The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-25

! tween lhe DelnOclaUlC ana IePUOilCdl par JlcS
from a Republican stand point!
! CARBONDALB, Ind. A REPUBLICAN.
1t would be an easy matter to reply to this
question by pointing to the future and en-
ploying glittering generalities, but that is not
enough. man party may promise any
thing, everything but, unless such pledges
| be backed by some evidence of sincerity and
honesty of purpose, they are of no
50 faith, if it hath not works, is
dead, being alone. Show
me thy faith without thy works, and 1 will
show thee my faith by my works" The dis
tinctve qualities of political parties, like those
of men, may be best recognized by review
of their works.
In 1856 the first national Republican con-
vention was held in the city of Philadelphia
One of the cardinal doctrines of platform of
principles was pronounced hostility to the ex-
tension of slavery to new Territories and
States 1t declared that it was ''the right
and duty of Congress to prohibit in the Terri
tories those twin relics of Enthusiastically
amy and slavery" AS to slavery, the Demo
cratic convention of that year resolved that
Congress had no power to interfere with it
in the States; that ''all efforts to induce Con
gress to interfere with questions of slavery
ought to be discountenanced as they lead to
dangerous consequences" The Democratic
party won on that platform, and slavery was
pelpetuated.
In 1861 in view of the repeated threats of
secession, made on the floor of Congress and
elsewhere, the Republican party "viewed with
adherence all schemes for disunion, come
from whatever source they may, and congrat-
ulated the country that no Republican mem
Der of Congress has uttered or eountenanced
the threats of disunion so often
made by Democratic members,
without rebuke and with applause
from their political associates" Both parties
reafirmed their respective positions on the
question of slavery. The Republican party
pronounced in favor of a fair measure of pro-
lection to American industries.
During the closing days of 1860 and the
early days of 1861, that portion of the Union
solidly Democratic went into rebellion to
found an independent government on the cor
ner-stone of human slavery.
The Republican party espoused the cause
of the Union. The Democratic party OPP
posed it,
To secure funds for the prosecution of the
war the Republican party issued bonds.
The Democratic party, North and South, in
Weighed against them and deprecated them
in the markets of the world
To supply the place of gold and silver the
Republican party issued what was known as
the greenback currency and national bank
notes. The Democratic party declared them
unconstitutional and sought by every possible
means to render them worthless.
In 1862 the Republican party through the
President, issued the emancipation proclama-
ton The Democratic party declared it I'M
COHSiItlltlOudl anu suuSlO W SpW llCetoOll III
the ranks of our armies.
In 1864 the Republican party resolved in
favor of the prosecution of the war until the
Union should be fully restored. The Demo
cratic convention at Chicago pronounced the
war a failure, and reaffilmed the doctrines
relative to slavery as promulgated by that
party in 1856.
In 1869 the Republican party succeeded in
comforting the right of suffrage upon the
newly enfIanchised slaves against the most de-
termined hostility of the Democratic party.
In the same year the Republican party
passed the act Strengthening the public credit
despite the most pronounced opposition Of the
Democratic party, whose specious plea was
that money good enough for the people was
good enough for the bondholder"
In 1875 the Republican party declared in
favor of making the peoples money as good
as gold. and fixed on Jan. l, 1879, as the date
for the resumption of specie payments. The
Democratic party, apparently unmindful of its
inconsistency, denounced the measure and
predicted universal bankruptcy
In $780, and again in 1882 the Republican
party of Indiana voted to strike out the word
white from the States organic law, and a
hundred thousand or more Democrats deliber-
atey voted to retain it.
Such has been the attitude of the
two parties in the past, The
Republican party has always
been right, and the Democratic party wrong.
Every important measure indorsed by the Re
publican party has since become portion of