Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-03-17
The Republican Party.

Few are the pages of history which are dis
graced with IA record of such stains of infamy
as the hand OF investigation is now revealing
10 the view OF this country, and seldom are
the annals of nation so blemishei by official
corruption as are ours to-day by The blighting
crimes Of the dominant party. The atmos-
phere is laden with moral pestience as il
absorbs the noxious effinvia rising from the
sewers of corruption at Washington, and is
sweeping over the entire land, entering all
circles aud conditions of life, melting hum
cry greed for gain which rushes over law,
morality and religion TO appeasc lis appetite
with wealth and for this terrible state OF af-
fairs the Republican party is undenably re-
sponsibe Born at time when the eyes OF
the country were fixed upon an internal disaf-
fiction. which threatened 10 disunile the ties
Of nnion, and when every thought was fas.
tened with an intensity Of interest upon the
mighty event then Transporting, leaving the
avenues for Individual crime Enclosed and un-
guarded. inviting those who saw 10 the nation
al calamity merely an opportunity for self
ACKNOWLEDGMENT to rush forward and reve in
pluEder. Rapidly, then, did that he nest
merit which had guided the affairs of our
country sink uhnoticed to the bottom, while
crime buoyed up by wealth as rapidly ascend
ed into national notorieiy The war was end
ell and the country restored to peace, but only
10 find thieves and plunderers in management
of public affairs but, sad to say, peace has
required more time 10 unmake than was oc-
eupied in making them.
War has made Two Presidents for this coun-
try. The first, by his military achiev emen S
when our nation threw off the slackles of for
eign despotism under bis guidance, found the
reward of his valor in the highest position
which grateful people could bestow upon
him. Recognizing the important responsible
ty resting upon him and conscious Of the help
lessness OF his own unaded ability to perform
the duties Of his Office with that craftsmanship
which the necessities Of the country at such a
period required he gathered around him
those who were not only conspicuous for their
wisdom, but also for their honesty and iuteg-
rity to assist and aid him with their advice
and counsel. Under his administration there
existed that harmony of feeling which is ever
the companion of general prosperity and be-
fore concert of action the country soon be-
came one oil the first nationaities of the world
universally admired for its honesty of charac-
ter and universally feared for It's united
strength.
The last is Grant, who, by the numerical
strength Of bis army, crushed the South, and
who, when one-half of the people were dis
franchised, found Sufficient number in the
other half to seat him in the chair of Wash
ington. With no idea of craftsmanship and
no promptings of honesty, he called into his
council chamber from the depths of obscurity
those who possessed TO qualities of mind ex-
cept what fitted them for the tricky politician
and no comprehension Of principle except what
taught them that il was disrepulable 10 steal in
daylight. Under the guidance of such men
the country has become scene Of thieving
and pundering, of oppression and tyranny
which has reduced us from prosperity to des-
tilution, which has closed the portals of peace
and nourished discord and which has shorn
us of our envied reputation and branded US
with disgrace. And these who have worked
this general ruin are the agents of the Repub-
lican party, and that party is reponsible for
their conduct Blaine aud other pres dential
aspirants think differently, but the voice OF
the people will soon tell them that they are
held accountable The Republican party may
gather around il the miserable refuse of its
shattered and disorganzed forces and intrench
itself in its Notifications of power, surrounded
by the bristling bayonets of its federal troops,
numbered and before the irresistible ava
lanche of popular indignation it will be
hurled to lis doom and The places that now
know it will know il no more forever.