Year: 1873

as | have before said shall not now, in ad-


vance of the report of the committee, attempt
to suggest specific remedies for evils that are


undergoing investigation.


In the New York World the leading Demo
cratic paper, of the 18th instant is an elabor-


ate editorial declaring that the farmers move


ment can never grow 10 the dimensions of


national party, but must necessarily fall into


one of the other parties, and suggesting meth


odS by which the Democratic party can cap


ture it. quote the concluding paragraph:


" The chief value of the farmers movement


consists in its efficiency as disntegrating


force in the Republican party. In a State like


Iowa, where the Republicans have majority


of nearly 90, 900, or two to one, it would be a


long time before the Democratic party could


rise to ascendaney. But if, in the years when


the Presidential election is yet at distance,


vigorous new party arises on State issues,


split will nave been accomplished without


shocking old prejudices; and when national


questions come into the foreground, the


people will be free to follow their affinites."


Here is the bold avowal that the farmers


movement is good for nothing exceptto divide


and destroy the Republican party; that for
this purpose 1t is to be encouraged; that it


can be used as wedge to split the Republican


party open, and when that is done the part
split of can be turned over for the benefit of
ee-trade and Democratic uses generally. The
expressions complained of by the farmers and
The object they propose TO attain are treated
with the utmost contempt; but the Democracy


in the West ale advised to use these to divide
| the Republican party. Nothing could be more
frank nor yet more insulting than the pro-
clamation of the World. Having vainly en-
deavored to obtain power last year by using


the Liberals and protesting to adopt their
principles, they this year spat in their faces
and kicked them out, and have kindly notified
the farmers that they will serve them in the
same way. The farmers will, | have no doubt
take notice.


have before compared the Democratic par
ty to a man riding backward in the cars, who
never sees an object until he has passed it. 1t


now stands with its back to the future and its
lace to the past.


While the Republican party viii continue to
reply TO the fire in the rear, its face is turned
I to the future, full of hope and promise There
must be no cessation in Its laoors, and it must
not presume to live upon the glories and mem


orieS of the past. Its first and every present


duty is introspection, self-examination, the


correction of errors, the introduction of re-


forms 1t must look to the execution of the


laws and the enforcement of the Constitution


III every part of the nation. 1t must look to


the protection of the colored people in the en-
Joyment of their civil and political rights un-


der the amendments to the Constitution.


1t must look to the restoration of the cur


rency by the gradual return TO specie payment


"a return so gradual, however, as not TO dis


turb the business of the country and precipi-


tate commercial disaster. 1t must look to the
restoration of our foreign commerce among


the Southern States. 1t must look to such


amendments of the tariff from time to time as


changing circumstances require, so adjusting
it that, while revenue is the primary
object, neither the domestic nor the
! foreign manufacturer shall secure a
monopoly of our markets. 1t should insti-


tute a searching inquiry into the condition
of education in the Southern States in some
of which there is now practically no educa-
ton for the masses. 1t should carefully con-
slider all the grievances complained of by the
agricultural interests of the Western and
Southern States, that it may furnish remedies
for them, so far they may lie within the
jurisdiction of Congress, or of the several
States. 1t should carefully consider the ques
ton of so amending the Constitution of the
United States in regard to the election
of President and Vice President as
to remedy the defects which experience has
pointed out, avert the dangers with which all
admit the present plan Is surrounded, bring
that election nearer TO the people, and make
it the more certainly to represent the popular
WILL And while asserting the existence of
the nation and the just powers of the national
Government, it should ever be vigilant to pre-
serve in all their just extent the rights and
powers of the States, ever carrying before it
a lamp to guide its steps those great funda-
mental principles which have given to the
party its power and its glory: Equal rights
to all-equal and exact justice to all men"