Year: 1878

The Lesson Of the Hour.


The elections for 1878 are over, they
have passed into the domain Of history, and
the page that records the result will be a
bright one in the glorious record Of the
Republican party. The triumphs Of the
Republican party have always been the
triumphs Of truth over error, OF justice and
right over violence and fraud; Of the peo-
pie over cliques and coterics Of unprin-
cipled politicians. It has in times past
committed grave errors land what human
organization is free from them) but they
have been Of the head only. The great
heart OF the organization has always beat
responsive TO the high principles OF
national unity, honor and integrity.
It has been the incorporating foe of
every scheme that threatened the bright
ness OF tho one or the perpctuity OF the
other. With the sword it crushed the
traitors who assailcd the life OF the nation;
with the ballot it has crushed the DEM
agogues who had the cirrontcry to assail
its honor. The Republican party faithfully
represents the intelligence us well as the
integrity OF the American people. 1t has
never been mistaken in its estimate OF the
patriotism OF the country. 1t has ever
made its battles upon the lofty plane OF
principle, and gathered around its banners
not only its!own immense army, but has
increased lis ranks bya large force OF Dem.
ocrats who were disguised with their own
party.


in the campaign which has just closed,
the Republican party stood persistently
and untlinchingly by the credit OF the ma.
ton, and for honest payment of the ma
tional debt and honest money alike for
the bondhollcr, the merchant, the artiza Ii
and the laborer. This was its battle. On
the other hand, the Democratic party cut
loose from every principle OF sound States
manship, planted its banner upon the shift
ing sands Of popular passion and preju-
dice. It's leaders lost sight of everythin 6
but the attainment OF their selfish ends.
Statistics and the facts Of history were
perverted and distored in order to rouse
the discontcnted masses. The laboring
poor were taught that the CONNER
cial disasters, the wreck and ruin
of business enterprise and their enforced
idlencss, with its consequent sorrows, were
chargeable to the shortcomings OF the
Republican party. In itswillingncss to pan
der to the lowest instincts Of the ignorant
and vicious classes, the Democratic party
lost confidence in itself, became utterly
iemoralizcd, surrendered whatever was
left to it OF principle and gave its active
support and its moral influence (so far as
it had any) to the Greenback craze, the
dream OF demagogues, the mere pretext in
tended to catch the votes OF the laboring
poor All this made the contest both
formidable and uncertain, but the end has
proved the wisdom OF the attitude OF the
Republican party. Grccnbackism has
been mercilessly squelched; it has
passed through the fire and left
nothing behind it but the ashes
of the Democratic party. This is as
it should be, and ere long the laboring
classes will recognize that the success OF
tile greenback idec, OF irrcdeemable paper,
would have been to them an unmitigated
curse. In so far as the representatives, Of
the people have been elected By the people,
the Republican party has made great
gains. Democratic gains represent only
the violent overthrow Of elections and the
revolutionary acts Of fraud and villainy.
Wherever there has been freedom in cleo
tions it has been irrefragably proven that
the Republican party is the only party
that can rule by the election Of the people,
and that has cohesion OF honest principles
TO enable it to rule.


In the elections OF Tuesday the Republic
can party has renewed its strength; the
Greenback party has eliminated in defeat,
and the Democratic party, having cast oil
all pretense OF principle to amalgamate with
The Grcenbackers, must perish with them.


All these signs show that the Republi-
can party is rising, and that it will sweep
the country at the next election OF Presi-
dent and Congress.