Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-08-01
REASONS FOR BEING A REPUBLICAN.
IN. Y. Tribunc.l

means Free Boil, FIGS speech anu toe
Men" Twenty years ago, when young
man asked the same question, he was ans
wered because IL means loyalty to the
Union and defeat to shareholders rebell-
ion." Fifteen years ago, when young
man asked the same question, he was ans
wered: because II means loyal govern
ment In every State, based upon Impair
tial suffrage" Eight years ago began the
struggle OF regulators and paper.money
iufistionists to seize the government, and
the battle for public honor and honest
money continued until the republican party
triumphed Ia specie resumption, In the
grand prosperity which followed, In the
election OF President Garfield, and In the
funding ofis7O0, 900 900 or public debt at
3 l-2 per cent. within few weeks. NOW
what is to be answered when sincere
Young man asks: "Why should l become
q republican,"
The history OF the country suggests one
sufficient reason; because It Is worth
while to guard and keep the fruits OF grand
deeds In the past" Freedom In the Ter
ritories was worth much, but the demo-
cratic party armed border-rufilans against
1t. The Union was well worth the lie
blood OF our bravest and best, but every
man OF those who shot them down, and
fired upon the flag, and resisted the au-
thority OF the United States, was n demo-
crat. There could be no freedom for all
without equal suffrage, but the democrat
ic party commended then and still contends
for q white mans government. Repudia-
ton would have dishonorcd, wrecked and
cursed the land, but every repudlator was
democrat or gravitated TO the democrat
ic party as his natural home. To this day
that party denounces resumption as n
wrong, and would undo the work II II
could, as Is shown in hundreds OF votes.
1t Is not true that every grand achieve lent
OF the republican party can still be undone.
Some of them have so changed the Nation
al life, and so imbedded themselves In the
very foundation walls OF the government,
that no return TO democratic theories or
practices Is possible. Slavery cannot be
In form re-established, though democratic
laws might easily make colored labor free
only In name. The Union can never be
broken by secession into warning frag-
ments, but the Solid South keeps alive,
controls and owns the democratic party,
and gives it the only chance Of success 1t
has, aud democratic victory would merely
mean the gray above the blne-a capture
of the Union by those who tried 10 break
It aud failed. Reputation, imitation, re-
turn to dlshonored promises having fore
ed circulation ~ mOney,--all these are
possible and probable results OF democrat
ic success.
But youth often thinks lightly of pre-
serving the results OF past heroism. To
many young man II seems certain that
the past Is safe, and infinitely necessary
that he should find new duty, and room
for new heroism In the present and the
future. BE it so! For such man, hon
est, patriotic and eager to make his coun-
try better by his political activity, the re-
publican party only offers field for work.
To Join the democratic party Is TO 60 down
among the dead men At once, and 10 chain
ones SELF to the dead past forever. Not to
a past Of good deeds nobly done, but to
past OF cruelty and treason, assassination
and perjury, dishonor and chronic defeat.
Above that past the democratic party new
er rises. Ry II ;he better impulses of the
party are ovcrbornr, its best aims are de-
tlled, its abl,r men drbased, and all its
action Is shaped. lie who wants TO do
anything good for the country must act In
and through some other party, or mlser-
ably fail.
II Is the immediate mission OF the repub-
lican party IL mike self government real
For years suffrage has been cheat and
elections a farce, In many OF the States.
There can be no other duty higher or more
pressing than to make sure that hence
forth there shall be free vote and an hon
est count for every citizen in every part
OF the land. The problem Is one Of eH-
ceedIug difficulty, and will require. as II Is
well worth, the most patient efforts OF the
ablest men. 1t Is no child's play TO cs.
tablish real freedom OF elections In regions
where IL has never existed, aud where pub
lie opinion not only does not demand but
has never learned To tolerate 1t. The
difficulties are the greater because all par
ties have In the past winked at many
abuses. We recognize the fact that cir
cumstances, rather than anv deliberate
purpose, have thrown the democratio par.
" Into the position OF defending such
wholesale frauds aud ontrages that they
amount to an absolute denial or free gov
eminent, and that circumstances have al
so compelled the republican party TO un-
dertake the task OF giving free vote aud
an honest count to every citizen. But so
1t has been with every great reform. Sla-
very was tolerated and even courtcd by all
parties until events forced parties TO take
sides for or against IL. Dishonest money
was defended by demagogues OF all par
ties until the republicans came to the
parting OF the ways where they were fore
ed 10 choose, Honest elections have be-
come the oVershadowing issue In political
life, because it was found that the control
OF Congress and OF all legislation depend
ed upon the success Of fraud In some OF the
States.
The republican party has other duties
and other aims Of which IL does not lose
sight. IL has done much since the war,
but still has more to DO, TO reduce the tax
alton that was made necessary by DEM
ocratic rebellion. Its aim for sixteen
years has been to reduce taxation as fast
as possible, without subjecting the public
credit to assault or American industry to
destructive competition. The people trust
1t because 1t has shown the will and the
capacity TO promote q marvellous growth
OF industry even while paying of public
debt with unprecedented rapidity. The
party believes in popular education, in the
rightfulness OF expenditure for improve.
ments Of national utility, and In the en-
Of thrifty immigration by
Offering free homes TO actual settlers.
But the young man who believes heartily
in the necessity of honest elections will
find his way into the republican party,
whether he agrees with II in all other mat
tiers or not. And he who agrees with 1t on
many other points, but wants force and
fraud to prevail in the election OF the peo-
pies representatives, belongs in some 9TH
er party and has no business to call HIM
self republican.
BASE BALL.-The Bridgton and Norway
Clubs played pleasantly though warmly
contested game on the Oxford County Fair