The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-05
LETTERS TO YOUNG REPUBLICANS.

Written for the indianapolis journal.
My Young Friend-Did your father ever tell
you that the Republican party has existed ever
since the nation began2 Did he yer tell you
that it is full of years as well as honorsl Or
does he say that the Republican party was born
at Chicago in 1860 or at the Fremont conven
ton in 1861 suppose he does, for that is the
belief of most Republicans with whom talk
but it is untrue. The very Republican party of
which you and are now members was born at
Philadelphia in May, 1887 1t saw the light
within sixty minutes after the assembling of the
constitutional convention
During the revolutionary war the thirteen
colonies were united under the title of Confeder-
alton. This was imperfect union. All
through the war there had been proofs of the in
efficiency of the government. There was no
''fast bind fast find There was Congress,
but it had no authority to execute its own laws
The States were jealous of the Congress- and
reserved all executive rights to themselves
The continental Congress remained in almost
continuous session during the war, voted men
passed measures and appropriated money for the
success of the cause but it had more patriotism
than power. 1t had the will for the deed. The
sovereign States did as they pleased about
furnishing their quotas of men and money. Be
fore the end of the conflict, Congress degenerated
into mere advisory committee because it had
no right to coerce State Had it not been for
such men as Robert Morris, Benjamin Franklin,
| John Jay and Alexander Hamilton, the war
would have been failure. These heroes cheer
fully gave their all to the struggle and saved the
credit of the States. Morris contributed his
fortune, Jay his eloquence, Franklin his
| diplomacy and Hamilton his knowledge of af-
| fairs With such men as these, and for that
reason only England whipped in spite of
the weak general government
,a1
ton got into the saddle and rode the country
toward ruin. Congress met and voted to pay
| the war debt, but the State would not
see it that way, and the debt was in danger
or being repudiated. AS is now the case with
| the debts of certain Southern States The
thinking men saw these things and the need of a
| stronger government. A convention of the peo-
| pie was therefore called, which met at Philadel-
pha in May, 1877. On that day two great po-
| litical parties were born, because
| when the people met in this convention there
| was found to be two factions represented. One
| faction favored the old weak confederate plan of
| government slightly amended, OF else separate,
| independent States. The other and larger fac
ton were for casting the old government into
| the sea, since they saw it impossible of amend
| ment, and framing constitution with back
| bone in it. The lines between the factions fast
| became clear-cut. sharpdrawn. There was no
middle ground The straddler, you know, is the
| man who bangles foot on either side the fence,
| prepared to alight on which ever promises best.
| But there was no place for him in that conven-
ton. There was but one question: New and
strong government or old and weak govern
| ment2 Steel or straw
| know which side you would have been on.
| You admire strength wherever you see it. You
| despise weakness. You have no respect for a
boy who has not will enough to take care of him
self. So every manly instinct you have tells
| you that you would have favored the new and
| strong government had you been there. You
would have had good company too. Washing
ton was on your side, as was Robert Morris,
| Franklin, Hamilton and Roger Sherman, the
| thinking men of the nation. Their cause at
| tracted majority in the convention and tri-
umphed. The result was the constitution under
| which we now live.
| These men knew that the instrument they
| had ordained must be befriended, and they
| therefore made themselves the nucleus of a
party which they named the Federalist party,
| whose object was the upholding and defense of
the new Constitution. That party has always
believed that the Constitution united the States
inseperably, that the right of self-preservation
is inherent, and that the States are subordinate
to the Congress. Though its name has changed
many times, it still believes the same thing. 1t
is now called the Republican party, and 1 shall
prove to you in the of these letters that it
is one and the same. What glorious parentagel
What high BIRTH What healthy infancyl What
vigorous youth! What honorable manhood it
has had! T. N L.
CoNNERSYILLE, Ind.