The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-02

rapid strides towards an armed con-
fiict. | came back into the Senate
in '56 to be an eyewitness of the
final scenes in the great drama of
sectional strife that was so soon to
culminate in tragedy. | had long
since left the Democratic party, on
account of its bad faith on the tariff
and its pro slavery proclivities. In
the mighty cOuvulsions that tore
parties asunder, / became one ofthe
new political force bearing .he name
of the Republican party. The Dem
ocracy had deserted all its old tenets
and was hide-bound, sectional or
ganization. 1t was no longer a party
of the Democratic masses, and the
Republican party, born out Of the
best spirit and impulse of nationah-
ty. stood out before the people as
the embodiment of all the best
impulses and principles of the old
Democratic organization when twas
a party of the p, ople.
REPUBLICAN VITALITY III MEANS
MORE THAN ANY AND ALL PARTIES
OF EARLIER DAYS.
The old Wing party was always
an aristocratic institution, eminently
but not popular. Ifthe
Republican party had not meant
more to thecountry than either or all
of the old parties OF this date, it new
er would have attained such a hold
upon the country. Let no man say
that il would not have been a win
ming organization except for the ac-
cident of war. Its vitality and
growth before war was imminent
was phenomenal Ifthe armed con-
dict had been postponed for four
years or eight wears beyond the
nomination of Mr.. Lincoln, it would
have swept the country like a whirl-
wind in each subsequent contest,
and beaten the South, as it does
now, by appealing to the people in
the name of what is right to all
classes.
The Democratic party has been,
for many years, stronger in its pre-
tensions than in its achievements,
and it has lived upon its traditions
much more than upon its acts. The
Republican party has reversed the
condition. The credit of the Gov
ernment was at a discount on ac-
count of the fatal tariff of 1876.
long before it came into power.
When il stepped across the threshold
of the Government, it had not only
TO provide a tariff to meet the de-
mands of the Government IN time of
peace. but to provide for war. All
this it successfully accomplished.
For "A quarter of century it has
ruled the country and Is still pos
sessed of more positive force than
the old Democratic party has had
for a great many years. | have
always cOntended that 1t stands in
the same place in the affections OF
the people that the old Democratic
party did, before it was destroyed
by sectional prejudices, and when it
was directed by the great msn who
were alive with ambition foran ex-
alted national life. .
HIS ESTIMATE OF LINCOLN.
"What did Mr.. Lincoln do for the
Republican party ?"
"A great deal more than words
can express. Mr.. Lincoln was made
president by an all wise Providence
for Just such a crisis as this nation
was called upon to meet. You may
saw he was uneducated and lacked
polish, but he was the wisest and
best hearted man | ever knew. He
reached the presidency under pecu-
liar conditions, but he rose to the
very height of every duty imposed
upon him. Half Of his Cabinet
looked upon him az an accident that
was only TO last four years, and
from the day of the organization of
his political household, at least three
of his highest constitutional advisers
were shaping their course to succeed
him as president, rather than sink
ing their ambitions in an earnest
support Of him and his policy. His
and mine were always OF
the kindest. and when haG return
ed from Russia to find those who
should have been his strong right
arm intriguing to defeat his renom-
nation, he gave me his unlimited
confidence. He was much distress
ed at the intrigue in and out of his
Cabinet, and | cheered him with
the assurance that public opinion
was overwhelmingly in favor of his
renoniration.
How can we be assured OF that? ?"
was Mr.. Lincoln's earnest inqui-
".
~Verv easily" said l. Then |
to him the manner in which
we had succeeded in nominating
General Jackson the second time
)y having the state legislatures pc
ition him to become a candidate
or re election"
Can that be done fer me-? said
be.
Very easily" was my reply. Il
will 90 home to morrow, and Penn
.ylvania will be honored in being
he first State to pledge itselfto your
This assurance seemed to lift a
loud off his mind, and we had a
,ery pleasant visit after that. re-
urned to Harris burg and the Legis-
ature passed strong resolutions In
avor of his having a second term.
State after state followed in rapid
uccession. until the schemes of
dessrs. Seward, Chase. Ben Wade
md Others for his defeat were snow
d under by an overwhelming pop
liar expression in his favor. The
etter written to the different state
in relation to Mr.. Lin
.oln's second term was an exact
.opy of the one sent out for General
Jackson in 1882, except the change
# names. | had the copies made
lere in Harrisburg.
Il remember going down to visit
he President, while the states were
,oing on record in his favor. He