Year: 1866

THE MISSION OF THE UNION PARTY.


Some people are so foolish as to suppose
that the mission Of the Republican or Union
party of this country has been accomplished.
and that the organization cannot be expected
much longer to exist. No doubt with most
who entertain this opinion the wish is father
to the thought, but it is possible that few
Republicans have, without much considers
ton, given some currency to it, 1t is said that
we started out simply to keep slavery out Of
the Territories, and that afterwards, when
slavery and treason united to destroy the
Government, we declared for the overthrow
Of both together, and that having accomplish.
Q the most that we could have hoped for, in
this direction our work is Gone Not so. There
IS no reason why great, patriotic, p.ogres.
sive, hberty.loving party, such as ours is,
should not be permanent. When we have
accomplished one great measure, let us turn
to the work Of accomplishing another. 1t
should be the aim and mission of the Union
party, ever to stand by, guard and protect the
rights OF the people, the whole people, with.
out regard to race, color or religion, and If
SUCH be its aim, it cannot cease to exist as
long as there is wrong, oppression, prejudice
and injustice to fight against. When there is
no class of men in this country who wish to
trample upon the tignts OF the poor and ig-
norant: when all men shall stand as perfect
equals before the law throughout the entire
Union; when justice, liberty, humanity,
equality, shall become the watchwords of the
whole people; then, perhaps, there may be
no longer any need Of such political or
ganization as the Unioa party.


Because we have accomplished such glori-
Gus results in the past, shall we, therefore,
cease all efforts for the future? Because we
have in few years brought together and ozez
ganized party, the greatest and most p NJ
ertul the country ever saw, shall we, there
fore, d;ahaad and .hruw away our power, or
shall We not rather continue to use it for
good? Let the Union party stand firmly as
the party of progress and humanity, and it
must not only continue to exist, but it must
grow from year to year in strength and in the
affections of the people. 1t must continue
to be the party Of civilization. 1t must stand
upon absolute justice as its platform. linus:
not fell to proclaim always and everywhere,
the fundamental truths which lie at the base
of our institution 1t must draw its inspira-
ton form the Declaration of Independence
and the Constitution of the United States,
and must not be afraid to proclaim its faith
in the golden rnls, as tie psst possible politi-
cal economy. 1t should never be afraid to 60
before the people and ask them to do right,
simply because it is right.


Animated by such sentiments as these, the
Union party has before 1t yet o great and
glorious work to do; work in The cause of
Justice and liberty, and ii would be an act of
inexcusable wrong to throw away at this crisis
any of the strength and prestige of such
parry


Ii our past as party has been glorious,
let our future be equally so. In the past we
see as the results Of the Republican organi-
cation, slavery abolished, the homeste tesd law.
the Pacific railroad. the Civil Rights bill, re-
bellon crushed, our Government sustained
through four years Of war, its honor maintain
ed at home, and its power respected and
feared abroad. With such record, the party
cannot disband; it must. if true to itself and
the people, live long and make its future what
its past las peen.