West-Jersey pioneer., 1883-08-09
THE UNION LEAGUE

L
was adopted authorizing the Chair I,
appoint a committee of three ssto pre
pare and issue an address to the peonlt
on the political situation of the country.
Messrs. A. Boutelle, William F. Cook
and G. H. Grosvenor were appoint
ed the committee, and they have
given out an address, dated New York
August a, 1885," in which, after SAVING
that they enter upon their prescribed
duty with hesitation and a profound
feeling OF inability to do justice to it.
they reproduce series of resolutions
adopted by the body which authorized
the address, in order to show that the
National Union League is, in unison
with the best ideas of Republicanism and
political progress in the United States
The address then continues:
Entering as the Republican party has
soon to do in many of the States of the
Union upon political campaigns fraught
with mighty consequences as affecting
the future of the country, it is the hope
OF the National Council of the Union
League that the spirit of dissension and
bitterness which has been rife in some
sections of the Union during the past
few years may die away and be for
gotten.
There is no section of the Republican
party whose advent to power in the
States and the nation would be as disas-
trous to the best interests of the country
as would that of the Democratic party
There is no shade Of opinion held by
any respectable number of Republicans
in the United States that does not
breathe the spirit of liberty, of progress
and of good government in a fuller and
better sense than the best utterance.
the best inspiration and the best senti-
ment OF the Democratic party of o-day.
paramount to all considerations of per-
sonal aggrandizement or the advance
ment of factions is the demand the conn
try makes upon the Republican party
to see to it that the reins of government
be not wrested from its hands.
Therefore, it is that, reiteratino tho
utterances of our constituents. we appeal
to the Republicans of the country that
factions cease among them, that the
potent voice of the people speak to the
waves OF discord everywhere, and com
mand them to be still We utter no
word OF elimination against our brethren
of any phase of political sentiment. We
neither discuss nor decide any question
that has been one of difference between
us. We look upon them ALL whether
aiming at personal preferment or repre-
senting diversity of political views. as
and unimportant, when
weighed in the balance against the con-
sequences of Democratic ascendency.
1t would be thrice-told tale to re-
state the political errors, failures, blum
ders and crimes of the Democratic party.
1t brought the Government to the verge
OF bankruptcy at the close of it's last ad
1t promulgated and fos-
tered through the great body of it's ad-
herents the fatal doctrine of State soy
ereignty and the right of succession;
and that portion of the party which did
not join in the open support of this
heresy did not raise its voice to rebuke it.
Owing to the unpatriotic and criminal
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the Democracy
the Republican party found shattered
and wrecked Union; Constitution de-
fed and despied in eleven of the States;
hostile armies arrayed against the life of
the nation upon the soil of the common
wealth. The Democratic party had de-
bauched public sentiment; it had made
patriotism disreputable in a large por-
ton of the country; the public credit
was ruined, the industries of the coun-
try paralyzed, the flag of the nation des-
pissed abroad and degraded and power
less at home. The Democratic party
had proclaimed itself the champion of
slavery and declared that that blighting
and monstrous institution should 90
into all the free Territories of the coun-
try, and it ostracized the members of it's
own party who raised up their voices in
opposition to these dogmas.
We point to this record only to add
that during the past quarter of a century,
notwithstanding that each one of these
pernicious doctrines has been over
thrown either on the battlefield, in the
legislative halls of the country or by the
greater tribunal-the voice of free peo-
ple-nowhere has the Democratic party
apologized for or retracted any of it's
opinions upon these great questions.
The Democratic party was directly re-
sponsible for civil war, and for the blood
OF more than quarter of a million of
the best citizens of the Republic; it
placed upon the nation the fearful bur-
den of great debt, and steadily strove
to bring about substantial reputation
OF the obligation of the Government to
pay it; its demand now to be put in
charge of the Government implies that
it will come into power proud of it's
record, apologizing for nothing, repudi-
ating nothing.
1t is enough to say of the Republican
party that it has made powerless for
harm every principle that the Demo
cratic party has advocated during the
past quarter of a century. 1t has stood
in the gateway of power, with a drawn
sword in its hands, beating back the ag-
forces of Democracy, and shield
ing the nation from the baleful influences
Of the vicious principles of it's opponents;
it has restored nationality; it has re-
public opinion; it has re-estab-
llshed loyalty; it has made liberty uni
versal and eternal; it has obliterated all
distinctions from among men before the
laws of the United States; it has lifted
up the down-trodden; it has encouraged
The weak; it has rebuilt the waste places
'f the nation; it has spread abroad pros
'erity like a mighty canopy.
Under the benign influence of the
oa chin orc or6 n I,,, ,;,,ie ed, 49,, - A.. D.