Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-02-17
Written for the Herald. ]
REPUBLlcANISM.

ana therefore, the opponent OF oppres-
sion in every form This being true,
wherever the spirit of Liberty is, there
Republicanism is found. A careful
survey of certain events in history
viewed in the light of these premises.
will give us the true key to many
points otherwise inexplicable.
| Republicanism is not barren ideali-
ty,devoid fprinciple or purpose, but a
great embodiment of a political and
moral force in Nature, representing
the survival of the fittest, t h e
final triumph Of right over wrong,
and the elevation of manhood above
the thralldom of the slave.
Republicanism as living, moving.
prompting, and inspiring principle. is
by its very nature, an irresistible
force, and every obstacle and impedi-
ment to its progress or final triumph
will be swept away by the Great Pow
er who gives force to truth and re-
moves distractions from its pathway.
Pepublicanism placed its foot upon
the Rock of Plymouth, when the Pr
grims found home in America and
has steadily kept its sway and ir-
creased its influence, and can no more
be permanently kept from its march'o:
civilization than can the rivers be turn
ed from their course or thes sun be diver
ted from its pathway in the heavens.
Republicanisrl, in its spirit and
might, triumphed at Bunker Hill and
received the sword of CORVALLIS at
Yorktown, inspired the noble words of
truth and liberty i'll the Declaration of
independence, and gathered into
Nation the brave people liberated from
the thralldom of dependence upon for
eign despotism, and lighted the fires
OF our FORCES and workshops, that make
our people truly free and independent
as well in fact as in name. 1t clothed
our people and gave them implements,
the handiwork of their ingenuity and
thrift, instead of giving the fruits, of
their toll for the benefit of foreign
manufacturers.
Republicanism resisted the enslave-
nent Of American sailors and the de-
struction of our commerce, and came
out of the war of 1872 triumphant
over the most powerful government on
earth, and gave America to Ameri-
cans, and threw additional safeguards
around the liberties Of our people that
will prove as permanent as the Pill
lar ofJustice itself
Republicanism, still true to liberty
as the needle to the pole, frowned upon
the dependency of our people on the
workmen of Europe for uumberless
articles of necessity, proposed to erect
barrier against the ever-increasing
flood of foreign manufactures, and give
protection and encouragement to
American workinen by tariff giving
the revenue necessary to pay eXren-
ses OF the Government, and at the same
time give employment to capital and
labor within our own borders, aud for
the benefit of our own people, without
paying tribute TO Europe These ef-
forts have been crowned with a re-
markable success and the United
States is to-day mighty power among
the Nations of the earth purely from
adherence to Republican principles
and the guiding guardian hand of the
Republican party. The God of I.iber-
ty ana Justice has directed the course
of the Party of Progress, and when
God is with us we care not who is
against us.
The record of Democracy stands out
in lurid contrast with the triumphs of
Republicanism. Opposed to Indeper-
dence in the Revolution, the spirit of
Democracy skulled in hiding with the
Tories and their sympathizers, put
British gold into the pockets of Ben
edict Arnold, and inspired the hands
that held the pen that recorded the
names of the great families of South
Carolina to declaration of suDmis-
sion to English domination. The
spirit Of Democracy held the negro in
bondage, was and is the champion Of
Free Trade and the oppressor of la
Dor to the level of foreign paupers by
opening the iiood-gates of importa-
ton to foreign goods and quenching
the fires OF orr own manufactures.
Democracy has stood in the way OF
progress, freedom, and free speech, and
is fifty represented by the assassin.
Brooks, with his bludgeon standing
S'oi NiiS PAcotA etC lDiul bI ANHTleS
Sumner, vainly endeavoring to
crush God-given principle by the
weapons of Slavery. Wrong in prir-
ciple, un-American in spirit and ten
dency, despotic and arbitrary in power,
nnsafe in counsel Or legislation, it
would be blessing to our country if
its defeat would prove as crushing as
at Bunker Hill, Yorktown, and Get
tysburg.
Cleveland represents the principle
Of Democracy to-day that would starve
and degrade the Union soldiers. is a
foe to the mechanic, farmer, and la
borer, and would bring them, if lie
could, and their work be taxed TO the
level of the workers of Europe and
Asia
The voice of the recent election saws
in thunder tones that the workers { f
Amerita are not ready for this de-
grading as they have learned to their
cost and realized the terrible conse-
quences OF Democratic success even
for few months.
The indignant protest Of the out