Year: 1875

Inc Republlcan party, as political Or
ganization, dates its history from 1856.
1t came into power March A. 1861, and
from that time to the present, it has
been responsible for the administration
of national affairs.


Has it been faithful to its trust? This
question has been passed upon by the
people three times since 1861 First, in
1864, in Mr.. Lincoln's reelection; sec
ond, in 1868, at the election of General
Grant; third, in 1872, when the people
returned the present incumbent by the
largest popular majority ever given to
President. Thus it would appear that
up to 1872, at least, the people had an
abiding faith in Republicanism and by
their votes proclaimed to the world that
the party had been faithful to its trust.
Has it done anything since the last pop
ular endorsement, to forfeit the conf
dence and good will of the American
people? We think not, for we believe
its public services have been as faithfully
performed since 1872, as they were be-
fore. If it has made mistakes, it has
been quick to correct them-and in this
it has shown desire to conform to the
wishes of a nation that has entrusted it
with power for the past fourteen years.
This prompt reflection of the popular
will has been leading trait in the char
acter of Republicanism. All its public
measures have been based upon public
wants, and to discover these wants, and
to administer to them. have been the
chief aim and object of the party


As we are on the eve of political cam
paign whose issues are to have direct
bearing on the Presidential campaign of
1876, it is well to briefly review the past
history of the Republican party, and to
again ask the question, "has it been
faithful to its trust p


The trust confded to its care in 1861,
was the nation itself. Never was more
sacred trust given to party to keep, and
never has one been guarded with equal
fidelity, or with more religious care


To this fidelity and this care the peo-
pie of the United States are indebted for
the Government they now enjoy. 1t
must ever remain as a recognized fact
worthy of historic preservation, that the
Republican party took up the theory of
self-government and made it grand
success, at the very moment when De-
mocracy proclaimed it a failure.


Democracy had abandoned all hopes of
saving the Union, had announced its will
lingness to see its bonds severed, had
proclaimed its determination to make no
efforts to stay the tide that was sweeping
the nation to certain destruction, when
the loyal people called the Republican
party into power and gave into its hands
a trust which Democracy was about to
betray.


nation without credit at home and
abroad, its treasury nearly bankrupt, its
currency insecure, its navy scattered, its
army small and demoralized, its authori-
ty repudiated and defied in eleven States,
its Southern forts and arsenals in the
hands of insurgents, powerful political
party which had been instrumental in
bringing about this disastrous state of
affairs-holding sufficient influence to
prevent unity of action, was a fair pic
ture of the condition of the trust when
Republicans came into power.


1t was a moment of extreme peril to
the nation-the darkest period in its his
tory. True, the enthusiasm of the loyal
millions as they rallied to the support of
the Union, lightened up this period of
gloom, but the actual danger which be-
set the Union was greater than any be-
fore encountered. The South was in
open rebellion and the North was divided
in sentiment The Democratic party
maintained its organization, and used it
to encourage the South and to discour-
age the efforts of the North. Yet in the
face of almost insurmountable obstacles,
the Republican. party followed the die
tates of loyalty and justice, and turned
neither to the right nor the left until the
rebellion was crushed, and the Union
saved Therefore, to the Republican
party, to its wisdom and fidelity, its pa
triotism and courage, the people owe the
existence of the Union. If it had no
other claim on the gratitude of the ma
ton than this one of preserving its ma
tionality, it should outweigh all the
claims of Democracy, and entitle it to
the confidence and support of every loyal
American citizen.


But it has other claims. 1t has not
only organized the means for saving the
nation, in the face of the greatest rebel
lion of modern times, but it has, by the
operation Of wise laws and liberal poll
cy, developed growth of material pros
perity rarely equaled in the history of
nations.


The financial operations of the Gov
ernment since 1861, illustrates in mark
ed degree the wonderful resources of the
nation, and the integrity of the party
that has been responsible for the admin
istration of public affairs The armed
rebellion of eleven States which con-
fronted the Republican party when it as
sumed control, necessitated eXtraordina-
ry expenses on the part of the Govern
ment, and to meet these expenses, the
collection of extraordinary revenues.
There was no alternative but heavy ex-
penditures and great sacrifices, or uni
versal bankruptcy and national extinc-
ton. True the full force of the terrible