The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-02
(State papers please eopy.)
From a Republican Standpoint

Ane curse Is come upon US anu lOi
, great Party that has so long guided lb
nation may now indeed set its house il
order and prepare for the end; and thD
end is close at hand.
For a quarter of a century, for th
twenty-five most pregnant years of thi
turbulent century, il has held the rein
of government over the greatest Repuh
lie Of the world. 1t came to power il
the darkest days Of the nations life
Fresh, young, strong and pure; iillet
with the noblest enthusiasm, led by th,
greatest and most self devoted soul o
our time, the Republican Party took up
its great task, and, in despite of every
obstacle, laboring faithfully and earnest
lly, with single-mindedness of purpose
it did its work, achieved its highest am
bition, and was honored of the peo
pie.
| For the people were grateful. When
the mighty work was rounded by the
sacrifice Of the :eat leaders life; when
the victory was hallowed by high and
unselfish grief; when the bond of peace
was strengthened by the sympathetic
grasp of Northern and Southern hands
across Lincoln's bier--in that hour could
there be too much to give to the men 10
whom we owed all that we held dear?
Into their hands we gave the Govern
ment, gladly and trustingly. To-day
we ask their successors for an account of
their stewardship, and in November we
shall take back our gift, finding them
unworthy.
For the party that we trusted for its
loyalty in adversity has turned migrate
and unfaithful in the season of prosper
ity. Not content with the confidence of
the people, with honor and with power,
it has waxed gross with selfishness aud
fat with corruption. 1t has smirched be-
yond all cleansing its bright record: il
has sold its honor for bribe; it has
maladministered the power intrusted to
it. 1t has been deaf to every remon-
STRANGE, to every entreaty that it would
turn from its evil ways. From being
the one great exponent of unselfish prin-
ciple, it has sunk into a shameful and
sordid materialism. 1t has taught itself
to laugh at what is right and true; il
has set up for itself only the basest
standard 70 seif-interest. 1t has no high
er morality than the thief's fear of the
halter ;,for it has feared nothing; nothing
has kept it from doing its own will but
the dread of the peoples anger And
this, at last, in its sensual prosperity,
| it has become fatuous enough to defy.
For years we have seen this evil grow
ing and for years we have tolerated It.
We have borne with the Party for the
sake of the past, and because we have
clung to some hope that there was yet
good in it-that some day it would
awake from its folly and be again what
we knew it once. We saw that there
were still men of the old spirit in the
Party, and we saw that they were awake
to the danger of their fellows. we
will plead with them" these wiser men
said, 1--WE will arouse them; we will
bring them back 20 wisdom. DO not
condemn us yet. We, who are within
the Party, will cleanse and reform it,"
And they meant well; and they did
what was in them to do; but IL was not
to be. The disease, the itch of gold,
was among those others; it had caught
their flesh, it had eaten into and tainted
their souls. There was no curing them;
the ailnent grew worse and worse. Now
is the crisis.
What is this that the leaders of the
Party have done? Assem-
bled in convention at Chicago, 70 choose
their candidate for the Presidency Of the
Uuited States, they have, amid the
bowling of hirleings and the clamor Of
fools, made choice OF the one
man whose very name stands for all that
is wholly bad in their organization.
They have chosen a man whose nomi.
nation is an insult to the country, whose
election would be an -ineradicable dis
grace. In these first days before the flush
Of their over-heated folishness has cooled
away, they do not realize what they
have done in one mad moment. Later
they will Sc it, and be afraid, and il
nav be, some few will have the grace TO
be ashamed. Then, having got out of
The fever and glare of the convention
hall, they will look at the man Of their
choice in the chill light Of truth? And
what will they see?
A man who has DishonOr for an ally,
1n whom Corruption fawns for favor.
A man whose name for years has been
Dandied about in bold and confident
of dishonesty. A man
whose trickiness swhose unworthyiclever-
ness, whose shifty craft have been the
theme of common jest. A man who will
now have to meet clear and specific
charges of dishOnesty-tO meet them2
Nav he will shrink away from them, he
will evade them, he will slip out of them
and around them and under them, and
Affect not to see them; and If he be
made TO see them, make out somehow TO
out them aside with bluster and bully
ng-do Eanything-try anything-any-
hing but meet them fairly and brave5y.
A n an against whom every honest voter
n the Party will rise up; man whose
'riends are the notorious foes Of decent
government.
Such is the candidate that the leaders
If the Republican Party will find they
AVE chosen when their muddled brains
ire clear enough again to find out any
hing. Let us say for them still, as
,Ody, that this was not their unanimous
.hoice. There we're some few among
hem who fought, earnestly and bravely,
lgainst the crime which the majority
lave committed. Tothem, all honor, all
all cheering friendliness in
heir honorable and proud defeat. Never
more noble than now was that reverened
White head on which lies the light Of
,urity atwhich the trading, bartering,
,ribing rabble jeer, in their sordid small
wisdom. Honor be to that high and
lear-minded, courageous gentleman!
Honor to the young man who fought
Inder his banner; taking most Of the
.eneralship into their stronger handsl
they have done their duty well their fail
ire has not stripped them of the peoples
rust; and some day they may lead to
'ther victories those whose hearts have
lut now followed them to defeat. For Is
lot this brave struggle of theirs the sign
f the coming Of the Independent New
'arty7
And now, what remains for us TO do,
rho feel the indignity that has been
'ut upon us7 There is only one course
0 take, and the conscience Of the plain
st man may tell him what that Is, 70
wear II our own souls that, whatever
nay be the cost 20 our pride, wl.niete.
aay be the noise and ridicnie Q. tAvs1
Fho can take their disgrace lightly, We
iii fight BY vote, BY argen.e.t'
l,ssel ard ~ writing, By az fair ana
ss..,s aflnirisf the consummltIoh
! si.sas ss.,rsc 'rlsst IS propQsel By those
Il, .,i ,vossfd pttf james biainQ into fne
..s Wa 4f Fftaian4 Lincoln And q fne
.s'.ss es ,.sFg fAustie, let 1t die under ne
.s.s r. "a lfs own sons who klu "a 10
'y@ n from The worst dlshonol,
4.hn everyday cares and duties which
esIf dfudE1fy, are The weights INo
1tnfafbossPs Sc the clock 81 lIm1| TII
81. II.|..... d. I.... g. .|... |". anil