Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-11-08
The Party of Honesty.

AFTER all that has been said that ex-
aggeration can magnify or falsehood
invent, the foundation truth remains
that the cardinal doctrines of the Re-
publican party are the only safe ground
work upon which the institutions of our
free government can rest with any pros
pect of safety or stability. Down below
the scum and rubbish that work them
selves to the surface of all political par
ties alike, lies the solid substratum of
intelligent regard for national honor
and advancementwhich constitutes the
real basis of the Republican party.
There is no difficulty in recognizing all
through the twenty-five years of its ex-
istence as a national organization the
peculiar characteristics that distinguish
Republicanism from Democracy, in
their relation to all the great questions
that from time to time agitate the ma
tional mind The Republican party is
like an army distributed in times of
peace in many garrisons and posts,
widely separated and apparently wholly
independent of each other, but brought
quickly into one solid body, instinct
with single purpose, upon the first
alarm of war. National crises nave
always rallied the Republican arm
around its common standard, and while
its disreputable camp-followers flock to
| the same center, eager for the spoils,
its real soldiers are inspired with the
same high purposes that originally
brought the party into being. Eighteen
years ago the first mutterings of the
southern storm silenced every dissen-
sion and dispelled every apathy in the
Republican ranks, and when the storm
| burst there was united front pre-
sented to the rebellion by the people of
| the North which owes its strength and
unity wholly to the principles of loyalty
and honor inculcated by the teachings
of true republicanism. There were not
wanting thousands of men whose pro-
fessions of devotion to their party were
the thinnest possible disguises for their
corrupt selfishness. But the great mass
of the Republican party was honestly
and heartily bent upon the highest and
noblest purpose of preserving the ma
tional honor at all sacrifice. And the
rule holds good in the crisis that is now
upon the country. A more peaceable,
but scarcely less dangerous rebellion
against the national honor now threat
ems the country. Doctrines that repu-
dlate the national obligation and preach
the most fragrant public dishonesty are
openly proclaimed and violently advo-
Gated. Communism in various forms,
all instinct with the same reckless
spirit, is rampant in all directions, and
no demagogue is so low or unprincipled
or violent as to fail of some consider
able following.
But amid all this turmoil stirred up
| I,,rf fal v,,.nNhnfc onh AacinninOr daO1a-
gogues, the great fact grows clearer
every day that the real commanding
sentiment of the Republican party is
true to its original instincts and is con-
solidating itself around the old doc
trines of national honesty out of which
it grew at the beginning. Here and
there, a leader has doubtless gone
astray, and is found wandering in paths
of political teaching altogether foreign
/ to the genius of his party. To the eX-
extent of their influence such leaders
are now hindrance to the cause in
} which their party instinctively enlists
itself. If they are not cast out of the
) ranks it is because of some past serv-
ice, or because their temporary delu-
} sions are seen to be powerless, and not
because those who uphold them are in
, any sympathy with them. There should
, be no such exceptional cases, for every
' leader should feel in honor bound to
accept the recognized doctrines of his
3 party or to retire from its leadership.
Q But such men are the few exceptions to
4 the rule that governs the rank and hle
t of the Republican party in the issues
4 with which the country is now dealing
1 That rule is very simple one which
: he that runs cannot read amiss. An
honest currency and an honest adher-
( ence to every national obligation, to the
uttermost farthing, these are the be-
4 ginning and the end of the principle
! now drawing all wings of the Repub-
4 lican party into solid line. During the
! recent tour of the President through
;. the Northwest no one has been sur
: prised that he should everywhere de-
n clare the one truth that the country can
4 only prosper in the path of national
r honor. 1t was the natural utterance of
o Republicanism. 1t was the same teach
e ing that runs through all the glorious
: record of the party these twenty years
Il past. 1t needs no sophistry 10 strength
en- its pleadings. It is plain, old-fash-
v ioned honesty, that none but dema-
gogues and dreamers venture to deny.
1t Is like the doctrines of Unionism in
the presence of rebellion, too simple to
be argued away, except in minds al
s, ready demoralized by some form of ma
|. tional dishonesty. II is working like
s; leaven all through the mass of the in
l. telligent thinking people of America
y to-day, and to doubt that it will prove
ir the dominant principle of the nation is
1t to assume a degree of national corrup'
Ie ton and stolid Indifference to the pub
Ie lie honor for which we are not yet quite
4 | raodv pb,I0deIfbi0 Rulletig