Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-07-01
A "Historic PARTY"

They say--and say It as though they
actually took pride in it--that this is
great historic party" that has just been
holding National pow-wow at Cincinnati.
and they set it up Is having in this respect
the advantage Of its rival. which is only
twenty FIVE years old. and was organized for
q temporary purpose, which has already
been accomplished. Well, it is historic
somewhat. But such history, youth
without honor. age without respect" Take
the twenty five years in which it has stood
over against its present rival wha, is there
in all of them that can he pointed TO with
pride or remembered with satisfaction
The record is one Of constant inconsistent
cies, contradictions, and tergiversa,ions.
They talked some Of adopting the platform
OF 1876 as the platform for this Convention
and the campaign Of 1850. As though il
we're possible, Why. these people have not
seen the time these twenty years when they
dared reatkrm platform of their own that
was two years old. The only principle they
have adhered to in all this time has been
the pursuit Of Office the only policy they
have consistently pursued has been that of
factious opposition TO all Republican meas
ures.
nv PttPtt =" tb tifblt tue ni>turig
party. and abou, reaihrming old platforms,
would do well to make an examination of
the platforms Of the pas, twenty FIVE Years,
and sec how much there Is in any OF them,
outside Of meaningless gencralties. that
they could reaffirm without making them
selves laughing stock They would no,
dare repeat even what they said on the sub
jects of free-irsde and national bank in
1856. much less what they set forth a, grea,
length on Slavery and State Rights Their
position in 1850 they fatty abandoned in
1864. when they nominated Mcclellan. an
unsuccessful General in a war they opposed.
In iS6s they could not Of course resolv.
tina, the war was failure. as they had done
four years before. In 1872 they abandoned
all their old positions and supported the
Liberal Republican candidates. by which
they made the reaffirmaiion of their old
plaiforms-and especially Of the Pendle-
tonian grecnback heresy which they ran
after in ls6s-impossible. In 1876 they
switched of in an entirely new direction
and undertook TO masquerade Reformers.
with pretcnce Of .ayoring specie resump-
ton and a declaration Of hostility TO the
only practicable measure for securing IT,
And now in 1850 they have thrown off the
Disguise u; Reform. demonstrated the hol-
lowncss and insinccrity of their professions
in that regard. rejected their only rcprcseu-
ta,isc Reformer, and in the face Of all then
representations Of danger from military
rule nominated a candidate whose only
meri, il in his being a soldier
Historic party indeed I, has n history.
SURF enough history YOU cannot lav your
finger on a, any point without marking Az IN
consistency or croukedncss. They don't
dare 10 stand still in one place long enough
to be counted. Ia thro~ing Tilden over
board they no, only abandon the position Of
1876. but every position they have occupied
since. and especially the one IN which they
seemed 10 have intrrnchcd thcmsclyc, most
strongly. on the Fraud i,suc On the other
hand, the Republican party Ia, nothing IN
all IT, declarations for these rwcnty i've
years Of which it need b. ashamed. There
is nothing in any Of it, successive platforms
tina; the platform Of TODAY nred omit. cx-
ocp, those declaration, whlch by the action
Of the party have heeu CRY staliEcd into facts
and deeds. and the promises which the par
I, have fulfilled. You NAV 70 over the en-
tire record. and while here and there YOU
NAV find reminders Of great things lhn, have
bcsn accomplished, wise and bcncticent pur-
poses that have been consummated. you will
discover nothing Of principle M policy that
the Republican party does not proudly re-
call or Eealously rcafhrm. Ii has not the
aye Of It's opponent But in what 1, has II
has more sources Of satisfaction and pride
Its record is clear. straight forward and con
sistent II has never abandoned primer
pie once asserted, nor TctEeated from po-
.ition once taken. To all that il has ever
a,o~ed it. belief IN. It is true and steadiast
TO-DAY. and il mission ~ill not be ended
till all the fruits Of the great var ART gath
cred, and the credit. character. stability,
unity. and permanenoe OF the Government
are FULLY established. Neac iOrk Tribune.