The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-12-14
The Two Records COntrasteG.

the direction of affairs to equal the Republi-
can party's actual achievements. It's enemies
say it has not wisely managed the finances,
but the recapitulation recently published in
these columns, shows that its exploits in this
direction, where it is alleged to be weakest,
have been not only creditable but brilliant.
No recapitulation is necessary in order to
reach this conclusion, for the whole irrefraga
BILE argument is contained in the one fact
that Republicans can borrow in 1876, after a
costly war, ten times the money at four and
one half per cent. that the Democrats could
in 1860 at double that rate.-the borrow
ing in the former case not being
for the creation of new indebtedness, but
for the refunding of debts incurred in sup.
pressing Democratic rebellion.
But in this hour of doubts, apprehensions
and conflicting feeling, let no man forget
that greater and more sublime work which
the Republican party has done in the domain
OF morals and philanthropy. 1t is true that a
party ought not to be allowed to live and
thrive on its past achievements, ire
spective OF its present character,
any more than an individual. But o
man of tried benevolence and integrity,
who processes an inclination and ability to do
still better work, will surely be trusted rather
than a neighbor of disreputable antecedents
who claims confidence on the ground Of pro-
LESSONS alone, and those too CT a less exalted
character than fhoco nf b;e rival
The history of Republicanism is all of il too
recent to require rehearsal in order to rem
der it familiar. But the most inadequate
presentation of the we'll known facts can
never fail to be impressive and at this critical
time it ought to inspire every patriot with
fresh confidence and sympathy, and a strong
determination that no fraud, trickery or vio-
lence OF its INSCRIPTIONS adversary shall be
permitted to prevail against it. Look at
these facts once more and take heart. Every
year of Republican history is an era in hu.
man progress. Despite the consi lerable
number of bad men who have naturally
clung to it in the times of its prosperity, never
has distinctively party act or policy been
otherwise than beneficent and adapted to pro-
mote the welfare of mankind. The Republi-
can good is so inextricably associated with
the Democratic evil that the two are necessa-
rily presented together.
In 1854, then the Republican party took its
rise in the infamous action of the Democracy
in repeating the Missouri Compromise and
passing the Kansas-Nebraska bill. The same
year the Democracy began its task of forcing
slavery upon Kansas through the instrument
tality of ''border rufians' from Missouri.
In 1856 the Democrats were still extending
slavery by violence, and the Republicans Of
fering legal resistance, sometimes at the
cost of blood.
Iooo. Ins democracy were noIums naiIsa,
against its own inhabitants, by armed band.
from the slave states. They were shooting
free state immigrants, burning Lawrence, as.
saulting Sumner and supplementing theil
other work with fitting executive orders en-
anating from the White House. A Republi
can House of Representatives with Banks in
the chair prevented further pro-slavery
legislation. The Republicans, still in a mi
nority and failing to elect Fremont, resist
these outrages so far as they can.
1857. The Democrats were rejoicing ovel
the Dred Scott decisian which denied thai
the free negro was citizen or that slavery
could be kept out of the territories. Repub
licans were passing personal liberty bills ant
resisting the subjugation of Kansas.
1859. The Democracy was passing the
famous Lecompton bill, thus forcing slavery
on an unwilling people and making the hate
full institution national. The Republican;
were bravely resisting and gathering up .hei
strength for an appeal to the nation in 1860.
1860. The Republicans elect Presiden
on platform favoring the restriction of slav
cry to the states where it already exists. Th'
Southern Democrats thereupon organize fo
the destruction of the Union, with the hardly
disguised sympathy of their Northern asso
ciates.
1865. The Democrats organize confed
eracy of eleven states and wage war on th,
Union. The Republicans patriotically resis
and subdue the confederacy in the interest o
their countrysand mankind. They abolish
slavery by means of Lincoln's proclamation
and the thirteenth amendment 10 the consti
tuition. The Democrats of the North oppose
these benefcent acts in Congress and in every
state Legislature.
1866. The Republicans pas. and carry in
to effect the Civil Rights and Freedmen's Blu
reau bills, and take measures for the exclu
sion of the South from Congress until tn
states lately in revolt furnish sufficient guar
antics for the future. The Democrats every
where oppose the whole scheme of recon
struction and demand the instant restoration
OF the rebels to their old oligarchical rule il
the South. They also oppose with virulenc
the fourteenth amendment which recognize
the freedman as citizen, Furnishes his dis
franchisement by proportionate loss of rep
resentation in Congress and forbids the pay
ment of the rebel debt. In short they offer
premium on rebellion by insisting that th
increased representation in Congress eDjoye,
by the South on account of emancipation
shall rebound to the sole benefit of those VIII
had endeavored to destroy the government
1S67.7O. In this period the Republican
party finished the work of reconstruction b
the readmission to Congress of all the Con
federate states and the fiaal ratification Q
the fifteenth amendment establishing impair
tial suffrage, and thus for the first time con
verting the noble sentiments of the Declara
tion of Independence into living fact. Th
Democrats in Congress and in all the stat
legislatures voted against this amendment
and the Democratic legislature of New Yor
even had the audacity to vote a forms
repeal of the assent given to the amendment
by Republican legislature which precede,
it.
1S70-76. During this period the Democrat
have employed their time in attempting t
thwart the practical operation of the Reput
iican legislation subsequent to the war, an
to render futile all that had been accom-
plished in the interests Of human right.
And, indeed, in much the greater part of tn,
Confederacy, there is to-day through thei
efforts and legislation, supplemented by law
less violence, denial of political and civ
| rights to that part Of the Southern peopl
who were loyal during the war. This unpat