The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-20
From the Springfield Republican,
THE yICE-PRESIDENT .
ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
HOW He THINKS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
CAN Re SAVED.
WAsnrYaroY, Jan. 10, 1915.

hON HE THINKS THE hEPtBbitAN Fahif
CAN Re SAVED.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1G, 1870.
To The Editor Of the Republican
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 man |
or set of men, in the opinion that 1t is dead |
or hopelessly defeated. On the contrary, | |
believe that the republican party has it in |
its power to recover what II has lost, and |
to elect the next president.
In saying this, am not unmiLdful of the
grave Questions at issue, and which are
pressing for solution of the disasters that
have fallen upon it; nor of the hopes, ex-
pectations and strength of the democratic
party-a party whose strength and power
have never moderated. believe it can
recover all IL has lost, win back its former
prestige, and still retain its power in the
government. And | believe this because |
believe it to be a necessity of the country.
The grand work of liberty and patriotism
it has performed imperatively demands that
it should continue to guide the policy of
the nation. Liberty, law, order, protec
ton and civilization cannot afford to have
it permanently defeated.
| saw quite as early as any one the pcris
of the republican party, and, more than
thirteen months since, | warned my politi-
cal friends of the danger of losing the next
House of Representatives. The party has
made mistakes, and is now paying the pen
atty of those mistakes. But its ideas, prln-
ciplcs, general policies have not been con-
demned. 1t has been taught by recent dis.
asters that it is mortal and, il it is wise, it
will heed these lessons. 1t would seem that
neither selfishness nor stupidity could fail
to understand them, or could misinterpret
their import. If the republican party now
dies, it will die by the hand of the suicide
for there Is no arm, other than it's own, po-
tent enough to strike it down.
1t cannot, think, hope to recover its
lost prestige and power by a policy of re-
wards and punishments, or by party disci
pine. There are hundreds of thousands in
the republican party, to-day, who spurned
the brides and frowns of power, and left
the wing and democratic parties for the
sake of principles deemed by them import
ant and sacred. These men cannot be Sc
duced by the Establishments of power, nor
greatly moved by threats of discipline.
Mere politicians, who think they can gov
ern by the whip of party discipline, will
find that they cannot thus reach or control
the thoughtful and independent men who
struck the lash from. the hands Of the -lavc-
masters.
Nor can we recover wla l. lost in Mas
sachusctts, or in the country, by the impcr-
tinent ntermeddling of oilice-hOlders in
nominations and elections. OiliCe-io ~ lcrs
should learn from recent elections that they
can serve the republican party best by per-
forming their official duties with scrupu-
Ious fidelity The people should be lett
| free to manage, in their own way and
without official interference, their primary
meetings and elections for, rightfuly or
wrongfully, they have been compelled TO
believe that there are those holding Office
| in Massachusetts, in the country, and cs-
| pecially at the South, some of them in
| important positions, who do not fifty repre-
sent the desires and wishes of their locall-
ties, and who have not the public conf
dence. The party, burdened by such, is
not likely to be led to victory by their OBJ
trusivc interference, either in Massachu-
sets, or in the country, North or South.
The disastrous division in the republican
| party in 1872 was to me distressing event.
| 1t seemed to me to be the unnecessary sep
aration of comrades who had toiled to-
| gether for so many years for noble purposes
and q glorious cause. | did all | could, by
rcmonstrance and appeal, to prevent it,ant
have since sought to reunite what was ther
so disastrously and unnecessarily broken
| And now would throw the doors widt
open for the return of those who voted fol
Mr.. Greeley in 1872, and earnest
| ly invite them to reunite agar
l with their old associates. Indeed, a
any moment since that election, l woulC
have pursued generous and magnarimous
| policy toward the men who then left us.
| And now, without the loss Of q single hour
l would in all sincerity. extend the hand
of reconciliation. would appeal to you,
sir, and your associates Of the press in that
unfortunate division, to unite with tie
| great party which, with all its errors, faults
and mistakes, has made "a glorious record
for country, freedom and progress. dc
| not ask you to refrain from criticism, MOI
to leave unnoticed its mistakes; for par.
| ty that cannot tolerate that is already in its
| decadence.
There has been, and now is. class OF
men in the South, Douglas democrats anC
old-line national wings, who were dragged
nto,the rebellion, but who haye very little
sympathy with the democratic party.
| have believed, aud now believe, that these
men should be invited to cooperate will
the republican party, and share In its re
sponsibilities and honors. | believe tina
peace in the South the blotting out OF di
visions of the line of race, the advancement
{ real reconstruction, permanent southern
prosperity and the success of the republican
party, demand that all honorable effort
should be made to withdraw such mel
from association with those who led then
into rebellion, brought such fearful and in
describable ruin upon them, and who sill
adhere to the "lost cause"
1t seems to me that republicans every
where in office and out of Office, should sub
ordinate all personal desires, aspirations ant
ambitions, sacrifice their interests, II nee
be, rally again for the party, invite every
body, crowd its ranks and bring to ih
front, to the important positions OF til
government, all the experience, ablit
and character they can command.
broad, wise and magnanimcus policy SHOULD
be promptly inaugurated, and steadily an
honestly pursued. When the countr
clearly sees, as it will see, the only alternI
tive presented the real issues involved, tn
policies and men to be supported, thei
records in tie past and the present alnlia
} tions, who and what shall prevail if the re
publican party be set aside-when tn
country sees where the loyal men of tll
land are found, and where they stand VIII
believe in the perfect equality of the races
} and who, come victory or defeat. life G
death, mean to maintain in its completeness
, the equal rights of American citizens, {
every race nationality and faith, then wi
the republican masses rally again, achiey
new victories, and give the party me-
lease of power. Truly yours,