Morris tribune., 1880-07-15
organization of the Republican party

organization of the Republican party.
Twenty years ago We were confronted by the
solid South, demanding that human slavery,
with its whitening blight, shoulI be extended
over the free territories of the Northwest; and
further, that 1t should be recognized as an in
stitution of the country, not local, but national
In Its character. To resist this aggressive
movement OF the slave power the Republican
party had already sprung into existence, and in
the campaign of 1860. under the leadership of
Abraham Lincoln, had made its first successful
stand. We all remember the terrible years of war
that followed. This generation ia not likely to
forget the great sacrifices that were made. The
best blood of the country flowed like water,
and Its treasure poured forth without stint.
The resources and credit of the country
were taxed to the uttermost until il fairly
staggered under the burden-all this that the
government of the people, recognizing the
equal rights of man, might be maintained, and
the union of the States might be preserved in
its integrity. When Gen. Lee surrendered hia
sword to the great soldier of the century ut
Appomattox, under the famous apple tree, il
was supposed that the issues growing out of
the war we're settled, and forever; that slavery
bad passed away, and that the insiduous doc
trine OF State rights, its counterpart, had rc-
ceived its final -quietus. But yet, after the
lapse OF twenty years. we are again confronted
with the same solid South, and with the same
spirit as of old. Slavery in form, it is true,
has been abolished, but the condition
of the enslaved mas been but
slightly improved, if at all,
while the doctrine of State rights is insisted
upon with the same assurance as before the
war. In word, the South does not recognize
the results of the war as final. 1t does not rec
ognize its cause as a lost one. The issues
therefore to-day are as distinct as IN 1861.
They were clearly defined in the extra session
of Congress year ago. MIR. Blackburn, the
Democratic leader of the House, in his famous
speech of the session, threw down the gauge of
battle and gave notice of the intentions of his
section and his party. Having captured both
branches of the national legislature "We do
not intend to STOP" he says, until we have
strickened the last vestige of your war
measures from the statute book"
The first step in the Democratic programme If
capturing the government entire, and wipipg
out what the gentleman was pleased to call
''war measures" and to which this speech was
especially directed, was an attempt to repeal
the election laws; enactments, under the opera
tiOn of which the purity of the bailot-box has,
to reasonable extent, in the large cities, and
especially in the great city of New York, been
preserved. He proposed, first of all, to break
down all barriers erected against fraud on the
ballot box; to open wide the door to a system
of repeating" ballot-box stuffing fraudulent
Democratic vote of over $4,000 in the cities of
Brooklyn and New York alone, and robbed the
Republican party of the State of New York in
the campaign of 1868. Without the State of
New York the South cannot hope to capture
the government. Hence MIR. Blackburn's de-
sire to wipe out the "vestige'' that protects the
purity of the ballot. This done
he can proceed with deliberation
to strike out from the statute book all legisla-
tion that had been found necessary to preserve
the results of war waged in the defense of
the government. To rePel all this, the grand
old Republican party is again called to the
front. The campaign before us. as in 1850, is
one Of ideas and of principle. Oar lines are
formed fCr that hloodlees conflict which
must determine the future of our government.
As to his duty, no Republican can for mo-
ment hesitate. The record of the party in the
past is sufficient guaranty for the future.
The Democratic party has, with singular
inconsistency, it seems to me, put forth as its
standard bearer Gen. Hancock, gentleman
and brave soldier, who. strangely enough, be-
comes the representative OF those who sought
to destroy government, for the preservation
of which he drew his sword in 1861.
The Republican party, on the other hand,
has chosen as its leader Gen. Garfield,
both brave soldier and at the
same time q Nise and experienced
statesman, one from and of the people,
whose every act in public life has been in har-
nOny with the principles of human liberty and
human progress; who at all times has stood IN
the front rank Of those battling for the princi-
pies of government, recognizing alike the rights
of all He is conspicuous example of what
under our institutions man can make himself.
Like Lincoln, he sprang from the people. Like
Lincoln, he has pushed himself to the front
rank of American statesmen, and like him, he
has been called to lead the great Republican
party to victory.
Let me say, in conclusion, that accept the
nomination SO generously rendered me, with the
assurance that nothing shall be left undOne Un
my part to promote and advance the interests of
the Republican party in this district and State,
and as far in me lies, the best interests of our
beloved republic.