Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-02
LINCOLN REPUBLICAN CLUB.
Can Not Regular Monthly Meetings Be
Sustained During the Year?

Sustained during the Year!
EDITOR HERALD: This city has some
10000 Republican voters. This num-
Der of men claim to be actuated by a
common impulse, and to be working as
unit To accomplish certain definite
ends. There is an organization in this
city which took upon itself the name
of the most honOred man on the CAL
endar of republican saints and heroes.
Some two hundred prominent repub-
Leans are on Its roll Of membership,
and yet we are confronted by the hu-
initiating fact that these 10000 republic
cans will not sustain monthly meet
ing of the Lincoln Republican club.
When we consider how many church
edifices have been built by the profess
sing christians IN this city, and how
much money they expend to sustain
several meetings q week; when we
count the number of secret societies
which are being sustained on the most
slImsy, tlimsy grounds, with their
silly array of fuss and feathers.
and grandIloquent names ridiculously
out OF place in a modern republic, il
seemed surprising strange that an Or
ganizatlon formed for the express pur-
pose OF nurturing PATRIOTISM, and edu-
eating our people IN the duties of cItl-
zenshIp, should be- the butt of ridlcule
the city over. Republicans Out Of
Sight, wasthe appropriate heading Il
one or our daily journals gave report
OF one OF the meetings of the club. A
dozen or go republicans present al that
meeting were valnly trying 10 convince
themselves that they represented vast
amount OF enthusiasm pent up III the
ten thousand "Republicsns Out of
Sight" They were trying to keep
their own faith alive bv the thought of
the great cloud of Witnesses who
were supposed to be present IN spirit if
not IN person.
The burden of this epistle, dearly
beloved brethren, 1t is to inquire
whether something cannot be done to
induce this host of Republicans Out
OF Signt' to materislize. The Lincoln
Republican club was not organized to
boom any mans political prospects.
nor as mutual admiration society of
4 particular set. but rather TO form a
center around which the republicans of
this city and county could rally. The
Lincoln republican club, in q certain
sense. bad IN its keeping the honor and
far fame of the republican cause IN
this region, and Il seems to be shame
ful state of affairs when the republi-
cans OF the entire county cannot snow
a score OK attendants. One grand
blowout a year isa =eTy poor and IN
adequate way TO manifest our devotion
20 principles wnich We clam nave been
and still are the saving power n the
nation. | cannot find words TO express
my disgust and WEAKNESS over tnis par.
tcuisr feature Of the club.
DO not know OF any way 5y which
man can snow hIs fsitR except by MS
works. How arc tness Republicans
out % sighI' showing their faith OF
course IS may be that al Of them w3ll
turn out next electioa and vote, bit
tbs a not what our csuse wants a. this
time. We want intelligent votafs who
are really slwsys 20 give - answer -
avery man tnat askein them a reason
Tor tae fs'th tnst u 20 tsen.' Hnw
macy republicans can 10 t1s ssttsfsc-
tor Wa are uos IA the
miaorIfy. our Gag has sZsin ira ied
tn tas dast. AMI q victory
= ever sasln g. peffa "a aur banners
H VII te haesuan r~putfieans, tnn
country 1vrf. are - tft1otod snd
gfapHfvd in tae fsfn' thar thsv can
st0T democratic aof ropnifst SINNERS
tlfe error of tseir wsFs. ant inHHee
tn~H1 f1 screr, the snspel ~ rspeh
bean en-. rlsss tha fsptiiif ans fsi-n
tae 20 Fsionssy sp.fIf, sna heEia rsfif
to ft tnfnseivea Ter ssfnest suersssfal
- sslnnaFg wefs TIE prospects are thsI