The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-12-31
The Spirit Of ihe Republican
Party.


Party.
The bulldozing rpirit manifested
by the Maine Republicans, thethreats
of a resort to arms and violence, the
incendiary speeches Of the leading
men Of the party, and the disposition
to ignore and override all forms Of
law or other impediment that stands
in the way of party supremacy, is
the same disposition that has mani
tested itself in all the history of that
party, in every instance where it
has-had to contest its way withan
opponent.
Looking at the present attitude Of
this party in Maine, and recalling
the spirit aud the methods with
which they contested the last Presi-
dental election, we are prepared to
accept the following editorial com
ments of the leading Democratic
journaliof New England, the Boston
Post, as just and well founded:
The money powsy, organized un-
der the name Of the Republican par
ty, is preparing to resort to any and
all meanssto retain possessionjof its
control Of the government. II will
hesitate at nothing to accomplish its
ends, not even at the destruction Of
the republic. It likes a republic
well enough solong as it controls the
republic, but if a republican form Of
government stands in the way Of the
accomplishment Of its desired ends,
then it is ready to do away with the
republic.
The signs of the times cannot be
mistaken. They portend a struggle
next year which shall put the vital
| ity of popular government to terri
bic test. The crimes against popular
sovereignty, which have been perpe-
trated by the Republican party in
the name Of freedom during the past
ten years, have .benumbed the public
conscience until the leaders Of that
party, swollen with plumber and ar
rogant with power, believe that the
American people will submit to any
outrage which they can carry through
to success.
The Republican party means to
inaugurate the President,
era majority of the people of this
country elect him or not. 1t be-
hooves the American people to look
this fact souarely in the face, and to
make up their minds now whether
or not thev are willing to give up,
once for all. the government of the
people by the people and for the peo-
pie, which their fathers left them as
a legacy.
The mere election of q Republican
President would signify little and
endanger nothing, provided such n
President was elected legitimately
by the SURFACES of a majority Of the
people of the United States; but the
inauguration of another President
not elected by the people, but lifted
into ofice'b sharp practice, fraud
and crime, will be death-blow to
nopular government in this country.
The people have submitted to such
an outrage once, and the Republican
leaders have been led thereby to be.
lieve that they will submit again
If they do submit again it will be for
all time, and it may be set down in
advance as certainty tha,t they will
be forced to submit all the tine.
Rlood-spilling is serious business,
and this generation has learned by
sad experience the untold horrors Of
civil war, but is by no means certain
that a little more blood-spilling will
not be necessary before the money
power and the party which it con,
trols learn tnaC tne people ot THIS
country mean to govern themselves.
1t may be that the Republican lead
ers are right, and that the American
people will submit tamely to what
ever they NAV see fit to force upon
them; but unless we very much mis-
take the temper Of the times the Re-
publican leaders are not right. and
although we do not fear that blood
will be shed before the next Presi-
dent of the United States is inaugur-
ated, it is very certain that the Amer.
lean people will not submit to usur-
patton through fear of what a noted
Republican leader called a "little
healthy blood-letting."-Es. aoo.
What Ia the Tanmany Society.