New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-10-27
NEW ULM REVIEW, WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1850

More abOut tho Republican Party
For the Review by O. p. Champlin.
honor the party not only because
it is opposed to the destructive doc.
trine Of State.rights, and interprets
the Constitution in the interest of the
poor and despised races, and maintains
liberty and justice, but, still further,
because it is the party Of free speech,
an honest vote, civilization and prog.
ress. It was a Democrat, Mr.. Gaul.
den Of Georgia, who said in 1860: 81
believe that the institution of Slavery
has done more for this country, more
for civilization, than all other interests
put together The mental and NOR
al condition Of the lower classes at the
South irrespective of color or nation.
atty is fine comment on that utter
ance. The civilization which is pro-
NOTED by such an institution may
come up to the highest ideal of the
average Democrat, but falls far be-
low that which we hope to see among
all our people. No wonder the same
gentleman believed that to strike down
Slavery ''would put civilization back
200 years. and that the true mis-.
sionary and the true Christian is the
African slave traders. Those who are
opening up the African continent to
Western civilization and commerce
find the African slave-traders mighty
poor missionary and Christian!
But these sentiments, which were
received in the National Convention
of 1860, were applauded, and the
speakers time greatly extended, which
is evidence that the speaker was rep
resenting not himself, or his State,
merely, but the party to which he be-.
longed; and in that same convention
Mr.. Benz. F. Butler, who has recent.
ly returned to his own place after a
checkered career of wandering, said
that democratic princi pies were un.
changeable in their nature when ap.
piled to the same subject matter"
Mr.. Butler was competent to pass an
opinion then on the nature of those
principles.
The fundamental doctrines laid
down in that Convention are now held
by the bone and sinew of the party
with but little if any modification.
With such ideas of civilization it is ut
terly impossible for the party to be
progressive. In the nature of things it
is formidable bar to it's progress.
Its moral sense is fearfully distorted so
that it is not at all surprising it should
blunder SO fearfully in its judgments
of what are right moral characteristics
in human conduct. The Republican
party would never applaud the senti-
ment that Slavery was civilizing in.
stitution, or that to destroy it from
any land would set back civilization
200 years. 1t has read history better
than that; it has a purer ethical code,
a sounder philosophy. Nor would it
be possible for a Republican orator in
any convention to maintain that the
African slave.trader was the best
Christian. The declaration would be
too absurd for moments entertain
ment.
But I will not dwell on this point.
The attitude of the two parties in re-
view towards civilization and progress
is too we'll known among thinking men
to need much setting forth here. The
Republican party is prominently the
party of education. It has done more
to promote education throughout the
land than any other party that has
ever existed. Take look at the
educational industries of the country,
| the multifarious Press, the Schools,
from the most elementary to the uni.
| versities, and the Republican vastly
preponderates over the Democratic
element. Among the moral and re.
lgious teachers it is the exception to
find adherelts of theDemocratic party.
The fact cannot be controversial; and
it may we'll be asked, as we have had
it by Democratic friends, why is it!
Those who are most pronounced in
their humanitarian and philanthropic
ideas stand shoulder to shoulder with
them; and why is it! Is itnot because
the party is, Of all parties, the truest
representative of the poor, the despis
ed, and those who suffer most from
injustice? There is great chance 70,
improvement in the party and we hops
to see it advance still farther in the di
rection it has been so long going
When it's leaders violate it's funda
mental principles we hope to see it re
buke them as it did when Mr.. Blaine
lifted his powerful voice against the
Chinese in a moment of presidential
aspiration.
Taking the two parties on the broa<
principles which underly them ant
one should not hesitate a momen
where to cast his vote. Party will
rule and man will follow. The vot'
must or should be first for the part,
If the Republican party is the mos
worthy, as being the best exponent Q
our present civilization, it should still
. be maintained.
Its presidential candidate is a bel
ter man in point of character, is NOR
able as statesman, and is preferabl
in qualifications. Both then on az
count of the candidate and the party
; the young and the old voter shout
promptly decide to support Republ
canism as it is embodied in the prir
ciple Of the party. Let every mar
| havinr tho ripht v.,te and strenpthe