The Portland daily press., 1881-09-22

thing In proving the superiority of the Re-
publican party with reference TO its past do
not mean TO talk about the Rebellion. wish
that that subject as between the Two sections
| might never be mentioned again, but would
not have this happen by suppression of what
men think, but by cessation OF the causes
which made them think as they did. There
has been hopeful change for the last few
years. Four years ago. when L entered Con-
gress, listened in a reverie Of wonder at the
| reproaches thrown at us "a violaters of the
| Constitution, as military oligarchs, at the
sneers against Sherman and Grant, and finally
at the preposterous claim soberly made that
| the true guardianship OF country and cOnstitu-
| tion had ALWAYS been in the Democratic party,
| South as well as North, without break in
! the line of apostolic succession. When that
was accompanied by demands for settle-
meat of all the losses in the war,
l confess 1 did think that the war
ought to be alluded to. But the last
election made a great change. The last ses-
sion of Congress was peace itself. The steady
| determination OF the North that some things
| should be considered settled, had It's effect
| For the future the hope is good. No man can
|. rejoice more than do in the material prosper
| ity OF the South. Its salvation is there. Busi-
| ness is wonderful civilizer. Whenever the
| South leaves off fighting for its rights
and begins fighting for its interests, its
| feet will be on the pathway of progress aud
soon liberation of opinion, free thought and
| free men, will make emancipation complete
and enfranchisement secure. But while ST.
| fence is 10 Oe nOpeQ Tor between the Two Sec
tions it must and cannot be forgotten that
there was time when it was vital to this ma
ton which side parties took, and
that the Democratic party took the wrong
but because it was in the bone. In
estimating character you cannot leave it out.
1t would be polite to do so but it would not be
accurate.
Time and your patience would fail me
to enumerate tythe of the proofs of the wis
dom of the Republican Party wisdom not
sounding in words but in deeds not platforms
but history? We started out demanding mere
ly freedom in the territories Is there any
Democrat who doesn't rejoice that we were
successful. What Democrat is there even of
those who went to Chicago in the darkest hour
of the and declared IL all failure who
doesn't bless stars that he was wrong?
What funder Bourbon Democrat now on the
stump in Virginia would like to call
emancipation wrong? Think over all
the governmental action Of the last
twenty years which has really affecTed the
happiness or prosperity of the people and see
how little there is to regret Think over all
the measures which the Democrats have fought
for and see if there is one of them which you
wish had been tried. Finance does not belong
to the past Try them that. Don't you re-
member how Psndeton, Democratic candidate
for the Vice Presidency, swept over New Eug-
land declaring that government promise to
pay money with interest and on time could
honestly be paid by another promise without
to-day had such folly prevailed? And this
brings to something on which I wish to
dwell for moment We have become a great
nation. More than fifty millions of people
live under our laws. Across thousands OF
miles stretch our limitess acres. Our wealth
Is enormous. Our enterprises are in-
tricate and wide spread. To govern
snch nation, to 50 manage the affairs
of such a people not to disturb or
hamper their enterprises, requires sense, cold
business seuse Aud venture to affirm that
the history of the Democratic party for the
last ten years is conspicuous tor an abundant
lack of that. Five years ago they began their
campaign with fixed determination to repeal
the resumption act. They declared that not
only we must not resume but that we could
not resume. Their leader, Samuel j. Tilden,
by far their ablest man. in that long mystihca-
tion of non committal rhetoric with which he
accepted their nomination strove through hum
dreds of sentences to shake the public faith
Will you permit me to say that through it all,
glimmers the fact that he knew better every
moment of the time? He did know better, but
in this country parties rule men, not men par
ties And after they were beaten before the
people they still signalized their devotion to
mistake and error by trying to repeal the re-
sumption act. Their leader in this attempt
they tried to make Governor of Ohio. They
attacked the Resumption Act not only by fair
means but by foul. One fact of the famous
committee for the investigation of frauds in
the Presidential election of 1876-a committee
which satisfied even a Democratic National
Convention, the Convention of 1880, that Mr..
Tilden was neither elected President nor eligi-
ble-dese-Ves to be placed ia its true relations
with other facts. It the month of May,
1878, while the Secretary of the Treasury was
in the midst of the vast anxeties of the prepa-
rations for resumption, when the confidence OF
the country most needed staying, that the
Democratic House chose to attack him with a
base charge founded on nothing but the word
of a worthless fellow who had 60 allege his own
perjury as the very foundation of his tsstimo
ny. When remember what buffetings the
Secretary endured from wise editors, from it
inerant inanciers and from all the infuriated
ignorance of the republic, and how strong and
steadfast he stood, it is satisfaction to believe
as do that when the passions and envies of
men and of parties have subsided, the name of
John Sherman for his share in the great
achievement of resumption will take its place
in history, par inter pdres, with Robert Morris
and Albert Gallatin and Alexander Hamilton.
Even when, in the last Congress they had to
pass bill TO refund part of the debt on an
easy market, made so by our financial meas
ures, they.could not refrain from such an at
tack on the very moned institution from
which and through which they we're to bor-
row. might have shaken business to its CEN
ire had it prevailed When they had full pow
er in both branches they spent precious weeks
of an extra session forced by themselves in bat
tering at the Commander in Chiefs command
of the army, when they had already got it in
such condition that it is doubtful if soldiers
Can guard Guiteau to his trial without some
body's cavil.
But why multiply details The best proof
OF the superior sense of the Republican parry
can be stated in sentence. We owe our sue
cess in the last election to the well considered
approval of the business men of this country.
What a curious peeu liarity that is OF the DEM
ocratc party that it always occupies our last
years camDs? That every issue which they
opposed while it was alive, they eagerly en-
brace when it is dead. They never opposed
the war In fact they won most of the bat
Hes hal N slQVAFV
never counselled reputation. In fact they
are the only hard money men. Resumption
was what they were really after, although
they did seem 10 be going the other way.
What unwilling witnesses they always become
of their last years un-wisdom. The courage
with which they arise anew although she logic
of the hard facts of twenty years is against
them, would be wonderful il we did not
know that the fight against error, though new
er lost, is never won because error is perennial.
/ am very much in earnest in calling your
attention to this distinction in the nature OF
parties, for belive it To be vital. Men range
themselves according to the differences in their
own natures Que sat of men believe in the
past alone. They think wisdom resides only
with the men who are dead. They hold fast
to what is already attained, and desire no
change. Others believe that what we have
got is only stepping stone to what is to be,
that "down the ringing grooves of change"
lies new and greater happiness for
all and a broader hope. Men are pro-
range themselves 1t is so in all free
nations. Although Russell seemed our
foe and Gladstone not our
friend in our great need, nevertheless, we rec
ognize that in Gladstone and the statesmen
who surround him and the party which fol-
lows him is the hope for England and her PEG
Pile. Parties are seldom formed on issues
They form themselves and the issues come and
they deal with them with what wisdom they
have. Our own party was formed for freedom
IN the territories alone but it met issues utterly
by its founders, the issues of the
war of emancipation and ehfranchisement, OF
and of finance, and no candid
man can say that it did not meet them wisely
and we'll. II is the fashion to say in times OF
political luli like this there are no issues be-
tween parties, why hot try the o.her one now
Would it be wise policy to put q doubtful crew
IN board ship simply because she sails on
air uay?
My friends let US make no mistake about this
natter. IL government by the people meant
'nly the right 70 govern election day, it
would not be worth the talk we make about it.
But it means the right to govern every day in
he year. Our rulers do not rule. They obey
t is true in this government as in religion
hat whoever would be- the chiefest must be
DO the servant of all. We cannot escape our