The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-03-21
THE EFFECT UPON THE PARTY

Since the appalling revelations OF the
Belknap case broke upon the country
the question has passed eagerly from
one Republican to another: "What
will be the effect upon the party Can
il survive such Q shock % II is .
plausible but not q logical interrogato-
~, and can be very easily answered.
The Republican party was organized
and dominant long before General
Belknap came into II, and il will in all
probability remain organized aud dom
inant long after he shall have gone out
from it. II was built upon ideas. prin-
ciples; and men who have been rscog-
nized as its leaders have become potent
only as they have faithfully advocated,
defended, or executed those ideas.
principles. IL was brought into exist
ence in 1S54-'5-'6 by the monstrous
measures OF powerful political party
TO spread the pail Of human slavery
over United States territory rightfully
free. It's first national platform in
1856 Was protest in the name OF hu-
manity and liberty against the Propos-
cd extension Of slavery. It's appeal to
the nation and the world for sympathy
and support was we'll nigh successful
in its frst Presidential campaign. Its
second national platform in 1860 had
broader and stronger base. II was not
only an earnest negation OF the exten-
sion and naturalization Of human
bondage, but il was q bold Affirmation
OF the inalienable right in man to po-
litical liberty and equality, and such .
system Of governmental administration
as should throw over the citizen, wheth-
or OF native or foreign birth. the broad
est protection, and secure for his Ia
bors the amplest rewards. With these
principles and candidates in full accord
with them, the Republican party won
it's first national victory, and from that
time to this, through rebellion and re-
construction, through financial pros
psrity and adversity, through the ex-
perisnces incident 10 all human organ
izations Of the instability Of friends
and the bitterness Of foes, il has CON-
tinued to hold the confidence Of the
liberty loving masses Of the nation and
OF the world. That the unparalleled
unfaithfulness Of . high public func-
tionary like the late Secretary Of War
should cause o rude shock 10 public
confidence is not UNNATURAL; but it
should in no degree undermine popu-
lar faith in Republican principles.
From 1861 TO 1866 men OF high and
low degree, men in Office, bound by
solemn oath, and men out OF Office,
bound by obligations OF duty-took up
arms against the government Of the
United States; but their treason in no
manner shook the general belief in the
rightfulness and expediency Of repre-
sentative government. During the
revolution OF our fathers Benedict Ar
mold attempted 10 betray his country
and its cause into the hands OF its enc
mics; but his country and it's cause
were thereby rendered more precious
| to their defenders. Whom the Saviour
| Of men was upon earth Peter denied
Him, Judas betrayed Him, and before
His Crucifxion, every Apostle fled
from Him; but for nearly nineteen
4 hundred years His cause has been the
consolation and the hope OF mer.
No, no; the Republican party has in
q manner weakened by the downfall ol
one OF its representatives. Even An
drew Johnson, with the record Of a long
life OF public usefulness, and with the
patronage and power OF the. Executive
Department Of the government, could
not swerve il from its principles mol
its policy. Lesser men, like Doolittls
and Randall and Trumbull, aud jim
Lane, had fallen by the way in the at
tempt 10 mislead OF betray IL; but thu
solid Republican columns, tried ant
purified as by fire, have moved steadil,
onward. bearing with them the un
shaken trust and devotion Of the UnioI
loving masses Of the nation; and unit
the great purpose for which tho part,
was organized. in better securing thu
fundamental rights Of men, shall b.
fulfilled, we trust and believe it's mum
bers will remain undiminished and il
strength unimpaired. --Inter-Ocean.