The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-12
LETTERS TO YOUNG REPUBLICANS.
NO. 8.


Written for the Indianapolis journal.
My Young Friend-In my Last letter taught
you that the Republican party originated, not at
the Fremont convention in 1856, but at the con
stitutional convention in 1881 1 showed you
that it began to live as the defender of a central
government The boy is father to the man.
What the party began to be in youth it will con
tinue to be in prime. 1t can never be aught but
the champion of congressional supremacy. 1t
must maintain that the State is wholly subor-
dinate to the nation. When it does otherwise it
obliterates the only lasting line between itself
and Democracy.
The Democratic, or anti Federalist party as
wrote last week, originated in the convention of
1877, as the pleaders for confederated union of
the States. At first it did not desire even this,
but asked for thirteen petty Independent sover-
eighties in this nation. 1t said that the Consti-
tuition (the mldest instrument of government
ever fashioned by MANI was too strong, and that
the Republicans, Federalists, as they were
called, aimed at monarchy. 1t shouted that the
central power should be weakened. 1t yet re
peats the shout If you bend your head and
listen, you can hear that same shout echoing
from every hillside by the road over which the
nation has travelled during these ninety years
toned, and rejoice at the utterances of Stateism
Caesar and Cincinnatus
Thus you see why there are two and but two
parties in this country, No party can live that
does not choose one of the sides of this question
You and have witnessed the rise and fall of
the Greenback party, the Labor party, the Tenn
perance party, the Independent party. They all
died because they did not seize this party per
petuatng question. In fact, they We're dead
while they lived, for they had no soul. Since
there are but two political souls i. e., the ma
tional strength idea and the State strength idea
it follows that there can be but two parties and
that each must be always the same, no matter
now many times its name may change There
is nothing in name, but all in principle.
The fundamental principle of neither party
has ever changed The word fundamental is
derived from the Latin "fundo"-to cast, to
pour out, to found, to fuse; or from ''fundus, !"
the bottom A fundamental principle, then, is
a foundation, casting fusing bottom prin-
ciple 1t is the essential principle. When |
say that the fundamental principle of neither
party has ever changed, mean that the ques-
ton that divided them in the days of Washing
ton divides them to-day. Their names and
policies have changed, but this one dividing
issue never. AS long as our government stands
there will be taken thesetwo opposite views of the
central power, and, consequently, there will be
always two great parties. and no more.
Now you see what folly it is for some newspa-
pers to say that the Republican party
has outlived its usefulness, has accomplished
its object and ought to disband. This
would be true if the abolition of slavery
had been the only principle that the party stood
for But, although that was its first object, it
grew so transiently mighty to absorb the
Wing party, together with its principle of nation
al supremacy. That idea fought the war and
will hold the party together till the end of his
tory. Republicans are here to stay; Democrats
likewise, and it is for you to choose with which
TO vote.
If you like the sound of such phrases as
Home rule "Hands off the States" Estate
sovereignty" ''Stateism," and other kindred
clauses, you will be Democrat If there rises
within you an answering sentiment at the utter
ance of such phrases of Supremacy of Congress,
Union, Nation with a big n, and Patriotism,
you will be a Republican TN. E.
CoNNEIsvILLE, Ind.