Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-06-19

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; Switzerland. across the British isle
/: and onward till its agitated water
dashed upon old Plymouth Rock an
bathed the peaceful shores of liberty
| future home.
He reads history in vain who see
: not the impotence Of those who weav,
their tissues of folly across the liv
ing stream of progress, which flow.
and cannot cease to flow. until it at
: tains it's full fruition in securing t,
man his God-given rights. Miletus ant
his crew swore away the life of SO
crates and lay down to eternal obliv
ion; but the maxims of the first phil
osopher will be a guide to ages yet
unborn. Bigots snatched the spyglass
from Calico, but his great soul look
ed out from it's windowless tenement
and saw what man never saw before
They crucified Jesus of Nazareth, but
the memory Of that perfect life is
working universal harmony with God
So when the mother country Cypress.
es the colonies and her red right hand
reaches out for their hard earned
treasure, the colonists resist, Each
man, with his heart full to the brim
with patriotic devotion is fortress
IN himself. MAN is free" are the
blazoned words which meet the aston.
ished eyes of George III. The Daniel
OF piercing conscience reveals the un-
welcome truth. The despot's doom is
fixed and his kingdom is divided. The
colonies unite in closer bonds. But
alas! They establish a government
half slave. half free. Side by side
these contending principles grow for
three-quarters of a century. The spir
it OF 1856 was the same as that of '76.
The one laid the foundation of the
Union, the other preserved it. The
Republican party practically founded
itself. 1t sprang spontaneously from
the hearts Of thousands of the COM
mon people in the north, whose con-
sciences were thoroughly quickened
by the spread of the evil of slavery.
and the consequent danger to- the per
petuity of the Union. The Missouri
compromise failed to compromise. On
the other hand pro-slavery agitation
had constantly augmented. The pass
age OF the Nebraska bill dispelled all
illusions of those opposed to slavery
in toto, as well as of those who though
not yet abolitionists, were firmly
against its further extension.
On July 9Th, 1854, the first Repub-
llcan state convention was held "un-
der the Oaks" at Jackson, Michigan.
Soon after. similar convention was
held at Ripon, Wisconsin. Then fol-
lowed like movements in Ohio and
several other states, the party becom-
ing national in significance at Pitts
burg in February. 1856; finally lead.
ing up to the first national Republican
convention at Philadelphia just fifty
Years ago tomorrow.
There were five different classes
of men, all imbued with the Hottest
ideals. who were gathered together to
organize the new national party-they
were the "Free.soilers," "Abolition-
ists,' Democrats" "Whigs" and
"know-nothings," the Wings being the
most largely represented. Had they
not been actuated by the highest mo-
tlves, these men, entertaining views
at such variance, would never have
made the concessions which finally
resulted in the naming and launching
of the Republican party.
The national Republican convention
at Philadelphia June 18th, 1856 (anni.
versary. by the way, of the battle of
Bunker Hill, significant coincidence)
finally adopted simple platform, but
one fraught with tremendous conse-
quences. 1t was a declaration of hos.
tility to the extension Of slavery and
hostility to polygamy; favored free
homesteads for the people. advocated
the building of transcontinental rail.
roads, and nominated John G. Fremont
for president.
How inspiring they were, how
worthy these noble men to become
successors to the heroic founders of
the republic, as they shouted "free
soil, free labor, free speech. freemen
and Fremont. This is our slogan;
with 1t inscribed upon our banner, we
will fight on and fight ever, until tri-
umphant victory shall reward our ex-
ertions.'
Nothing of good can come from re-
iteration of the narrowing details of
blood and hate of the dreadful civil
war. l often think that the wounds
would have healed more quickly had T
less been said about it in days gone
by by those who sought subjects es-
pecially suited to oratorical periods.
The bivouacs of the dead" both north
and south, can never be forgotten.
The tears can never be wiped away;
the broken hearts can payar bo 70