The Republican journal., 1912-10-10

ing the policies Of the two parties, and /
am afraid that is the case today with
very large number of voters. The ten
years spent in Washington were educa-
tional. To succeed as special corre-
spondent at the National Capitol, know
ledge of the political history of the coun-
try is essential, as we'll as keeping in
touch with current affairs. ! represent
ed at times both Republican and Demo-
cratic newspapers, with the understand
ing that I was to report matters as
l saw them without catering to any
party or faction, and was fortunate in
having the friendship and confidence of
James Blaine, Senator John B.
Gordon of Georgia and many others. Re-
publicans and Democrats. l was in
Washington during the reconstruction of
the Southern States and the Hayes and
Tilden controversy. when there were
threats of bloodshed, but which was
finally settled by the electoral commits
sion. The manner in which the Demo-
Gratis managed their side of this case did
much to turn me from the Democratic
party. They sent men into the disputed
Southern State in whom no one who
knew them would place any confidence,
and the correspondent of leading DEM
ocratic newspaper who was admitted to
the inner councils of that party in Wash
ington was so disguised with what went
on that he finally refused to attend. The
occupants of the reporters galleries in
the Senate and House, although repre-
senting papers Of various shades of po-
litical opinion, were practically unani-
nous in their estimates of men and
measures. AS to men, Blaine was ad-
mired by all; but if Conkling had friend
among the newspaper men never heard
of him. At this time l should have
called myself an Independent, but should
have resented being called mugwump.
In the winter of 1889 contracted
malaria and was able to do but little
work. l was looking forward to spend
ing the summer in Belfast, as usual,
when VIM. H: Simpson wrote early in
the spring of 1879 and asked me to take
the editorship of The Republican Journal.
He said the political course of the paper
was undecided and he would like me to
come as soon as possible to talk the
matter over. The Journal up to that
time had been Democratic paper, but
the Democratic party had then aban-
doned its hard money policy and gone
over to Greenbackism. The Republican
party on the other hand stood for an
honest dollar. My belief then was that
the business interests of the country
would not stand for debased currency
and that Greenbackism would be short
lived; and after talking the situation
over Mr.. Simpson announced IN the edi-
torial columns his change of party al
legiance. And so The journal became in
fact as we'll as in name The Republican
Journal, and Mr.. Simpson, "born a
Whig,'' and the writer, 'born Demo-
crat," became affiliated with the Repub-
lican party. My first vote was cast for
Garfield for president, and have never
failed to cast straight Republican tick
ct at every election held since then.
When l review the record the Republi-
can party has made l am proud of my
affillation with it. 1t restored the Union
after the greatest war the world has
ever seen, and the enormous debt created
for its preservation was paid so rapidly
that the per cent bonds of the govern
ment were sold at the rate of Is per
cent in excess of their par. value. 1t
provided pensions for the surviving SOL |
diers and sailors of the Civil War. 1t
resumed specie payments and made the
greenbacks as good as gold the world
over. Under the Republican protective
tariff system the country has grown and
prospered as no other country has ever
done, and it is more prosperous today
than at any period in its history. 1t has
been opposed at every step by the
Democratic party. That party opposed
emancipation; it opposed the homestead
laws, the policy of making grants of
lands to agricultural colleges, the return
to specie payments, the national bank
system, the system of improving the
rivers and harbors at the public expense,
and many other measures for the public
good. When in power it has brought
upon the country disaster and financial
troubles. The Republican party is the
party Of progress and prosperity.
CHARLES A. PILSBURY.