The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-10-13
The Duty of Republicans.
Philadelphia Press

tnetnseiNeS and whab tney owe 10
their Republican brethren throughout
the land. They must remember not
merely the immediate impulses Of the
hour but the, vital and transendent
interests of the future; II is easy, in
. moment of snreaeetipg passion and |
in striking at the abuses which have
grown up, to pull down. the temple. Of
Republican organization;- but it is the
work of time and patriotism and
craftsmanship to build up sound and
enduring superstructure. There may
be a reckless leadership which is dis
astrous and which justifies resistance;
and there may also be method Of OPP
position which is equally inconsider-
ate and destructive. ..
What is the duty of honest, sincere,
earnest Republicans in this campaign?
What is the duty of those who right
fully class themselves as Independent
Republicans? First of all, they are
pre-eminently patriotic Republicans
Republicans from conviction; Repub-
licans from profound devotion to
true Republican principles; RepubIi-
can from an intelligent apprehension
OF the vital Importance of Republican
ascendency to the highest welfare of
the country. They recognize no man
as superior to themselves in fidelity to
sound Repubiicanism. They are
party men, and understand full well
that political principles and public
ends are to be advanced through party
organization. They know that the
flag of liberty was successfully planted
at Yorktown and at Gettysburg, not
by the broken blows of struggling
guerillas, but by the united onset OF
the grand army.
The only sound basis of lasting
party organization is the free union of
all who hold the same great principles.
What is the true position of the Indie
pendent Republicans? Simply this
they say to those who have been iden-
tilted with different element: 1--WE
| ask nothing for ourselves which we
| do not fully cOncede to you; we recog-
nize that you are just as essential to
the party as we are; we grant you the
same right to free voice, to respect
| ful consideration and to all your just
| strength which we claim for ourselves.
We only insist upon free vote, an
honest count and fair representation.
| What we resist Is an arbitrary and
| usurped contrOl,s what we demand Is
the honest rule of an honest majority.
| We seek only equal rights and fair
| play. If with this free, untrammeled
| popular expression you can beat US, If
the real majority of Republicans are
| with you, then you are entitled to
lead; ii not, then it is your duty, as it
is ours, to let the majority rule. Our
cardinal, decisive principle is free
speech, q free vote and free representa-
ton"
This is the impregnable position OF
the independent Republicans, and
this high principle requires them to
| fight their battles within the party
until it shall become clear that within
the party they cannot secure fair ex-
preston or obtain their just rights.
That time has not yet come. II the
Independent Republicans are true to
united, If they shall not sacrifice the
strength of their position by ill-con-
sidered action, that time will never
come, because in entering upon the
succeeding battles they will speak with
such clearness and force that no power
will dare defy them. After the de
cision of the party tribunal to go out
side of the party and unfurl the indie
pendent flag is revolution, and revolu'
tion is justifiable only when ali Other
measures of redress fail. That eX.
treme resort remains as the unreserved
right of all patriotic citizens, and with
such a weapon the Independent Re
publicans can in the future protect
themselves and protect the principles
and the cause they cherish. But they
are not yet ready to surrender the bat
tie within the party, they are not YET
ready to abandon the good old Repub
lican flag and leave it wholly in til,
hands of the machine; they are no
yet ready to go outside of the party
and thus sacrifice the right to tree
voice in its future councils. They
want to rescue the party from admitted
evils, but in cutting off the tumor
they do not want to kill the patient.
But will not the election of Genera
Baily, especiallyin the face Of an In
depent movement, irretrievably eatab
lish the machine aud crush out al
independence within the party? No
not any more than the success of 1877
did; not any more than the control o
the Convention of 1880 did. In spit
, of these triumphs the Independent
|
at Harrisburg the other day it mus
, tered more than third of the Conven
ton. The independent Republican
made no real fight; they remained
passive in the faith of an agreement
, they opened their batteries only tel
days before the Convention after mos
: OF the delegates had been elected, AM
yet they rallied nearly a hundre
l votes If tbey stand together within
3 the party aud remain both firm an
: prudent they can command the futur
not necessarily for the eXclusiv
triumph of their own wing any NOR
than of the other, but for fair play an
: just consideration all around. Til
: movement of Mr.. Wolfe is not til
. mevement of the Independent leader
, or the Independent MASSES, aud henC
its failure and the election of Genera
= Baily will not prejudice the Indepen
: dent cause In the future.
1t is said that Mr.. Wolfe's proceed
e Ing Is the logical sequence of the Ii
3 dependent revolt in the Legislatul
!, last winter, and is entitled to the sam
s support. This is not true. That r,
D volt was simply an appeal from tn
g constrained dictation of the caucus
/, the free action of the Legislature.
Y never for single moment jeopardize
: the election OF a Republican Unite
States Senator. This campaign of M
D Wolfe, Oh the contrary, ii it has an
;, effect at all, will throw the State int
J, Democratic hands. Thus the diffal
ence between the two movements is 9
i wide as the ehasm between Republ
{ can victory and Democratic success