Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-07-18
Reasons for Being a Republican.

Twenty-six years ago, when a Young man
asked why he should join the republican par
ty, he was answered because it means Free
Soil, Free Speech and Free Men" Twenty
years ago, when young man asked the same
question. he was answered because it
''means loyalty to the Union and defeat to a
''slave- holders rebellion" Fifteen wears
ago, when young man asked the same qucs-
ton, he was answered Because it means
loyal government in every State, based upon
impartial suffrage" Eight years ago began
the struggle of regulators and paper money
inhationists to seize the government, and the
battle for public honor and honest money
continued until the republican party tri-
umphed in specie resumption, in the grand
prosperity which followed. in the election of
President Garfield, and in the funding of
S700, 900 600 of public debt at 81 per cent
within few weeks. Now wha; is to be an
swered when sincere young man asks
"Why should Ibecome republican,
The history of the country suggests one
sufficient reason because il is worth while
"to guard and keep the fruits of grand deeds
''in the past Freedom in the Territories
was worth much, but the democratic party
armed border-ruffisns against it. The Union
~as well worth the life-blood Of our bravest
and best, but ever, man of those who shot
them down, and fired upon the flag and re-
sisted the authority of the United States was
democrat. There could be no freedom for
all without equal suffrage. but the democratic
party contended then and still contends for a
white mans government. Reputation would
have dishonored. wrecked and cursed the
land. but every repudiator democrat or
grsvitated to the democratic party as his nat
ural home. To this day that party denounces
resumption rs n wrong. and would undo the
work il it could, rs is shown in hundreds of
votes. Ii is not true that every grand achieve
ment of the republican party can still be un-
done. Some of them have so changed the
National life, and so imhedded themselves in
the very foundation walls of the government
that no return to democratic theories OF prac-
tees is possible. Slavery cannot be in form
re-estsblished, though democratic laws might
easily make colored labor free only in name
The Union can never be broken by secession
into warning fragments, but the Solid South
keeps alive. controls and owns the democratic
party, and gives it the only chance of success
I
mean the kray above the blue-a capture of
the Union by those who tried TO break it and
failed. Reputation, imitation. return to dis
honored promises having forced circulation
As money,-all these are possible and proba-
BILE results of democratic success.
But youth often thinks lightly of preserving
the results of past hereism. To many
young man it seems certain that the past is
safe, and infinitely necessary that he SHOULD
lind new duty, and room for a new heroism
in the present and the future. Be it so. For
such q man, honest, patriotic and eager to
make his country better by his political &C
tivity, the republican party only offers field
for work. To join the democratic party is to
go down among the dead men at once and
to chain ones self to the dead past forever
Not to past of good deeds nobly done. but
70 past of cruelty and treason, assassina-
tion and perjury, dishonor and chronic de-
feat. Above that past the democratic party
never rises. By it the better impulses of the
party are overborne, its best aims are defiled.
its ADLER men debased, and all its action is
shaped. He who wants to do anything good
for the country must act in and through some
other party, or misersbly fail.
1t is the immediate mission of the repuhli.
can party to make selfgovernment real For
years suffrage has been q cheat and elections
= farce, in many of the States. There can
be no other duty higher or more press-
ing than to make sure that henceforth
there shall be a free vote aud an honest
count for every citizen in every part
Of the land. The problem is one of ex-
ceeding difficulty. and will require,
~ II 10 we'll worth, the most patient
efforts of the ablest men. 1t is no child's