New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-21
FIRST PRINCIPLES.

Let il be borne in mind that the Republican
Marty was born not of hostility to slavery. nor
even of hostility to slavery extension, but of
great uprising of the people of the North
against the crimes committed by the Demo-
Gratis Ct the Southern States against honest
elections, in which they were upheld and Sus-
tanned by Democratic National Admnstra
| ton and the entire Democratic party.
The repeal of the Missouri Compromsr in
1854 did not rouse the people of the North.
Mr.. Douglass scheme of popular sovereignty
which left the question of slavery open to be
decided by the vote of citizens of the Terri
tories of Kansas and Nebraska. would have
been generally accepted. For there was
throughout the Moth such faith in the people
and such willingness TO trust everything. even
the settlement of the question of freedom or
slavery. to the persons most interested-the
actual settlers-that the North would have ac-
ouiesced in the action of Congress. But the
Democratic party. led then as now by South
ern gentlemen who had the genius for gov
ernment" would not consent to an honest vote
of the people of Kansas.
Ii was because Missouri Democrats went over
the border and voted down The real settlers
and honest voters: because a Democratic
United States Senator from Missouri advised
all residents of Missouri "within one day :
Journey of the Territory to cross over and
vote. as their peace" quiet" and property
depended on that action because Democratic
organ in AtchSon. No. informed I" the i'm
pertinent scoundrels of THE TRIBUNE that
eve will continue to lynch and hang, tar and
feather and drown every white-livered abol-
zionist who dares to pollute our soir'; because
when census Of voters taken before the first
election by a Democratic Governor appointed
by a Democratic Administration showed 2'9Oo
voters. Missouri Democrats crossed over in
wagons and on horseback. well armed with
rifles. pistols and bowie knives. and two pieces
of cannon loaded with musket balls" and " al
though but s3l legal electors voted there were
no less than $500 votes pollcd"; because, in
short. the Democratic party. backed by Dem
ocratic Administration, undertook by violence
and fraud to defeat the will OF the people and
prevent an honest election
That was when the people Of the North rose
up in protest that was why they did 1t. The
Republican party only came into existence IN
1856. and whoever reads the platform adopted
will find in the fourth resolution the case stated
, in fun the Indignant protest against :" this
high crime against the Constitution, the Union
and Humanity" and the declaration of " fixed
purpose to bring the actual perpetrators OF
these atrociOus Outragcs and their accompliccS
to sure and condgn punishment hereafter"
The first principle Of the Republican party
was the protection and defence f the ballot
box-the maintenance of honest elections. 1t
e a. la hon
! the people of the North rose up and said :
whether slavery is voted up or down, there
is one thing we will not abide and THAI is,
tampering with balot-boxes and overturning
the peoples will by dishonest elections" That
was the turning point. The aristOcracy that
controlled the Democratic party accepted the
issue made the fght--and bloody one it was
and lost The Republican party has never
lost sight of its first principle 1t has formu-
lated it in law. The same Democratic party
camors for its repeal. Shall it he permitted?
Let us get back to first principles.