The Cecil Whig., 1876-11-25
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

From Harp5r's Weekly, N0cemJer 25tb.
II it Oc the Republican party which pres
entity reDtes from the control of the govern
ment, il Is we'll to rene mber that it has
pIouder aud nobcr history than any party
IN English annals. 1t came into power six
teen years ago, when the Democratic party
had virtually held the administration for
generation. That party was the mere tool
of the slave power, and had sedulously de-
banched and demoralized the National con-
sciencr. lnheriting from jefferson and
Madison (the last of whom partially dis.
ayowed it the doctrine of secession, or
that the Union is u voluntary partnership
doctrine which ]ackson's proclamation
did not dIScredlt III the party, and which
was substantially af1i med by Mr.. Tiden
IN ls6p prepared the way for the move
ment of the Rebellion. 1t had utterly
proStltuted the civil service. 1t had totally
dlSgraced the American name, aud it had
brought the American principle into mortal
pe!l. But 1t was apparently impregnably
lntrenched iii the solid Southern vote in
the doubt that 1t had cast upon the true
meaning of the Constitution. in the timid-
liy ut trade between the sections in the
patronage of thc evil service, in the senti-
nlent of the army, i'll the intense prejudice
against the culoled race. in the hopeless
ness of constitutional Interference with
slavery, aud in the fear of actual trouble
with the insolenJ aud threatening slave
power.
Bat the firm ard courageous Republican
appeal 10 the INT, ,ligence ana conscience of
The people of the Northern Statns-for no
such appeal WAS permitted IN the south
an appeal made III Ihe face OF the most
deri>ive opposition aud of maSsarIrs in
Kansas, as an earnest of what should fol
low, 50 united the free States that they
voted i'll 1860 as Republican unit. and
wesc successful. The Democratic party OF
The South instantly rose il arms. That of
the North paSsiYely CO operated. As Mr.
Richard II. Dana, Ir., truly says, the very
term :" War Democrat - is the conclusive
evidence that Silni. Democrat was synony-
nous with an opponent of the government.
No one ever thought of speaking of War
Republicans. To be Republican was to
be Union man. Totally unused to ad
minlstration, the Republican party was at
once confronted with organized civil war,
with treason in the army and navy, with
corruption in the civil service, with an
empty Treasury, with ruined credit with
denial Of its constitutional power to act,
with seeding states, crumbling Union,
and the sneerlng hostility OF forei ign nations.
Without moment S delay it arose to the
great emergency. Relying upon the people
OF tie Free States it created an army and
i navy. 1t made enormous loans. 1t
wag"d a tremendous war of four years
1t held at bay foreign powers eager to abet
the ruin of the Union. 1t maintained order
i'll tie Free States. 1t sent army after army
TO the field and amply sustained them. It
emancipated four millions of slaves. 1t
maintained the Union absolutely and with
out condition. 1t did not build a scatfpld
nor take Il life in punishment. 1t enfrau.
chiscd the freedmen and restored every
rebel to citizenship. 1t vindicated the
Anne ricau principle before the world. and
gave the country standing and respect
among other nations that 1t had never
known before Ii made the Declaration Of
Independence a truth and not lie, and
for the fist time made American mean
liberty instead of slavery. In the ten Years
since the war ended it has paid eight hun
dred millions of dollars Of the debt. 1t
has reduced the interest account by fifty
millions. 1t has reduced taxation by two
hundred and sixty millions. 1t has i'm
mpusely reduced the percentage of loss 10y
carelesSnesS OF crime in the collection and
disbursement Of the public money. 1t has
greatly decreased the running expenses of
the government per capita since the last
Democratic Administration. 1t has nego
tated bonds at four-and-a half per cent
interest-to replace those paying six per
cent. 1t has declared for the resumption
of specie payments in 1879. 1t has saved
the credit of the United States.
This is the party which, if Mr. Tilden
be elected, now retires and gives place to
the Democratic with Democratic leader
snip, doctrines, and practices unchanged. /
Fni> is the party hich Democratic orators,
aud Republicans vino have deserted their
pnty because it did not give them office,
denounce as totally corrupt. This is the