The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-03-08

ltpuoCubN OuO VI Wv
The meanest railway in the United
States, ballasted with swamp-grass
and cross-tied with kindling wood,
can raise more cash OH its first mort
gage securities than the old-fashioE.
ed Democratic party could on the
solemn bonds and obligations of the
American Republic.
No political party can live upon
its record alone. If such thing
could be done the Republican party
could do it. Nor on its promises
alone or if such thing could be
done the Democratic party would
have done it. A party must meet
the new questions of the day. and
must complete its unfinished bust.
| ness.
The reason why the Republican
party has to fight for its life at every
election. IL that we have been too
slow in calling up our unfinished
business.
There are great many people.
most of them men of property and in
f1uence, who applauded the late Pres
ident when he set the veto ofhis little
briefauthcrity against the decent pro-
vision of Congress for the infirmities
of age and disease that are fast scat
tering the broken ranks of the old
Union army.
AS the people read these messages
day after day, each one carrying to
some cripple. some widow, some old
father, or mother. sitting In the
shadow of death they could not help
thinking of the day. in March, 1865.
when Abraham Lincoln stood on the
east porlico of the Capitol and In the
name of the American people prom
ised to care for him who had borne
the battle and of his widow and his
orphan children.
They conld not help thinking of
that rainy April morning, just before
treason had done its work, when the
President went down to the hospital
at City Point, and in the gloom of
those dull walls held reception at
the bedside of the sick. wounded and
the dying. more princely than if
blazing chandeliers had flashed upon
the jewels of the Capitol.
This nation is rich enough and gen.
erOu5 enough to take care of the diSa.
bled veterans and their dependent
families, and it makes absolutely no
difference what it costs. It would be
better for all the exchanges of wealth
to he plundered, every bond repudi-
ated. every contract broken. every
coin of the realm debased, rather than
the old age of the Union army should
be embittered by the approaching
shadows of poverty and want.
Irejoice that we have man in the
place of Lincoln, whose experience
| 6IdDleS nun " COuIpiCheIu tno ho-
tional obligation and whose heart is
open to the infirmaties of his disabled
comrades. Already his administra-
ton hasiwon to its support the great
body of people who seek no Office ;
Whu prefer to do business for them.
selves rather than work for the pub
lie for their board and clothes.
Finally, gentlemen, I want to say
that the appearance in American
politics of a character like Abraham
Lincoln was not an accident. 1t
meant the overthrow of all the mis-
cradle aristocracies of race. and rank.
and creed. and wealth. and the eoron-
alton of the true royalty of upright
manhood. I would have the Rppub.
lican party 60 back to the grave its
great leader and, kneeling upon the
sacred earth renew the vigor of its
youth by reeonseeration of its service
to the plain people of the United
States.