Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1876 — FACTS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THINKING MEN. [ARTICLE]

FACTS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THINKING MEN.

It will be an act of wisdom fur every patriotic citizen, who believes in the unity and perpetuity of the United. States as a nation, to consider carefully the lessons taught by the late presidential campaign. The excitement incident to a most hotly contested canvass has largely passed away, and all are now better qualified to leason dispassionately, and weigh in a juster balance the character of the issues. To take general survey of the principles and policies that characterize opposing parties is, essentially, the basis of all true and logical investigation.

The antagonism existing between the republican and democratic parties is organic and irrepressible. It is not merely a conflict of party policies or expedients that distinguishes them; but it is a conflict of opposing principles which are inwrought in the very structure of the parties themselves, and are, therefore, essential to their existence. In many Important respects two parties could ‘not be more diverse. Indeed the avowed principles and doctrines of the democratic party necessitated the existence of the republican party. When the democratic party proved recreant to the trusts of thenational union, and employed its influence and strength in the purpose and effort to establish a Confederacy upon the ruins of a seggregated country, the perils and exigencies of that dark and trying hour demanded the establishment of a political organization which should represent the patriotism of the citizens of the republic and their loyalty to the principles of justice human rights. Although the birth of the republican party was prior to the commission of overt acts of rebellion by members of the democratic party those acts afforded an opportunity to proclaim to the world its faith in the perpetuity of the government of the United States upon the basis of an inseperable unity of the states. The republican party promptly became the champion of this doctrine, and in all the subsequent trying years of its existence, whether in war or in peace, it has proven itself to be the faithful warden of the Union as well as the able exponent of the doctrii.es ot humanity and equal civil and political rights.

From the iactu of our national history it conclusively apitears that the points ot antagonism between these two great parties involve issues vital to the existence of the nation as a union of states, opposed to the doctrine of state sovereignty. If the doctrine of the democratic party, as that party has expressed and illustrated it during the past sixteen years, be true to the genius and constitution of our government, then is our Elation merely a confederation of states to which no single state is compelled to adhere in opposition to its own will. But the doctrine of republicanism being constitutionally true, then our nation is a union of states indissolubly fixed by constitutional principles, and the will of each several state is subordinate to the general government.

These contending parties have made history enough to define and verify their characters, and establish their positions before the world. To the democratic party belongs the infamous fugitive slave law of 1850; the repeal of the Missouri compromise, of 1854; the border ruffian outrages of 1855-6; the Lecompton constitution and barbarous Dred Scott decision, of 1857; the revolutionary doctrine of 1860 that there was no constitutional power to coerce a rebellious state and compel her to remain in the tut ion; the disparaging and persistent opposition to every essential war measure for the preservation of the Union until in the Chicago convention off. 864 when the climax of infamy was crowned with the dec-

laration that “the four years’ war “to restore the unioii was a failure “and ought to be abandoned.’’ To that party belongs the long continued opposition to the abolition of slavery with its record ot merciless disregard of the sufferings, degradation and unrequited toil of millions of human beings. Characteristic was its opposition to the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the constitution,declaring them irregularly adopted and, therefore, that they ought to be considered nugatory. The demo-, u ratio party gave urgent counsel to the people of the south not to accept the reconstruction of the states that had gone into rebellion. To the democratic party belong, and are its legitimate offspring, the kuklux marauding, intimidation and murders that in all the arts of cruelty and torture have excelled, the darkest, most fiendish, deeds of crime known to the annals ot civilization on the American continent in times of peace. To it belong th# indescribable hofrors of Libby and Andersonville, before which the blocdiest scenes of savage barbarity blanches into whiteness. To it belongs the shotgun policy which organized rifle clubs throughout the southern states enrolling many thousand men; these clubs, drilled, armed and officered, have, by terror, brutality and murders, robbed tens of thousands of citizens, white and black, of the right of conscientious suffrage in 1876. And, to-day, from the highest sources of democratic influence and authority throughout "the country is heard threatenings of war and assassination should Gov. Hayes rather than Gov. Tilden be >e«hed by the returning JUoanl of Louisiana to have carriedAhat state upon a just count of the fair and legal ballots. This history, from first to last, is consistent with itself. It is an unbroken record of consonant facts, portraying the character and aims of a political party which insists that it shall be entrusted with the administration of the government 1 at all hazards. May the God ot nations shield this people from the hypocrisy that would cloak such a record under the pretense of reiorm, and enable all to see that what the democratic party is the republican party is not I

Those editors of republican newspapers who refer to the governor elect of Indiana as Old Indigo Jim exhibit neither wit nor good breeding. Mr. Williams may be uncouth in appearance, illiterate and wear unfashionable clothing, but a majority of the citizens of this state have elected him to perform the duties of its highest office. For this reason, if considerations of common politeness are not taken into account, he is entitled to respectful treatment. Slang terms and insolent manners iyay have attractions for base and vulgar minds, but they disgust well-bred and minded people. Certain members of the republican press of this state, and notably among them ace the Indianapolis jo»rual and Kentland Gazette, would do well to elevate the tone of their conversation when speaking of their political opponents.

David A. Fawcett of Delphi, was employed at jour work in The Union offief only a little more than a year ago; now he advertises money to loan in sums of 81,000 to 85,000. Energy, enterprise and business tact are strongly marked traits in the young gentleman’s character. May he ever be successful. “All of us democrats are going to. “stop The Union,” said, he, while his cardinal nose took on a deeper tinge of sun-set glow. All right, gentlemen; let us part as personal friends though we be political enemies, and here’s thanks fpr all past favors. Hurrah for liberality, free speech, a free pFess, andl reform. • \ ■. - A