Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-10-13

will not be possible and necessary.
In determining the value of these
promises, character must be taken
into account. Now, without any
phariseeism whatever, without
claiming that line drawn between
the two parties would be simply a
separation of the sheep from the
goats,--admitting good and bad ell
ements in both, you do not believe
that in intelligence, ability, patriot
ism, public virtue and private charac-
ter, the Republican party would suf-
fer by the comparison. Try the
question by the history of your own
city, county, Stale, OF the whole
country, which party is the best rep
resentative of the heart and con-
science of the nation? in whose
hands is it's honor safest, its welfare
most secure? Which is the most
intolerant of fraud?
The success of the Democratic
party means more than the control
of the Federal Administration. 1t
means powerful influence exerted
in every State, county and school
district. Now, there are certain
general principles and outlines of
policy, which people, by tacit con
sent. desire should be recognized and
pursued. Among these are that the
Government III all its various depart
ments, general, State and municipal,
should be economically administered,
not to confer places and honora, but
as the common guardian of all, its
whole power pledged to each for the
enjoyment of his own.
There should be no tolerahon Of
fraud, or of its apologlsts.
That there shall be such a reform
Of the civil service that fitness shall
be the highest recommendation for
appointment to Office.
That all men shall be free in their
religious belief and observances.
That there shall be no division Of
the public-school fund. That schools
supported by taxation in whole or in
part shall be free from sectarian bias OF
control, and shall be ample for the
elementary instruction of children.
Thatthe public debt shall be honest
ly paid. Nopart of the Rebel debtas-
sumed, and that no compensation be
be made for the emancipation of
slaves.
That the Thirteenth, Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Amendments to the
Constitution, by which freedom is
made universal and equality before
the law secured, shall remain undis-
turbed as part of the organic law
of the land.
That this nation shall be known
and recognized everywhere as the
representative of liberty and
equality, In the onward march of hui
manity.
If there be a general concurrence Of
sentiment in favor of this brief out
line of policy, the practical question
before the people in every important
election is, through which party can
it be best advanced as whole? 1t
is not 4 question of pertection-that
exists nowhere. 1t is a question of
choice. In this instance it answers
itself. And let me say here that the
moral effect of Presidential elec-
ton as general expression of pub
lie sentiment is of far more conse-
quence and importance than the
present success Of any measure adyo-
Gated by either.
There is no danger of the re-estab-
lishment of slavery, but whatever of
its spirit and teachings survived lives
in the Democratic party. There is
no danger in our generation of an
armed attempt to destroy the Union,
but whatever ofdiscontentthere is with
the Union re-established on the basis
of freedom and equal rights is repre-
sented in the Democratic party.
Therefore it ought to be destroyed.
1t acquiesces in the result of the
War. Acquiescc is good word.
George III. acquiesced in American
independence! 1t acquiesces in the
victory for the right. 1t acquiesces
in emancipation, in restored Union
and universal freedom. 1t acquiesces
in the amendments to the Constitu-
ton, which are the charters of free
dom and union. There is differ
ence, my friends, between lip-service
and heart-service; between the let
ter which kills and the spirit which
maketh alive; between saying, 'The
lines are hard, but it is SO written" i"
and that rejoicing shout, "Before ev-
er the world was it was true. there
fore it is so written" The Repub-
lican party does not "acquiesce."
These are its trophies. 1t achieved
them through tribulation and suffer
ering. They are red with the blood
of its martyrs, and it is prepared to
defend them against all corners, in
whatever name, with life, fortune
and honor.
Now, my friends, let me ask you
in candor, if the Rebellion had sue
ceeded, the Confederacay been esta5-
lished, and the present Democratic
candidate for President and Vice
President had gone down there and
ran for office, could one utterannce
of theirs in the Northern homes have
been quoted to prevent any Confed-
crate from voting for them? Would
not their Northern record have made
them very eligible and proper candi'
dates for the highest offices i'll the
Southern Confederacy?
When the great trial came which
searched the hearts of the people,
in that supreme moment of our his
tory when the instinct of patriotism
was higher guide than learning
or Philosophy, when the great idea
of country came down like revela-
ton of love, Gov. Tllden took down
the Constitution to see if he could
find in its written words any warrant
for the existence of this nation
among the powers of the earth. He
examined it as though he were try
ing to find a flaw in criminal stat
ute, to ascertain if he had country.
The idea of a country whose living
presence Is in the heart of a patriotic
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