colonies were
one independent nation. Truth works
out its invincible purposes through the
ages. What the patriots of 1916 com
menced the Republican party consum-
mated. More than three quarters Of a
century after these old heroes had
startled the world with the declaration
Of these sublime but unfinished truths
Abraham Lincoln emphasized their
meaning with his inaugural address, that
the power Of the nation was sovereign
and supreme and later with his enamel
patton decree, reailirming the doctrine
that all men are born free.
We are not ap ologizing for some of
the evident misla kes of the Republican
patty; but we do assert that, upon the
whole, its policy has been a true and
noble one, and that II Is the only party
that ever existed in the country that car
ried out the declarations of the fathers
To their legitimate iulhllmcnt.
But the Democracy tells US that the
doctrine of national sovereignty is
dangcVus to the liberty OF the people.
And they declare that s tate sovereignty
is the true doctrine, rs there can be no
danger of the individual States becom-
ing severe or tyrannical upon individual
rights. History, however, proves that
the Federal Government has always been
more kind and indulgent to its individ.
uals than the States have been 10 theirs.
When John Brown and his friends re-
VOTED against the State laws of Virginia,
that State forthwith punished them with
death while the Federal Government
did not hang jeff Davis or any of his
crew for their revolt or rebellion An
other fact To show what dreadful tyranny
the State Governments may practice
upon their people is that at one time the
Southern people held one-third of their
people In bondage, and by law allowed
the other twothirls TO whip, shoot, raw.
t>h, and sci! them; while the Federal
Government has never, III and of itself,
claimed the right To punish any of its
people except for crime. so, upon the
score of individual liberty the States
have been the tyrants toward individuals,
while the Federal Government has been
their friend The doctrinc OF State SOW
creignty has not only proved cruel and
tyrannous upon individuals, but il has
actually, in pursuing its purposes to
their logical consequences, endeavored
to destroy the unity and sovereignty of
the nation.
Now, from these truths as undeniahle
rs aNiOms, IL must follow that the Re.
publican party has defended the great
ideas which the founders of the Republic
proclaimed; and that the Democracy il.
self is The party which hated the doc
trines of the fathers The question pre-.
sents itself, then, rs To whether the PEG
pie will continue the party in power
which adheres 10 the dangerous dogma
Of State sovereignty after that doc
trinc has well nigh cost the nation
It's lifer Most assuredly they will not,
But, in reviewing the conduct and meat.
ure' OF the two parties, indiScrimina'c
praise or ccnSure of either were unjust.
The Democratic party within the last
few years has, without doubt, exercised
wholesome influence III checking some
OF the excuses of power OF the kcpub'
iican party. The fair way to judge II
party Is not, however, by its promises
while IN the minority, but by its acts
while in the majority, Judging from
these Critcria, and admitting that the