The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-11-04
miscellaneous.
The Republican Party.

The Republican party was founded in hos
tlity to the South. The abolition of slavery
was one ofits chief objects. When the late war
came on it denied its platform and its Presi-
dent, avowed that only the preservation of
the Union was desired. The same sentiment
was reiterated in Congress. Upon this de-
claration the people of the North and West,
Democrats and Republicans, rallied to the
standard of the Union and carried the war to
a successful issue. But, entrenched in power
by force of circumstances, the Republican
party was enabled to carry out the object for
which it was organized, and not only abol-
ished slavery, but by every means in its pow
er endeavored to place the colored man upon
an equal civil and social position with the
white race. During their supremacy, from
1861 to 1876, legislation for the elevation of
the negro was the chief part of the business of
Congress. They carried this one idea so far
that the people revolted and complete over
throw threatened them unless halt was
called. Since then they have attempted to
formulate set principles, but they have
been SO at variance with the constitution and
the traditions of the country, that an appeal
to the passions of the late war was their only
hope, and they have never failed to use that
means for pcrpetuating their power Even
this failed in 1876, and the party was over
thrown. BY manipulating returns, false
swearing, and fraud, they managed to retain
the administration, and in doing so came
near plunging the country INTO another civil
war. In 1880 when defeat was again staring
them in the face, by intimidation and the
power of money they were again successful,
though then, as in 1876 they were in mi
nority on the popular vote. AS to the prin-
ciples, the party have none. They hold to
gether by the cohesive power of public plum
der and if the records at Washington could
be examined the fraud and corruption that
would be exposed would cause many an hon
est follower in the party to stand aghast in
establishment. OF late the spoils have not
been enough to satisfy all, and wrangle
over the loaves and fishes has resulted in the
assassination of the President What more
may come of it is difficult to foretell
The record of the party is most shameful
one. 1t has
Suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus,
Upset State Governments with the federal
military,
Upheld carpet baggers whilst they plum
dered the people of the South,
Invaded States and surrounded the ballot
boxes with soldiers,
And all this when peace had been declared
and no exigences of the war could be
pleaded. Under its rule
Whisky rings thrived;
There were Rings in the Navy department
And in the War Department;
Star route contractors swindled the people
out of millions, and contractors and iobbers
were permitted to rob and plumber, and many
in power shared in the profits.
If the party ever had a day of usefulness,
the day has past, and it is time the people
were awakening and comprising its over
throw. 1t has twice nearly brought the
country to a state of anarchy, once by its
greed for power when it stole the presidency,
and recently by faction fight in its own
ranks, when President was assassinated as
the outgrowth of it, Westminster Adc0cdtc