Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-11-04
LAST WORD TO VOTERS.

Before another week elapses the mighty
political struggle in which the country
has been for four months engaged will
have ended and its results be known to
the people. In political sense, it is a
contest destined to exert wonderful in.
huence upon the future of our country !;
an influence which may hasten or retaid
lis progress and prosperity in u manner
hardly appreciablo at the present time.
Under such circumstances the exercise
of the right Of suffrage becomes one of
responsibility and every good citizen will
aim to direct his ballot to promote the
interests of the country.
Of the two parties who are before the
people claiming their suffrages, we be-
lieve it to be the duty OF every citizen
who desires peace and prosperity 10 con-
tinue to the country, TO support the Re-
publican. 1t has now held the reins Of
government for sixteen years, and in that
time it has presented record which
challenges admiration. 1t had its origin
twenty years ago when, the Democratic
party having outlived its usefulness and
become mere creature Of the slave pow
er, the good and true men Of the North
abandoned old party affiliations to save
for Freedom the boundless prairies of the
West. 1t had its foundation thus in one
of the noblest emotions of the human
heart. And to that principle of Liberty
it has since been true in the highest,
broadest and fullest sense of the term.
In its career it gained the confidence Of
the nation as a par ty ever will when its
aim is the elevation and ennobling of hui
manity. And such its principles and
aims have ever been and such they are
to-day.
We do not need TO be reminded of what
the work of the Republican party has
done. That has passed into and become
n part of our history which coming gen
erations can point to with pride. In the
successive steps it has taken to exalt hu-
manity we can see nothing which we
would have undone; no step we could
wish to see retraced. If it has erred
and humanity is prone to error-it was
ever upon the side Of Mercy and Charity.
1t is to these errors of Mercy alone that
there exists danger 10 the country to day;
it is because the Republican party "with
malice toward none, with charity to ALL"
opened wide the gates of reconciliation
and sought earnestly to bind up the
wounds which war had left, that we are
to day threatened with that greatest Of
all evils to the country-a Democratic
restoration. No other country in the
world would have exhibited that leniency
toward conquered rebels which was
shown by our own the penalties of tyea-
son would have been visited upon the
heads Of the conquered to nm extent that
would deter others from hazarGing the
experiment again.
Ifsuch be the past record of the Re
publican party, if such be the cause it
has ever championed, can we not afford
to trust it with power again We are to
judge OF parties as we judge men-not by
their professions but by their deeds
Ganged by this standard we can safely
rely upon the Republican, but not upon
the Democratic party. In all its endeav-
ors to liberate, enfranchise, enlighten
and elevate the nation, in every measure
of progressive reform, it has had to en-
counter Democratic opposition. And
that Democracy, if restored to power will
endeaVor to undo and nullify all the
grand achievements which have signal
lied Republican rule must be patent to
all. Under the specious cry Reform"
the Democracy are trying to gain con-
troll Of the country which II few years ago
they bent all their energies 10 destroy
Yet while this is their shibboleth, it is n
patent fact that this party of 'relorm" is
leaving no stone unturned to nullify the
will of the people at the ballot-box, and
make force, fraud and intimidation the
chief factors Of the Presidential contest.
When party's professions accord so lit
tie with its acts what reliance is to be
placed upon them ? What hope for
peace, submission to law, and good gov
ernment is to be looked for from the tri-
umph of a party which subordinates
every principle of truth and justice to en-
sure success, and acts upon the Jesuitical
theory that "the end justlies the means.
We are not to be diverted from the
real issues of the contest by this spccious
cry of "reform." The samples of Demo-
cratic reform which have manifested
themselves wherever the Democratic par
ty has obtained supreme control are not
such as will commend themselves 10 the
friends of good governm ent. The sur
roundings which will control Demo-
cratic administration are such as forbid
any hope of II change for the better in the
event of triumph of that party. Draw
ing its main support from United
South" we can only look for display Of
class legislation which will be acceptable
to that section rather than to the nation
at large. Already the condition of local
affairs in many Of the States is such as
should put our boasted freedom to the
blush. y triumph OF the Republican
party means a victory for free thought,
free speech, freedom Of opinion, national
progress and personal rights Demo
cratic victory will be triumph of the
ballot-bo stuffing and shot gun policy.
Between two such parties there is but
one choice, and every friend OF equality