Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-08-16
p RES S. FRIDA y


Every now and then the country Is earn
estly requested to believe that the Republic
can party has outliyed its usefulness. 1t is
favorite remark of the current Democratic
editor and stump-speakcr that the mission
oil our party is accomplished and that it can
best serve the people by promptly passing
of the stage. This sort Of talk began long
ago-not long after FremOnt's defeat. in
1856. Certainly ever since Lincoln finished
his first term, gentlemen eager to administer
upon its effects have assured the Republican
party that nothing would 20 become it as
dying.
Can the Republican party now be dispens-
ed with? Ought it forthwith to disband Is
it true that ir has no longer any valid eI-
cuse for being? We believe that there can
be but one answer to these questions. The
Republican party. to-day, is confronted with
duties not less important than those which
it met and discharged in the past. 1t has
NOT finished its magnificent work for this
country, and the call to its leaders and to
its rank and file to lay aside the armor will
fall on deaf ears The South is meditating
colossal raid upon the public treasury.
Claims for the refund OF the cotton tax; for
property seized and sold under the Captured
and Abandoned Property Act; for cotton
seized contrary to law; for stores and sup
plies tor rents of lands and buildings occu-
pied in the rebel territory; for property
destroyed US military necessity, and
for slaves enlisted in the Union army
from the border States-claims under
these seven heads are now ready to be
pressed just as soon as opportunity offers.
A Democratic restoration would furnish
that opportunity in whole or in part-docs
anybody doubt it who is familiar with the
temper and appetite of the South? The ag-
gregate Of these claims is placed sat the very
uncommonly grand total arc to be added the
claims for depredations committed by our
troops, and. the further sum of $500, 600 900
for internal improvements which the South
made demand for from the last Congress.
These figures are no mere fgmehts of the
Imagination. They do not lie. And in view of
them the Republican party hps as important
and clearly defined mission as it had in 1860
or any time subsequent. 1t owes it to itself, to
the cause of good government. to the people
who can i'll afford at this time to assume
new burdens OF taxation, to see to it that the
Democratic party does not gain control of the
legislative part of our Government. The
Republican party can ne 'er think the vic
tory won or once at ease sit down" and talk
about disbanding while the air is dark with
Southern vultures.
Nor is this the only reason, forcible as it
is. why the Republican PARTY is needed by
the country now as much az ever A Demo-
cratic restoration, which can only be pre-
vented by its old opponents rising in its old
resistless might, would mean not alone a
bankrupt treasury but an evil of more
serious import. Let the Democratic party
gain full possession of Congress and the
object and spirit of the labors of the Potter
Committee will be seen to be the prepare
ton of the way for the impeachment of
President Hayes. We have right to infer
such q result, and the country will draw
similar inference, from the fact that the
resolution declaring Tilden to be elected
by 1876 electoral votes passed the House
the next day after the completion Of the
Electoral count; from the long delay in
passing the subsequent resolution declaring
the title of Mr.. Hayes unassailahle, which
was only wrung from the plotters on account
OF outside public pressure; and from the
fact that the Democratic party in 1851 broke
more solemn pledges than any of the foregU
ing. when it inaugurated civil war. A Dem
ocratic restoration, in the light of those |
facts, would be grave calamity. the turn
ing back of the hand upon the dial, blow
at the prosperity and safety of our common
To name the peril is to induce
every Republican to swear new allegiance to |
the party on which, since it was organized,
the people have confidently relied in every |
trying hour.-ABany Journal.