Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-02-06
The Republican Party.

No political party of this or any other
country ever sprung from nobler mo-
tives or was based on higher principles
than the Republican party. To those
who acted with it from its origin, the
very name has an inspiring sound and
is full of grand memories. 1t had its
origin in a love of liberty, intensified
by the insolence and aggressiveness of
the old slave power, the corruption and
incompetence of the Democratic party,
and the necessity of giving higher
life to the Nation. 1t was the embodi-
ment of the most advanced and pro-
gressive ideas of the time. What Re-
publican of middle age can forget the
enthusiasm which pervaded its ranks
in 1856, and what a gallant though un-
successful fight it made that yearP
Still more memorable is the grand
popular uprising of 1860, when the con-
science Of the country asserted itself,
and tho people in their power declared
the voice of God through the Repub-
lican party. From that time to the
present its standard, full high ad-
vanced, has drawn around it the best
elements of American citizenship--the
most intelligent, patriotic, honest and
honorable in the land. Its mission has
been to expound and enforce Ameri-
can ideas, to make the declaration of
independence a reality, to abolish
slavery, to recognize personal man
hood regardless of color of mems skins,
to establish political equality, to pro-
claim universal suffrage, to preserve
the Union, to save the Government. to
elevate and strengthen its credit, to es-
tablish its finances, and to administer
the laws with equal justice to all. When
the Republican party came into power
it found war on its hands, the final
bequest of the Democratic party, whose
long career of political debauchery had
prostituted the public conscience to an
alarming degree, and brought the Gov
ernment to the verge of destruction. As
a last resort, and while its faithless of
ficials, loaded with public plunder,
were flying in all directions to Join the
rebels, the Democratic party plunged
the country into civil war, and, hay-
ing set fire to the train, left the work of
extinguishing it to the incoming Re-
publican party. No party ever came
into power under such circumstances,
and none ever met great responsibili-
ties more grandly. AS long as books
are printed, or the English language
read, posterity will study and admire
the achievements of the Republican
party during the war. How the ire
sistible majesty of the people asserted
itself through this great political organ
ization! how it absorbed and utilized
the patriotism of the Nation! how it
battled with treason in front and rear,
and with the Vaccinations of its ene-
mics at home and abroad! and how,
through all, it adhered firmly to the
principles of liberty, right and justice
from which it had sprung-all this and
much more is matter of history. The
secret of the strength of the Republic.
an party was, that it was the party of
the people; and it was so, because it
the fundamental ideas of
American institutions-the ideas of lib-
erty, equality and justice. AS the par
ty of progress and advanced ideas, it
drew to itself the men of education and
culture, the intelligent, thinking men
of the country, old men of strong con-
and young men of strong as
short, all who believed in
real republican government and in res
cuing the country from the debasing
thralldom to slavery and slave ideas
under Democratic rule.
In the light of such an origin, such a
history, such record, such achieve
ments, principles and purposes, and in
view of the character of the men who |
constitute its rank and file, we do not |
hesitate to assert that the Republican
party is the greatest known to Ameri- !
can history, and as worthy as ever it |
was of the fellowship and support of
intelligent and patriotic men. The
hope of the country rests with the Re-
publican party to-day as much as ever.
1t represents the elements of society
which alone can make and keep the |
Government what it ought to be, and
constitute the only defense of the Gov
ernment which it saved against those
who tried to destroy it.-indianapoyis