The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-05-07
work for Republicans 10 Perform

There is as great aud grand a work
for the Republican party to perform in
the future as there ever was in the past
The Liberation OF millions Of bondmen
was An act which encircles the name of
Republicanism with al unisdiug glory;
but the preservation Of our national
life against the deadly assaults Of
Southern claimants, fanatical socialists
and political adyenturers, is n no less
worthy task or imperative duty than
that for which the Republican party
was raised up to power. The dangers
which threaten this nation no longer
grow from the sweat aud blood OF hu-
man victims of avarice, but they spring
from the same class of men as those
who were guilty OF injustice to their
fellow creatures. Instead Of facing
aud combating slave holders. the Re
publican party finds itself called upon
to resist the attacks Of those who we're
once oppressors but who now appear
upon the roll OF applicants for indemn-
ity for losses sustained in an unholy
war, waged by themselves against the
life Of the nation. But the Southern
claimants are not the only which i'm
peril tins government. The R-publi-
can party will yet be called upon 10
rescue the country from the hands Of
the Communists. The fanatics who
have avoided punishment in the old
world find free scope for their evil
counsels ia this land OF unrestricted
speech and press. There is cause for
grave alarm at the boldness OF the So
cislists in the large cities Of this coun-
try. The old world sends forth a mass
Of irresponsible agitators, who have no
appreciation OF the grandeur Of Ameri-
can institutions and who see in the
liberties OF this people only an oppor-
tunity to promulgate the doctrines for
which they were banished from their
fatherlands. The business aud politi-
cal conditions existing here are peculi-
arily favorable TO the spread OF COM
munistic doctrines. Heretofore the
efforts of inflamers OF sentiment, as IN
lSio and 1852 have been met by trau-
guilty, or by great local questions
which ov0rpowered the teachings Of
foreign demagoguCs. Now IL is differ
ent. The Communists hnd an unwont-
Ell agitation among the poorer people,
ntfAWrf ~ NAlG AfANhANA Va An " NfNAaAAAA-
ulated trade aud an apparent weakness
of political lines among the established
parties. The hour has come FOR them
10 strike, and they are organizing.
arming and drilling for a campaign Of
rule or ruin.
This is no idle statement for partisan
effect, as the nation will discover be.
fore another decade has rolled by.
From the insignificant beginning Of q
hundred thousand sworn members,
there will spring mp party of ignor-
ance and ferocity like unto that of the
French Commune. We have DO sys-
TEN OF espionage, as in France and
Russia, TO guard tho nations life. In
those countries, different in degree as
their forms Of government are. there is
the mechanism OF empires to thvart
the workings Of unbridled fanaticism.
In this country such protection is an-
tagoEistic To our belief. The intelli-
gent action Of frcemen stands as the
sole barrier between an incendiary
horde aud the existence al the govern
ment. What Russia would suppress
by the sword, America must crnsh be-
meath the ballot. The fears expressed
10y Macaulay, as TO the possibility OF
an unlimited franchise, are shared to
day by more than monarchists. The
danger Of this government lies in the
too great freedom OF its people. One
means alone exists by which 20 circum.
vent the schemes of those 10 whom lib
erty has single phase and that the
fearful phase Of license; intelligent
men must do their dnty al the pOliti
cal primary meetings, the conventions
and the polls. Unless this is done the
DAYS of the American Republic ars
limited, and the epitaph upon the last
page Of its history will be, behold
the effect of too great liberty" Tt
whom can the people look for the prop.
er exercise OF the franchise IL not 4
the Republican party?"-Chicago Post.