Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-09-23
WHO ARE REPUBLICANS:


fairly, and intelligently, we must first de-
,crminc what q republican is. The term
has broad Specification, and means in
its most extended sense, any one who IA
vors or prefers republican form Of gov
ernment-i. c. form adopted as the vol
untary choice Of the majority of the pco-
pie, and maintained and defended by
them. BY party organizations its mean
lng has been so greatly restricted, that
the term at present signifies one who adj
heres to the principles and the policy of
that party which assumed the control of
,he government at the close Of Buchan-
ans Administration, and still remains in
power. 1t is in this sense that we under
stand men generally TO use the term re-
publican. 1t designates that class Of citi-
zcns who are opposed to the policy advo-
Gated by the democratic party, and hence
1t follows that every man who is not a
democrat is republican. The difference
in political parties is founded up the rad
Ical dssimilarity in the principles, which
are held by each, respectively. Let there
he no mistake here Any contest be-
tween tao two land there are only two)
great political parties Of the present day,
must I've contest of principles. 1t can
net degenerate into a mere quarrel be-
tween individuals, and still retain any of
tho dignity, or the importance, or the JUS
,icc of party strife, begun and waged IN
support ofan honest belief. A man may
b: a radical republican or bourbon
democrat, and yet be thief or corrup-
zionist, and:s one may belong to either
political party and be morally above re.
proach or imputation Of wrong. If this
be true, it follows that there may he lac.
tions among republicans-that one may
become dissatisfied with the acts of an,
other, and seek to drive it from power for
the purpose Of enhancing the public
good. and success may attend such an
effort. What of it: Docs defeat entail a
sacrifice Of principal and the loss ofman-
hood: Did the gallant boys who were
beaten at the battle of Bull Run lose their
patriotism rs we'll rs the battle, and their
right to fight again for the preservation OF
the Union and Constitution? Defeat may
come TO man every day in the year
without altering his convictions or chang.
ing his purposes, or dcpriving him Of
his right to continue the contest unequal
and disastrous to him though it may b.
aud this general truth is applicable to the
republican party of this county. Years
ago there began here q struggle for the
asccndcncy of one faction over another
1t succeeded and there was justice in the
success. The lcadcrs--not the rank and
tilc Of the old party, had cntrcnchcd them
selves in their positions, and used then
for the purpose Of Cheating the people
They betrayed the confidence which thu
public had rcposed in them, and thus for
fcitcd their right to control. OF all thu
persons comprising the defeated faction
those who resisted the attacks Of the re
formcrs-there were less than dozen VIII
had shown themselves dishonest in tn
transaction Of public business, and We
they are ostraciscd today and their rigl,
to participate in republican caucusc
denied for the sole reason that they exel
cised an unrcstrained choice in their sup
port OF candidates for office. No factor
can maintain itself upon such platform
as that. Principle must undcrlic the ac'
ion Of men if they would hope to be sue
ccssful in their efforts. Opposition base'
upon nothing but jealousy, or persona
iIlwilI, or Il desire TO control, or dlspC
sition to prosecute, or destroy cannot b
successful, nor will it long continue form
liable. If any man or any faction woul'
succeed, he or they must show that tn
right resides with them md that thei
success is essential to the public veal
1t is in recognition of this fact that repuh
licans, all republicans, whatever ma,
have been their factional differences
should 90 the caucuscs and exercise tlci
rights in the selection Of delegates to tn
County Convention, and for such purpos
all who accept the principles and polio!
set forth in the published platforms of til
party, will be considered as sufficient!
and reliably republican.