Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-12-04
BEs0TTED PARTZsANsHIP.

BESOTTED PAR7ISANSHLP
Ex-senator Edmunds told the National
Committee the other day that
''the poorest Republican in the United States
is better for the peace and happiness Of this
Republic than the best Democrat that ever
lived" 1t is charitable to suppose that it |
was late in the day when Mr.. Edmunds in
dulged in this outburst. The old gentleman |
is not to be held strictly responsible for any |
thing he may say after 2 P. M. And, by the
way, he didn't prefer the "poorest Repub-
lican" to the "best Democrat" in 1884, when |
he refused to support James G. Blaine for
President.
This eminently dignified and patriotic ut
terance naturally excited the enthusiasm of
of the Republican journals to such an ex-
tent that 1t is made the text for violent
TRADE against the Democratic party and
fulsome eulogy of Mr.. Edmunds, and he is
held up asa broad minded man." "a deep
and original thinker"
Possibly Mr.. Edmunds is "broad mind
ed man." judged by Republican standards,
but measured by the usual standards he
is one of the narrowest, most intolerant and
most fanatical partisans that this country
has known. He is a fit representative Of
Vermont Republicanism, which is unpro-
gressive and reactionary In the last degree.
TIE Tie 5tate itself is decaying common
wealth. 1t has not been standing still for
the last quarter Of a century, but has been
going backward. 1t has larger per cent
age Of illiterates than any other Northern
State. 1t is full of abandoned farms, and is,
in short, the least prosperous and the least
enterprising State in the Union. 1t is quite
in accordance with the eternal fitness OF
things that this should be "the banner Re-
publican State" and that George F. Ed
munds should be its foremost citizen.
Not satisfied with their laudation OF Mr..
Edmunds because of this utterance, a lead
ing Republican journal in the West says;
GAIL of the important measures of thirty
years which have helped TO make this
great nation were devised and passed by
Republicans, and passed in the face of de-
termined and malignant Democratic oppo.
sition."
This is not true. There have only been
four years in the last eighteen that the Re.
publcans have controlled both Houses of
Congress and the Executive-only two Con-
crosses in which any measure could have
passed without the assent of the Democratic
party. But for all the legislation which
built up great monopolies, created and mul
tiplied trusts, and transferred large pro-
portion Of the wealth OF the country from
the masses of the people TO a favored few
for all this legislation the Republican party
is responsible.
1t was the Republican party which
changed the terms of the contract in the
$40 bonds, SO as to make them payable in
coin instead Of in greenbacks. 1t was the
Republican party which demonetized silver.
1t was the Republican party which legal
lied the importation of the pauper labor of
Europe under contract. 1t was the Repub-
lican party which gave tens of millions OF
acres of the public lands to railway cerpo.
rations. 1t was the Republican party which
fastened the iniquitous system of licensed
spoliation, miscalled protection" upon the
country. The Republican party is, in q
word, responsible for every piece of class
legislation which now burdens our statute
books, and the Democratic party, although
for many years 1t has numbered more voters
than the Republican party, has never had
the power TO wipe any Of 1t out.
1t was the Republican party, too, which
put the peace and prosperity Of the country
in jeopardy by the impeachment of Andrew
johnson. 1t was the Republican party
which shook the very foundations of the
Republic by the premature enfranchisement
of the ignorant and helpless negroes, for
the sake Of perpetuating itself in control OF
the country. 1t was the Republican party
which "organized hell" and maintained it
for nearly twenty years in the South, turn
ing horde of scoundrelly carpet baggers
loose to prey upon that section, and putting
its intelligence and property under the heels
of its ignorance and pauperism. 1t was the
Republican party which, under Grants ad-
ministration, carried on q carnival of profit
gacy and extravaganza and made CORFU pit
and infamous alliance between Wall street
and the National Treasury. 1t was the Re.
publican party which stole the Presidency
in 1876 and which bought it in 1880 and
again in 1888.
No Democrat need fear the dispassionate
judgment of posterity upon the compare.
tive records of his party and Of the Repub-
lican party during the last thirty years
The Democratic party has unquestionably
made mistakes during that period, but upon
the most important questions which have
been before the country 1t has been right,
and good deal oftener than has the Re.
publican party, and has been far more loyal
to the interests of the people. Mr.. Edmunds'
declaration that "the poorest Republican in
the United States is better for the peace and
happiness of this Republic than the best
Democrat that ever lived" Is only interest
ing as fresh evidence of the narrowness and
littleness Of man who has sometimes, but
on very Slight warrant, passed as states.
man.
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TAYEn I'M nRA7ry