Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-09-07
NATIONAL POLITICS.

When the different parties first began
discussing the question Of candidates there
was manifested by republicans dispo-
sition to break out of the party pasture
and to roam at pleasure all over the po-
litical commons, but since the leaders
were designated a greater feeling of con-
servatism has prevailed. Men have come
to look upon the action Of a party as they
do upon that Of an individually AS some.
thing the value of which is to lie cstima-
ted upon the bases Of what has been
achieved by it, rather than by what it pro-
fesses. If we look tor results from the
action of the Democratic party we find
them al, bad, terribly bad; while the &C.
ton Of the republicans, although not in
all respects what it should have been, is
In the main good,-substantially right.
This is not more apparent in its admins
,ration of the government than in its
choice of candidates. In all great meas
ures, those which affect the character of
our institutions, or touch the question of
their pcrpetuity, the republican party has
been as true to the right as the needle is
to the pole. On the contrary the demo-
cratic party is opposed to the idea of po-
litical equality, and it denies the authority
of the government to compel State to
hold her place as an integral part in the
national structure. These are fundamen.
tai errors, and yet the democratic party
stands upon them, they are its foundation.
The Republican party nominatcs men for
its chief officers whose lives and whose
impulses harmonic with the great truths
embodied in the National Constitution
men who have by what they .hayc done,
consecrated themselves upon the altar of
the public good. This has eyer been true
ofthe Republican party. Behold Lincoln,
first the Emancipator! second the Martyr!!
See Grant, first the invincible soldier!
second the incorruptible Statesman! Wit
ness Hayes, the upright citizen, the true
patriot, the wise Executives! With the
single exception of the good but misguid-
cd Greeley, whose exalted character and
great ability they hoped might avail to
give them success, their candidates have
been men whose loye for the Union has
always been subordinate to their passion
for personal and party aggrandizcmcnt,-
men whose lives afford no evidence either
of lofty patriotism or of distinguished in.
tcgrity. AT the present moment when the
public conscience is quick and justice is
argus-eyed, and reformation" is the
watchword, the Democratic party offer to
us the friend of "Boss" Tweed, and the
intimate political associate of Sweeney,
and Conner, and John Morrissey the pu-
gilist,- men who robbed New York of
5000 900: and tell us that he is a great
"ref0rmeI," aud that he must be chosen
President in order to purify the public
service, and to rc.establish honesty and
efficiency in the several departments of
the government. How preposterous! Mr.
Tilden is professional man, and has
made bimselfa millionaire by his practice
perhaps rather by his practices. When
the rebellion broke out he sympatlized
with the traitors, and refused to identity
himself with loyal men. When the ad.
minlsiration needed money he perjured
himself, If the facts are as stated, to yet
rid of paying what he owed under the
revenue laws. He has always been q no.
t0rious Tammany Hall Democrat, and yet
he is put forward as paragon of integri-
ty,-as the one man who alone has in
proper combination, ability and integrity
sufficient TO save this nation from dismem.
l)erment and ruin. With the record which
he has to confront, it will be difficult for
him to satisfy the honest reformer that it
Is best to invite the democrats to the con-
troll Of the government. That class of cili.
zcns known Is independents" now see
that there is-no such thing as acting indie
pendeniiy Of the organized parties,-that
reform must he had through the regular
channels, --that 1t is important to preserve
the principles Of the government in its