Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-06-08


goth Instant TO show that this moderl
Republican party has been governed
by principles which entitle il 70 respec
1t fairly comes within the province O.
the Register 70 show that the grounc
taken by The American is not tenabl.
upon the public records and history o.
the country. And 10 do this we will
not rely upon such evidences as the
recent declaration Of a distinguished
leader Of that party, at Philadelphis
Ex-Attorney General MscVeagh, thai
the principles of that party consisted
Of "the spoils system" "the boss-s -sys.
tenn" and "repudiation of Virgins
State indebtedness" We will &c
back Of that, and show what its prin.
ciples have been from its acts and con.
Duct as exhibited upon the public
records and history OF the country.
The American says that "it began
its career as party Of principle. II
was opposed TO the extension Of slave
ry,' &c. And that, 'from the party's
organization in 1855 to the close OF
the polls in November, in 1870, il
drew its inspiration and its arguments
from the Declaration of Independence
and kindred sources" &c. AS TO the
declaration of the self-evident truths.
and the unalienable rights of man in
the Declaration of Independence there
has never been any difference of opin-
ion among the American people; SO
that that matter never could have fur.
nished any ground for party organi-
zation in this country. The subject.
matter OF this great proclamation in
behalf of the citizens and people of the
colonies claiming their liberty and
rights OF self.government against tyr
amy of Great Britain shows, that the
Declaration had no reference what.
ever to the private and domestic rela.
tions OF life. Ii anything further be
required to prove this, it is amply
shown by the fact, that at that time
ngro slavery existed by law in all the
States, and that the signers of the
Declaration, from John Hancock, who
headed the list down with very few
exceptions were actually at that time
Shareholders themselves, and most of
them so continued to be until the time
of their death. Some Of the leaders
of these 'new light Republicans have
declared that domestic slavery was q
crime, and that the shareholders were
criminals" etc. If this be SO, then
Washington and Jefferson and nearly
all the patriots and heroes of the
American Revolution, who established
the free institutions. Of this country.
were criminals, This is sacrilege, is
dissertation!
1t is further claimed by the Amers-
can that the Republican party main.
tanned nationality and union against Sc.
cession, maintained the results Of the
war, the principle of freedom, of unity, |
Of equality, and Of justice IRE enforced |
by the principles of honesty and hon. |
or" &c. This looks fair upon its sur-l
face, but let it be tested by the facts
shown in the history of public events.
1t is not pretended that this Repub-
lican party bears any relation to the
old Republican party known in the
early days Of the republic. 1t is con-
cedei that this party originated in
1855 and Sc, on the anti-slavery agi-
tation in the Northern States, greatly
increased by the repeal of what was
called the Missouri Compromise line
and the controversies arising out of
the slavery question in Kansas. The
platform of principles originally de-
clared BY this party in SIS and 56s
comprehended-
l. The prohibition of the extension
Of slavery into the Territories;
O. The immediate admission of Kan
sas into the Union as free State;
8. The speedy construction Of a
railway to the Pacific Ocean; and
4. The restoration of the action of .
he Federal Government to the prin- {
,iples Of Washington and jefferson. !
This was all that was originally pro- ;
,osed or announced as the objects of !,
his party. !,
The clap-trap about the restoration !.
# the Government to the principles of !
Washington and Jefferson amounted !
0 nothing. On the admission of :
Kansas as free State the abolition :
4 slavery, and the completion of the !.
ailway to the Pacific coast, the mis-.
ion of this party was at an end, as !,
Ion. Lyman Trumbull Of Illinois, one !
t its original founders, has declared !
nd shown. But the objects and de- !
igns of this party are more fully ex. :
libited in its methods and course of :
ction. There had been for many :
ears difference of opinion on the :
lavery question, as we'll as some sec 4
ional jealousies and animosities be
ween the people of the Northern and : :
he Southern States, which had been :,
and intensified by the vlo- !
mt conduct and proceedings Of ex- !,
RENE men on both sides in Congress. !;
hese things this party took advan- : !
sge Of, and allied itself with the reck- r
'ss abolition party in the Northern !
tates, which was laboring for the i'm :, :.
,ediase abolition Of slavery by any :
nd oil means regardless Of all legal =