The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-01-19
.....OdiCAL FACTS.
rhe Difference between the Republican
and Democratic PARTIES

| The New York Tribune has n corre-
;pondent who asks for information
concerning the difference between .
Republican and a Democrat. The
Tribune proceeds to tell the difference
oy SAYING ..it is the same difference
essentially which has existed in the
past between democrat and FEEDER
alist;" that is to say, the Republican
party of to-day is the Federalist party
Of the past, and the Democratic party
of to-day is the Democratic party of
the past. To put it tersely, for the
purpose of illustration, Aaron Burr
was Federalist, and subsequently a
traitor. Thomas jefferson was a
Democrat The Federalists wanted
Burr for President, but he was defeated
by Jefferson, an important fact in his
tory which the Tribune overloOks, but
to make a point against the Demo-
cratic party the Tribune says: 1.-The
Federalists desired to arm the National
Government with requisite authority
over the States, SO as to insure its pres
eryation. The Democrats opposed
such legislation rs involving danger
Gus degree of Capitalization" That
is true of the Federalists and
equally true of the Republican
party of to-day. The Federal
party passed the alien and sedition
laws. The Democratic party repealed
them. These laws were infamous. and
were swept from thu statute books OF
the Republic by an indignant people.
Mr.. jefferson, in one of his messages
to Congress. said: 81 can not omit
recommending revisal of the laws
on the subject of naturalization. Con-
sidering the ordinary chances of
human life, a denial of citizenship
under residence of fourteen years is
denial to a great proportion of those
who ask it, and controls a policy pur-
sued from their first settlement by
many of these States, and still be-
lieved of consequence to their pros
perity. And, shall we refuse the un-
happy fugitive from distress the hos
pitality which the savages of the will
derness extended to our fathers arriv-
ing in this land? Shall oppressed hui
manity find no asylum Oh this globe?"
Thomas Jefferson. the father of the
Democratic party, was not a Know
Nothing, nor is the Democratic party
of to-day. And this constitutes a
difference between the Democratic
party and the Republican party. which
the Tribune should have stated.
The Tribune, in giving its corre-
S, dent information relating to til,
difference between the Democratic par
ty and Republican party, says: The
Republican party was recruited from
the ranks of the Wings and Free Soil
ers," and adds: "The Wings and the
Republicans have demanded unceas-
ingly constructive legislation for the
nurture and maintenance of home
manufactures. The Democrats have
wanted no legislation of this nature;
and whenever tariff system has been
established they have endeavored
strenuously to overthrow it." 1t ap-
pears that as far back as 1901, sixty
years before the Republican party was
spawned, Mr.. Jefferson said to Con-
gress: agriculture, manufactures.
commerce and navigation, the four
pillars of our prosperity, are the most
thriving when most free to individual
enterprise. Protection from casual
embarrassment, however, may some-
times be seasonably interposed. If, in
the course of your observations or in
quiries they should appear to need any
aid within the limits of our constitu-
tional powers, your sense of their I'M
portance is sufficient assurance they
will occupy your attention"
In this, it will be observed that the
Democratic party from the first, has
been alive to the needs of agriculture,
manufactures, commerce and naviga-
ton, but not for the purpose of build
ing up monopolies at the expense of
the people, as is true of the Republican
party. The Tribune says the "Repub-
lican party demanded legislation
against system of human bondage
degrading alike to master and slaves.
The Democratic party from the begin
ming of its history until the Emancipa-
tior Proclamation was opposed to such
legislation" If this is true of the
Democratic party, it is also severely
true of Abraham Lincoln, who declared
that if he could save the Union with
out freeing single slave he would do
that, or if he could save the Union by
freeing some slaves and leaving the
rest in human bondage" he would
do that; but Mr.. Lincoln did not issue
his Emancipation Proclamation be-
cause human bondage was degrad-
ing to anybody. 1t will be observed
that the 7ri5uns has bitten off more
than il can masticate successfully,
since in every comparison it makes the
Democratic party stands as much
above the Republican party as CHM
borazo above an ant hill. But the
Tribune thinks, doubtless. that it has
the Democratic party in tight place
when it says that under Republican
tariff legislation thousands of indus
tries have been established and Ameri-
can progress has become the marvel of
Christendom. The Democratic party
stands to-day for the repeal of that legis-
lation-the foundation of the Nations
present prosperity. The Republican
party stands for the protection of
those industries by legislation, and also
for the protection of what should be