The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-10-14
NUMBER Sc.
Avert National Disgrace.
From Puck, lRepublicana

We goforth not merely To- gsin parti.
san advantage, but pledged 10 giveto
those who trust Us the .utuoet benefits
of pure and honest adminislration Of
national affairs.-GRovE CLKvFLAsD.
Woe unto them that call evil good,
and good eyil!-IsAIAH ", 90
Let every Republican in this hour
think soherly OF the lasting degradation
that will be inflicted on his party by the
election OF Jsmes @ Blaine TO the Presf
idency. The hand that casis vote for
that man casts vote against the honor
OF the Republican party.
Yes, it is on thas party that the dis
grace Of such an election would fall the
heaviest. Shameful as il would be for
The whole country, the nations fair fame
would not be irretrievably ruined; for
there are plenty Of her sons who have
risen-up to 6ght the wrong, ana TO these
men she may look for political regenev.
ationl Bnt II Blaineis elected. the Re-
publican party is stained beyond all
cleansing. It will have put Its neck un. |.
der the woke of corruption; il will have
made alliance with dishonesty. 1T viii
have sold its right OF honor for fst'of-
fees and the profits of veuallv lax ad.
minisraton OF government. It will be
no longer political party;,it viii be 10
more than an organisation for public
plunder.
We do not believe that Republicans
will consent to this degradation Of the
party that gave to the country universal
liberty and national unity. 1t Is not ct
all necessary for the healthful existence
of political party that 1t should have
the control Of the government, or even
the balance Of power In the sffairs OF the
State. An honorable poverty no more
disgraces party than II disgrsces =
man. But 1t is OF supreme aud vital iu-
po:tance that, 10 or out OF Office, the party
should preserve its integrity snd its pu-
rity. Without these it is lost /; il will go
under sooner or later, as all false and
impure things go. At the height OF its
power, its mandates obeyei with blind
enthusiasm by people who will blind
|
is doomed TO death which has sold itself
to corruption; and the day Of judgment
NAV be put off; but not put aside.
The question for Republicans is not:.
Shall we elect Blaine President Of the
United Sistes2 but: Shall we, elect
Blaine leader Of the Republican partyf
That is what consistent Republicans
should ask the nselves. All know that
Blaine is the worst man who ever went
before the people as a candidate for
Chief Magistrate. All know the record
OF his ind, cent prostitution Of the pow.
ers OF Office. All have seen the brazen
impudence with which he giories in what
should make him odious in the eyes OF
all men. All have seen the hideous infa-
my to which he has resorted in his at
tempt to crush the honest man whom
honest men hope to make President next
November. Shamelessly he has viola
ted the sanciity OF mans private life;
shamelessly be has perverted his party
press to the lowest purposes OF scandal.
mongering. Pitilessly he has dragged
| "Ouou ouamC UctOIc tue puUuC -
de has not hesitated to use weapons
which would disgrace the foulest cause.
He has not hesi:ated to begin warfare
which has filed the public prints with
columns ofunparrallcd indecency spread
out before the eyes OF our wives and our
daughters. This is his work. and by
his works shall all men know bim.
Is II not better-a thousand times bet
ter that the Republican party should
suffer defeat to all eternity than that The
cause for which Lincoln died and ,hs
stainless Sumner lived should be slamed
bv such leader? Is II not better that
the party should go to it's death clean
handed than that 1t should change prin.
ciple, honor and high ambition for. such
a mad docrne OF political pro6gacy a.
this man and his followers preach aud
practice in their words, and their actsf
! Let Republicans who wish that R.puh-
licanism should live hold their hands be-
fore they bring upon themselves and
their party the curse that shall surely
come upon all those who call Evil Good
and Good Evil. s