The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-06-29
pceullnritIcs OF tho RcpubiIcan Party.

The Republican party ever since its ORR
gin has been n party Of positive cenvic-
lions and reform ideas. 1t has not been u
party Of negation. tits the most aggressive
political organization in the history OF the
Government. Commencing in 1856 with
the proposition that freedom is national
nnd slavery sectional, It undertook 10 make
good this proposition as respects all the ter
ritories Of the United States. It held tina,
the Constitution did not carry slavery into
the territories. Upon this proposition it
carried the country in 1850. At every step
Of the agitation Of this subject before The
war II was antagonized by the Democratic
party, which was 50 completely party Of
the South and Of slavery that it held that
the Constitution carried slavery everywhere
where there was not express local Inv to
prohibit it. z ''ot VI
All through the war the Republican
party showed itself 10 be great assrcs.
sive organization, operated upon by tho
same deep seated convictions in regard 10
what was right and what was wrong in
politics as in the outset of lis career.
Mr.. Lincoln, who was naturally very
conservative man, almost grew FESTIVE 1t
times under the aggressive influence that
constantly impelled tho Government TO
more radical steps in the conduct Of the
war. He only yielded at tho last 10 the
successive stages Of this influence, after the
fitness Of time, and thus became the ex.
ponent OF the fully matured convictions
md purposes of the vital clement in the
Republican party.
The same impellins influence was at
work all through the period Of recions,ruc.
ton. The Republican party refused TO
take any steps backward or sacrifice any OF
the logical results Of the war, but carried
OIL the work OF restoration upon the same
plane, US to what was right and what was
wrong in politics, upon which it demand.
cd the prosecution Of the war.
Wercfer to this characteristic OF the Re.
publican party simply to. explain the pc.
sition which it has occupied several times
on great public issues, notably on the ques
Of honest finance. No party ever took
greater risks for the right than did the Re.
publicans ut the outburst Of the greenback
craze. But for the fact that the same old Gle.
ment OF the party, that was ever pres.
ent with it us good genius, pushed itself
boldly to the front ut that time, und put it.
selflearlessly upon the intelligencc and NOR.
al honesty Of the people, this country..would
have been bound hand and foot and deliy-
cred over to the hercsy Of unlimited ire
deemable paper money, and made the VIC
tim Of another JOHN Law. paper money
craze, with all its disastrous consequences
This saving elementin the party defeated
the third term craze, and saved the party
from crushing defeat in 1880. This same
clement is now asserting itself in Pennsyl.
vania against the Camerons.- the
rule Of spoils and bossism-and it is will.
ing TO take all the risks Of defeat this year
in the confident iaith and belief that it
will ally the party next year Us a great
unbroken organization on thes same cardinal
principle Of n public recognition OF
what is right and what is wrong in poll
tics. .',a
= o. D.
This is the principle. that underlies tho
contest in Pennsylvania. It is the best
element Of the party attempting to restore
its ancient standard Of steady and unrc.
lenting reform in the administration OF
public atlairs. 1t is an element that cares
naught for men or spoils, nor ior mere party
success, but that, like the Golden Horse.
Shoe knights OF tho legends, is ALWAYS
ready to do battle and dare defeat for that
which is right. ,s.t $is!
That it will finally succeed We have no
more doubt than We have OF the cor.
rectncss OF its past policy 1t is bound to
succeed. Those who arc now hcsita,ihp
are those who have generally beef, in.
clincd to temporize in tho face OF the grand
positions always assumed by this element
Of the party. They will bring up Tie rear ar
ranks in this contest rs they always have
in the past. 49, 81 81, -, ~
& II is tho glory Of tho Republican party
that It is not afraid to take risks OF this sori.
This is its distinguishing feature as an or.
ganization, aud always his been. 1t is not
y party Of negatives. It deals in something
positive. And this is the characteristic thnt
always commends it ut tho last in every
great contest to the sober Judgment Of the
people. 1t always wins as against the Demo.
cratic party when the contest is for n well
defined sound principle, iS5s..r. .l5,l2g9iI
= Tur Cliaf GlaEl. Of IL, ,-k...-