National Republican., 1879-06-25
POLITICIL HISTORY.
The Pnternlty OF the RernhlIcan rarty.

TO the Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: Perusing an editorial article in your
issue of the 10th instant, under tho heading,
"The Republican Party Paternity" has sug
gested cursory history Of the two opposing
political parties of to-day aud description of
their constituents, which | ask indulgence and
space to give for the consideration of those to
whom no afterthought occurred on perusal.
Political parties arc intrinsically the legitl-
mate offspring of opinion. They exist as ne
cessity, and when founded upon sound princi-
ples they are valuable as eliciting the popular
ideas on important public measures.
The Federalsts and Republicans (now DEM
ocratic) wero the original parties in the United
States aud were tho result of n diversity of
opinion as to the plan upon which the new
Government should be formed and admins
tered The adoption of tho Constitution was
practically a settlement Of that question, and
the adh esive property of the Federal party
practically ceased to exist, although its leaders
adhered to it in name and theory long enough
to insure the firm establishment of the sue
cessful measure and to habtuate the people to
| tho new form of government.
With the administration Of John Adams, the
second President, the Federal party ceased to
exist in name. Its leaders and their followers
have undergone numerous mutations in pro-
fcssionsa aud cognomen, still retaining, however,
| the great principles that gave to the United
States an indissoluble bond of nationality.
! They have been known rs National Republi-
cans and still later as "Whigs."
The real danger that mcuaCed tho welfare
and perpetuity of the Union called those noble
| patriots to the rescue in 1854, as | notice in
your article, and a savior was born to the ma.
| ton in the Republican party now existing Its
] +. A.-t al, Ei,n nf tl,n
| first resolution of its platform of 1860, viz
THAT the history of the Nation during the
last four years has fully established tho pro-
priety and necessity of the organization and
| perpetuatOn oftho Republican party, and that
! the causes which called IL into existence are
permanent in their nature, and now, more than
| ever demand its constitutional triumph"
| The qualifications of the constituents of the
Federal party leaders, rank and file, followed
| the mutations Of that party until merged or
reformed into the Republican party. They
were men who comprehcnded general principle;
they found no privileged class above them to
subdue and nGutralizo their spirits no aris-
tOcracy to overawe the innate impulses and
aspirations of the free soul They found them
selves the peer Of their associates. They read,
listened to their elders, aud formed opinions
on topics within the scope of their minds, and
thus by habit learned to demand of others
nothing hut what was right, and submit to
| nothing thAG was wrong, lhoy WeIo qutl-
fed for a rational comprehension and q free
exercise of the prerogatiyes of intelligent
moral citizens. This is the character of the
party and its constituents to-day.
Tho old Republican party changed its cogno
men to Democrat, believe during the admin
istration Of Washington, though the earliest
accurate data | have at hand ut present writ
ing is "GoOdrich's History" which says: "ThC
administration of Mr.. Adams (John) through
the whole course of il was the subject of much
camor, especially by the Democratic party
With this single change of name the Demo
cratic party continues TO exist TO the present
day, its leaders inheriting through tradition
and association the same spirit and principles
that formed conspicuous power in opposing
the adoption of our matChless Constitution
1t struggles to rally its partisan host under a
variety OF extraueOus issues But disguise II
as they may with oXtraneOus and proteal
issues, aud the loud professions of patriotism
enunciated by its leaders, the party has had
from its inception inherent fundamental prin
ciples essentially incompatible with American
, freedom and institutions The acts of thu
party throughout have given consistency ant
indubitAble truthfuness to tho following char
, acter given it in tho last issue Of HapG'
p Weekly;
Tho Democratic party has been the party Of cast
and aristOcracy aud special privileges lhe party o
the most odlOus inhumaniIy and inJusllce Ih