The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-07-20
The Republican Party.

tlcieS OF COnfeQefatlOn, diverse pO-
litical combinations have existed in
the United States. These cOmbina-
tions did not assume distinct and
compact organizations, but embraced
hostile elements of opposition. These
antedate the separation of the colonies
from England, and the establishment
of independent government. During
the Revolution there were Patriots
and Tories. The final triumph of the
patriots did not eradicate loyalist
theories as to the forms and functions
of government. In the framework of
the constitution, in the conventions
and debates, the lines of demarcation
were drawn between centralization
and distribution of power between
a harmonious system of States weld
ed in perpetual nnion and a CONSOLE
dated government of absorbed and
powerless provinces.
1t was then that the Democratic
party came into existence as polit-
ical organization, representing the
great principle of popular rule, the
essence of representative freedom,
and the cornerstone of representa-
tive constitutional government. Bat
tling for the largest measure of per-
sonaI liberty, incorporating into Or
ganic law the safeguard of checks
and balances, and evolving cut of cha
otic theories and disorderIy practices
true principles of free government,
the Democratic party became what
the name implies, the exponent of the
great doctrine that the people must
rule, and not their rulers. For more
than a decade it resisted all the en-
croachments of power, and met every
onslaught with the shield of the con-
stitution.
When the alien and sedition laws
threatened tyranny and the overthrow
of individual rights, the Democratic
party aroused the people to a sense of
danger and baRished from the seats
of power the authors of the outrage.
When England attempted to extend
her limitless dominion oyer the seas
to the impressment of American sea-
men, national honor received vindl-
cation, and the British sword was bro
ken by Democratic General at New
Orleans. The chapters of American
history are all aglow with the hero
ism, wisdom and patriotism of the
new government, hitherto untrled
Who can contemplate the struggling
efforts in the early times, the brilliant
masterpieces of craftsmanship, the
growing grandeur of our country,
without national pride and infinite
gratitude to God for the men whe
reared here, between the two oceans,
a free government, and preserved le
for seventy years? Who would blot
the annals? Who would dim the lus-
tire of the wisdom in council, when
the Senate sat the enthroned custO-
dian of the States? Who would for
get the heroic valor on sea and land,
when Perry shouted victory in the
hour of death, when Decatur's guns
shook the continent of Africa from
under the walls of Tripoli, when
Jackson hurled back the British in
yaders at New Orleans, when Scott
rolled to the breeze the proud flag of
our country over the halls of Monte
1t was Democratic Presl-
dent who curbed EngIand's naughty
power, and wrote on the laws of ma
sions the freedom of the seas. 1t was
a Democratic President who carved
out of revolution the Independence of
Texas, and added an empire to the
domain of free territory. It was
Democratic President who put to
fight the eagles of France and made
Louisiana one of the commonwealths
of the Union. 1t was a Democratic
President who removed the embargo
and made the Mississippi a free and
artery of commerce, hoW-
ing SO grandly through the garden of
tine Western world.
The history of the Democratic party
has been the history of the country in
peace and war, For more than sew
enty years the party saved the gov
ernment from danger within and from
foes without. 1t was a Democratic
President who thundered into the
ears of South Carolina disuniOnists,
as from Sinai's burning mountain top,
the immortal command, ''The Ameri-
can Union must and shall be pre-
preserved. When a political and re-
ligious prescription swept over the
country, the Democratic party arrest
ed the madness and consigned Know
to the tomb of oblivion.
Where then was the Republican
party? II had no existence then, save
in the midnight conclaves of persecu-
ton. 1t has no existence now, save
in the disordered fragments of pOlltI-
cal turpitude. In the civil war, pre-
cipitated by agencies and causes be-
yond the control of party Organiza-
tion, the Republican party sprang out
of the exigencies, or rather out of po-
litical sectionalism. The armies of
the Union were led by Democratic
Generals. and its battles fought by
Democratic soldiers. A Democratic
Secretary of War inspired the one
and supplied the other. Edwin nj.
Stanton was a lifelong Democrat. 1t
was a Democratic General who re-
ceived the sword of Lee and pro-
claimed the triumph of the Union
from the battle field.
Ii would be impossible to detract
from the patriotism or heroism of Re-
publican statesmen, Generals and SOL
dsers, Or even the Republican party
when that organization existed. But
where is the Republican party now?
Is the President its representative
Is the Administration an exponent of
its principles?
Look at the condition of the coun-
try. Examine the pubic service.
Behold the tattered flag on the ocean.
See the burthens of the people. Wit
ness prostration, depression every
where See corruption oOZing in bot
tomless fraud through every branch
of government. The nation is bank
rupt-bankrupt in integrity. morality
at home and abroad
bankrupt politically, socially and
neutrality-suspicious. in purse, honor
and character, from the highest to the
lowest places, in villages, in cities, in
counties, in States, throughout all our
borders. This is the Republican
party, and the ruin wrought by its as
sassins and the Vandals and Goths
reared by it's power to overwhelm
constitutional government in ever
lasting ruin.
1t is some relief to turn from the
picture of wrecks and ruins to those
early times of ancestral struggles to
establish here republic of liberty,
and to those after days of national
Deace and purity that gave to our