Year: 1868

The first characteristic of life every
where is change, growth, adaptation to
modifying circumstances and events.
The point which marks the end of
change in body or a mind, in society
or party, is the end of its lite. That
this change shall be true growth that
every movement shall be in the line of
development and manifestation of the
principles it embodies, and which jus
tify its existence, is the responsibility
of those who control and direct it.


-Four years ago the Republican party
declared to the country its deternfna-
tion that the rebellion should be sup
pressed by force of arms; that slavery
should be extirpated from the land that
the soldiers of the Republic, after sa-
wing it from destruction, should them
selves be honored and protec ed by the
people, and should be forever dear in
memory and, that, in the financial ad-
ministration of the government, the
leading princi Piles should be faithfuIness
to all our obligations, and a jealous
care of the national honor.


The voice of the people sanctioned
this declaration at the time with an
emphasis which admitted no question;
and the history of the nation from that
day until now has been the fulGlment
of it. There has been no instance in
American politics in which the march
of events has with such rapidity and
thoroughness left behind it the absorb
ing questions of one Presidential cam
paign before entering the next. Re-
bellion has been suppressed by force of
arms; slavery has been extlrpated from
the land the soldiers of the Republic
are at rest from war, and are only dis
tinguished from the whole body of cit
izens into which they have quietly mer-
ged, by the honor of their past achieve
ments and the grateful remembrance of
the nation.


OF the great questions of 1864 which
are still alive and likely to enter into
the canvass of 1868, there remains only
that Of our financial system. The out
line of it, as then traced by the people
in their wise resolve to be upright and
honest, stands still unimpaired in their
convictions and will; and even those
who few months ago hoped that the
people would be corrupted by the bur-
dens now SO heavy upon them, and
would confer power upon shameless
teachers of dishonesty, are already
nearly sileDced by their indignant as
sertion Of their honor and truth,


What then remains for the Republi-
can party of the day7 Shall it adopt
the language of men who say that its
work is doneY Shall it rest content
with its achievements, and ask to be
dismissed into history with an honor
able epitaph !? Its answer is contained
in the resolutions of the Chicago con-
vention, and it seems reasonable to ex-
pect that the people will accept it as
the worthy and proper answer.


For the Republican party has its ex-
istence, not in a mere protest against a
passing form of wrong, but in the
affirmation of right; not in opposition
to human slavery, but in the direct
avowal of civil and political equality.
Slavery, in the form of conspiracy |
against the Republic, is put down.
Slavery, in the form of an oligarchy |
insulting human nature and poisoning
politicalthought with sophisms to prove
that might makes right, is dead. But
it has left a great estate, divided now
among many heirs; and SO long as a
fragment of its property in ideas or Of
its property in influence remains to
block up the way of human freedom in
its broadest, fullest movement, so long
there is work to do for the party of