Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1873 — The Duty of Republicans. [ARTICLE]

The Duty of Republicans.

Harper’s Weekly for the 27 th contains an able review of “the political situation” from a purely Republican standpoint. After setting forth in a few well chosen words and sentences of manly vigor the labors accomplished by the Republican party, and showing that it has completely triumphed over all and every opposition until it is absolutely without a rival in the land, the writer, who is probably Sir. Curtis, says: The danger of the Republican party is not from without* but from within. It is not wise to forget thataconsiderable vote wascast last year for General Grant under protest, and 'that the object of that vote has been achieved. The intelligent and consciencious opinion, which lias always been and is now the Republican strength, is very independent, and wears ifghtly the jmrty cockade. It does not value the party, but the purpose for which it has been sustained. The best men in the country have supported the Republican party, because they felt that by so doing they served in the most practicable way liberty and public morality. And so long as they feel this they will continue to support-.it. But when they cease to feel it the party can count upon them no longer. Vain will be the thunder of the party tom-tom. It has no terror for those who do not seek place or plunder.— The Union is not now imperiled.— Emancipation is secure. Repudiation is a dream. The re-election of the President has dissipated the hope of reaction. The Republican party is not now bound together by the overshadowing dangers of the recent years, andi - can therefore maintain its present unquestioned ascendency only by the character of its administration. If it should be seen that the .national patronage .controls local politics more and more, despite the claim of a reform of the civil service; if recognized representatives of the'national administration in the various States and in Congress should not command, because they would not deserve, general respect and confidence; if continuous Republican victories at the polls should not stay the torrent of corruption, and bring the best character, ability, training, and experience into the management of public affairs then the earnest patriotism that made the Republican party would make another, which would gloriously continue the work that the Republican party gloriously began. Every Republican, however, who knows the practical value of an existing and efficient organization, and who honors the party name and tradition, will do what he ca'li to have the party represented by its best men and held to its highest aim. This can be done only by refusing to support improper nominations, however "regular” they may be, and by Vigorously censuring all improper action upon the part of Representatives. Let every voter remember that managers do not make a party, and that the only way to control them is to defeat them. If they find that bad men are not supported,they vnirhdininate good men. And if, by the refusal to support their action, the opposition succeeds, it is the managers, not the voters, who are responsible. This kind of independence was never so easy as it is now. The present duty of Republicans is not so much to support the party as to insist and to take care that the'party shall be worthy of support. " ■«.

The latest Democratic dodge is the accusation that the Republican party seduced Democratic members of Congress from the paths of virtue, and led them into the Back Pay wickedness. Naughty, naughty, Republicans! Poor unfortunate, misguided Democrats! What a pity it is, their tender, yielding, compliant natures were ever brought into contact with the destroyers of virtue at the National capital, and their glittering, greenback, salary swag temptations! It was a sin to expose Democrats to such dangers, and we hope the people will keep them out of mischief hereafter, by kegping them at home.— Lo<jan»port Journal.