The colored patriot., 1882-06-01
We'll standby she Party

/ great party upheaval. Men, who |
more than a quarter of century
have ardently struggled for the sue
cess Of principles whose Souudness
they did not question, are changing
modes Of thought and preparing for
the irrepressiblo dawn Of new polit-
lcal era. Twenty years Of threatening
and actual complication; Of gathering,
and appalling gloom; Of The menace
and strife Of sections; Of the mutual
defiance Kissed from South to North
and back from North to South again,
have not been without their Legitimate
fruits. Four years of the most san
guinarywar Of modern times only serv
ed to prepare mems minds for later
achieyments. A more engaging
theme than that which relates to the
two master parties of to-day, cannot
be proposed. But it is not our pur-
pose to relate history so much as to
draw supreme attention to the attitude
of parties. The times are rank with
revolution. Both rank and file of the
old line Democracy are breaking away
from an anchorage Of century's
growth and taking position with the
more liberal and progressive spirits of
the age. Bourbon democracy is
struggling in it's death throes, and
there is no denying it. That clanni h
heresy ofpolitics which for more than
sixty years dominated every business,
social and political project Of the
States and Nation, which held as
right, all the Infamous wrongs of
slavery; that party, we say, is dead.
The solid south is solid no more.
Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Miss
issipri and other Southern States
have successfully withdrawn from the
league which 20 years ago swore
with a great oath, death to the Union.
And what has brought these changes
about?
Twenty-Five years ago it was re-
garded as treason for any one to
question the divinity Of slavery. It
was constitutional and as such was
honored and upheld by every power
in tbs Republic. To-day it is never
referred to save as the greatest in
iquity that ever cursed the earth.
This wonderful change in public
opinion regarding this matter is not
without it's cause.
1t is but the logical result of Ger
tain principles adopted and unfinch-
ingly maintained since the birth and
rule Of the great Republican party.
The principles laid down by Lincoln,
Sumner and others, the grandest and
best men Of their times, are sound
and can never perish while truth and
justice are respected. The Republi-
can party, Notwithstanding the fact
that it is numbered with many un-
rrincipled men is still the only party
which has for it's inspiration and
grandest object the protection OF
human rights. That it has been
steadily marching toward the estab-
lishment Of the perfect equality OF
every citizen none can successfully
refute. There have sometimes been
hesitation and equivocation, but when
the line of march reformed it has al
ways been to press on to the realiza-
ton Of the great objects of its found
ers.
These are stubborn facts, and what
ever misgivings We may have as to
its occasional leaders, we cannot yer
find any reason why all men who love
liberty and law, should not continue
to stand by it
There are strong indications tha
in the approaching campaigns there
will he new enemies for Republican
ism to grapple with. Upon thei
banners Will be inscribed new anC
strange devices. They will comprist
democrats, greenbackers, independ
ents. and conservatives Of every shad
Of opinion, united for the one object
the defeat of the Republican party
There will be many reasons advanc-
ed why the mission Of the Kepubli
can party should be considered a
ended; and why a new party shoul,
he placed in power. Let those VIII,
- n