The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-03-15

notion ABOUT reform Woulu urlVe
the main idea of the Republican par
tv-the preservation of the Union,
with equal rights for all its citizens
out Of the next political contest. Mr..
Blaine was among those who easily
noticed and regretted the error which
had charmed the Republicans into
sleep threatening to be fatal. Gen
eral Garfield saw it also; and when
Mr.. Blaine, Watching his opportunity
drew forth the latent poison of the ex
Confederate reptile, be followed up
the attack with a speech that left no
room for doubt, that the ex-Speaker
had a strong backing in his views of
the main issue. Mr. Blaine struck
the key note Of the campaign, or rath
er, it would be more correct to say, he
forced the rebels to declare the issue
so clearly that the drowsiest and most
conservative Republican became
alarmed at the prospect. The history
of the amnesty contest in the House
will be long memorable, and refer to
il now simply TO note the change
which has come over the face of polt.
ical affairs throughout the country as
result of it. When Mr.. Blaine
made his first move in opposition to
the general amnesty bill, there were
many Republicans in the House-his
friends, who had strong feeling in
his behalf as candidate for President
who counselled him to abandon the
contest even at the threshold. Many
of them threatened not to support him,
fearing that their constituents would
not in turn support them. And re-
peatedly thereafter, us Mr.. Blaine ad-
vanced stage by stage, those conserva.
tives besought him to halt, and hav-
ing exposed the iniquity of the rebel
prison management, let the amnesty
bill pass. The same men are now
thankful that their advice was not
heedS:l. Even before the debate was
over, they came up to the support Of
their leader as cordially as the people
have. The poorly concealed venom
Of the Southern FIRE eater, negro hate.,
and Unborn rebel, has been let loose,
and now the Republican party once
more is marshaling to turn back the
Confederates upon fields that shall be
no less decisive of principle than
we're Gettysburg and Appomattox.
This contest conveys lesson beyond
the question directly involved. 1t
shows that pluck and steadfastness are
grand and vital elements in parties,
and that to compromise and serve the
occasional exigencies-to trim for the
sake of catching every temporary
: breeze and to the sacrifice of the real
: life and foundation of the party-is to
weaken and discourage the people who
have lived by it and supported it from
the cradle. The Republican party
, has had several experiences of thii
kind; each time fortunately it ha,
turned away the tempter and come NJ
a stronger than before. The conserva
tive departure of Andrew johnson
. aud his friends was sore trial thr
g "liberal" overtures and threats il
!, 1872 were almost too much for resist
!. anee the "tidal wave" Of 1874 near
! ly overwhelmed the Republicans
y But from all these dangers the part,
has escaped by returning to its origin
D al anchorage, and it has now put oil
d its strength of 18G9-64, thanks to tn,
}. courage of Mr. Blaine and other "rad
g icals" in the Confederate House o
! Representatives
Ii The Republican party was going t
sleep eonfiding in the promises of tn
y Democratic Confederate leaders; bu
/ it has walked from its dream of peac
i and the very radicalism that was
a terror to the timid has straightene
u the more plant necks and stiffene
.e the weaker backs, so that there is n
u break in the line of Republicanisn
e The danger to the country which wa
Z threatened by the ex-rebels throug
It their chiefs in Congress, has passed
=. for the main issue in the coming cam
u paign is now declared to he equa
l. rights and the supremacy of the 10y
n al people. From all parts Of tn
L country we receive news of the heart
es cooperation even of conservative an
rs liberal Republicans in this rehabi
d alton of the Republican party; ther
N can be no mistake about it. and bt
E. fore the meeting Of the Cineinna
lie Convention all other questions wi
TO become so thoroughly insignfcar
N that any proposal to compromise wit
At the timid or to hearken to the deceI
l. tive overtures Of the men who rid
1t reform" for personal aggrandizemen
s. will be secuted as with one voic
ct The force of circumstances have d
1t clared that the next President for Il
s, | limited States must he mt a conserS