National Republican., 1876-10-17
Twenty Reasons Why the Republican
Party Can be Trusted.

Party Can be Trusted.
The history of the Republican party may
justly be called the grandest chapter OF hu-
man government ever written BY man. II the
old saying, "a friend in need is friend in-
deed, ;" is true one, then the best friend that
the Union ever had is the Republican party.
1t sprang into armed existence tc preserve the
Republic; it stood true to it through four
years of bloody war; it has been loyal to its
best interests ever since. For the following
good and sufficient reasons It has just claim
upon the gratitude and confidence OF the
American people:
l. The people called II into existence IL 1856
to protect the liberties of the nation against
the encroachments Of the slave power.
Q. During the treacherous administration OF
James Buchanan it stood between the nat:on
and those public enemies who sought to be-
| tray it.
3. The people gave into It's hands the ad-
ministratiop of the Federal Government at a
time when Democracy had betrayed it ana
armed rebellion sought to destroy it.
4. 1t resolutely set to work to defend the
Government and preserve the Union. 1t ill.,
fused patriotism into the people, aroused
them to action, equipped armies, supplied
them with men and money, kept them in the
| held until rebellion was crushed, and enacted
such measures for the preservation of the
peace as the condition of the country de-
manded.
s. Throughout the period of reconstruction
1t displayed both wisdom and magnahimty,
and on the simple conditions OF justics to all
men within their borders restored every
Southern State to its original rights within
the Union.
8. 1t devised q financial system that pro
vided for the wants of trade, supplied the
Government with ready money to meet its
heavy obligations, and which substituted cur
rency of uniform value for the old defective
| issue Of State banks.
Z. 1t devised and carried into effect system
of revenue by which the necessary taxes were
levied and collected without invading the
| rights of any one or disturbing tho business
interests of the country.
s. Its collection and disbursement of the
millions of money called for-amounting, in
the aggregate, to more than three times the
entire disbursements of the Government from
1889 to 1S6l-show official fidelity unequaled
in the history Of natious. The reduction Of
more than 5000, 600 900 of the national debt IL
the face of reduced taxation is cummendable
in the extreme.
o. The abolishment of slavery, the protee-
tion of the freedmen by giving them the rights
of citizenship, the establishment Of free schools
throughout the South, entitle the Republic an
party to the thanks and gratitude Of every
friend of liberty.
10. Its support of internal improvements,
| and the material aid extended tn those great
public enterprises like the Pacific railroad,
which unites distant sections to the e.ntIes of
trade and commerce, aud opens to tue s,lliug
millions the rich fields Of the West, conim.Id
1: to all who favor progress.
| IL. 1t founded the homestead system that
has given to tens of thousands of industrious
families free farms, and that still offers to the
toiling millions, without money and without
price, the rich lands of the West.
IL. 1t has labored earnestly to establish
and nationalize free education by liberal dons-
tions of land for school purposes, ard has
zealously guarded the free school systsnI from
those sectarian encroachments which from
time to time have threatened to destroy its
usefulness.
49, 1t has protected the workingmen Of
America by the enactment of wise laws for
the protection of the products Of industry
from the competition of foreign labor, and
has given practical evidence of its fostering
care Of their interests by reducing the hours
of labor.
IA. 1t has made favorable treaties with all
nations Whereby American citizenship has been
protected abroad, American industry en-
couraged, and the wealth of the nation In
creased. The opening of China and Japan to
the commerce cf the United States is due to
the wisdom and enterprise of the Republican
party.
Is. 1t settled, by judicious arbitration, the
San Juan boundary question, which had vexed
the nation for thirty years, and thereby re-
claimed to the country valuable tract of land
that was considered lost.
16. 1t settled by friendly intercourse and
arbitration the disturbing questions growing
out of the Alabama claims, and put into the
National Treasury the sum of SIS, 900, 900 in
gold as England's practical recognition of the
Justice of our claim.
II. 1t settled, by the irmness of its policy
and the earnestness Of its demands, the Span
ish complications, and received from Spain,
with pledge of peace and future respect,
an indemnity equal to the grievance COM
planned of. 49,
Is. 1t has maintained peace with the whole
world through mastery diplomacy, and has
shown to all nations that self-goyernment
when wisely directed is equal to every emer-
gency that may come upon it.
10. Its authority has never been exercised
to the detriment of personal liberty, but
always In It's defense. Its power has never
been abused. Its administration Of the Gov
ernment has been at all times in favor of the
, peoples interests, and under its mild sway
the nation has advanced in civilization and in
wealth as never before in a like period of Its
history.
90 Its continued supremacy Is q vital neces
, sity. 1t saved the nation, and its wisdom and
courage and PATRIOTISM are necessary 10 pre-
serve It. To abandon the Republic to its for
mer enemies would be to invite its destruction
The measures adopted by the Republican party
for the safety and unity of the county need
9 Republican care and fidelity to continue theil
: effectiveness. They had their existence in The
q face of Democratic opposition and would per
!. ish under Democratic control.
A hundred reasons equally strong could b
given why the Republican party should b,
: trusted by the people. Its brilliant record 4
|, the record of the nation during its most glo
rious period. No man need ask "What goo(
thing has the Republican party done durinl
the past twenty yearsp p for the answer 1
, found on every leaf of our history. The exist
:, ence of the nation, the countless blessings en-
: joyed by the people, the perfect freedom
secured to all, are among the fruits Of Repuh
lican rule. No true American who loves hi
; country and desires to see It advance can b
. unmindful of the debt of gratitude which tn
, Republic owes to the party that made possibl
: : the celebration of its Centennial year.
|