E 675 R467 1872 MAIN IRLF B 3 53fi DD7 Ram W THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, TI1E ClYILIIATIOl AND NATIONAL PROGRESS. INTRODUCTORY. As the Greeks, in their earlier and better days, met every fourth year to engage n the Olympic contests, which crystalized traditions, renewed the pledges of patriotic devotion, and awakened intellectual and dra matic activity ; so are we about to engage in a quad rennial contest, which involves a general review and discussion of political questions in every township of our land. Whether the campaign shall be profitable to the government and nation; whether the iucuming admin istration shall receive new political ligbi and instruc tion ; and whether our citizens shall come out of the contest more patriotic and better qualified to discharge their electoral functions, depends very much upon the Rttnner in which public questions are presented. It is true, efforts are being made to usher in a warfare of Of d odors which even the Chinese have abandoned ; to draggle the flags in the mire; and to overwhelm the J frter and honest judgment of the voters bv the vehe ment explosion of vile epithets; but confident of the intelligence of our citizens, we shall pass by these ef forts with silent contempt, and present the affirmative Issues of the campaign tor discussion not concussion, so that prejudice may be laid aside and the contest de cided upon the merits of the great cause. The demands of civilization upon government are umerous, complicated, and ever increasing, and the zperirnent of popular self-government has very rarely cceeded. Ours, in fact, is the only government upon large scale which is peacefully administered and lely dependent upon the intelligence, virtue and iriotism of ail the people. AuU inasmuch aa the bal lot of (he ignorant and vicious man counts as much a^ that of the wisest and greatest, a great responsibility rests upon thp honest citizen to exert all his influence to everoalance the vicious elements of society, aud to sus tain those principles of administration, which lead to national permanency and greatness. Not only is our own national and individual security and prosperity at stake, but also that of all future generations. It is not merely the right, but the imperative dutyol each citizen to demand a truthful exhibit of the stew ardship of the. Republican party and the administra tion which executed its will ; and for this purpose we present herewith a bird s eye view of its activities, tendencies, aud achievements in the various branches of governmental affairs. But as all political docu ments must be brief to receive general perusal, we only give the outlines, which each reader can fill out with collateral suggestions. A SKETCH OF DEMOCRATIC TIMES. Foremost aruoug these achievements we place all legislative acts to secure the personal freedom of the citizen, but before we can realize the progress made in this direction we must briefly sketch the political situa tion. Only ten years ago, between three and four mil- liuns of human beings were subject to bargain and sale like the cattle of the Geld, and prohibited by law from learning even to read or write; the press, lb.8 forum, and eveu the pulpit, in more than one-half o| the Union, defended this accursed tyranny ; freedom of discussion was entirely suppressed in ;he South, and accompanied by perils in the North ; the strong arm of the government was invoked to thrust back into this seething hell of slavery all ventursome vio tims who fled across the border ; and a gigantic rebel lion was deliberately organized to uphold this crime against civilization. When Lincoln was inaugurated, tbe nation was without armament or supplies ; with out an army or a navy ; and without money, or credit abroad. VVell do we recollect the insolent proposal of the London Tone* which stated, that if the Americans were determined to cat each others throats, England might be induced to loan the North fifty millions of dollars, if it pawned its growing wheat crop; and to the Poutb H double amount as a mortgage upon its cot- Uiu. Treachery and treason lurked, aot only in the Executive Departments but had even saturated a large, wealthy, powerful, and talented minority of the North. New systems had to be created under difficulties so great and an opposition so fierce, that the achieve ments of the American people as represented by the Republican organization shine forth like a constella tion of suns illumining the political pathway of all future generations. LEGISLATION FOR PERSONAL LIBERTY. On the 4th of July, 1861, Lincoln assembled Con gress in extra session which was chiefly devoted to the Inauguration of war measures, but during the long session a series of acts followed in rapid succession, striking at the slave system. As early as August, 1861, an act was passed to free all slaves used in aid of the rebellion. In the succeeding March, our military. and naval officers were prohibited from returning the fugi tive slaves that might seek the protection of our flag ; and in April, the National Capital was forever freed from the bligh-ting influences of human slavery. These measures were followed by acts more radical as rapidly as they were sustained by public opinion. The statute of June, 10th, 1862, swept slavery from all the Territories of the United States, and thus, Jefferson s Ordinance of 1787, was reaffirmed as the policy of the National government ; and the act of January 28, 1864, repealed the fugitive slave act, which for years had been a blot upon our National escutcheon. Thus sla vey was inhibited wherever the National Government had exclusive jurisdiction, and the hesitation of Con gress to strike it down in the rebel and border States, was owing to its intrenchment behind the theory of State Rights, and the support it received from tho Democratic minority in the North, which in the fall ot 1602, carried ihc elections in a number of States. In January, 1860, Lincoln s Emancipation Proclamation was issued, which virtually abolished slavery, but to place ih.2 per&onal liberty of the freedmen beyond the reach of party majorities and Congressional interfer ence, tho Thirteenth Constitutional amendment was adopted and ratified every Republican State legisla- Jwre endorsing and every Democratic State rejecting fills great charter of personal liberty. It is true this constitutional compact struck the fet- Jers from the slaves in law, but it soon became evident jjhat without enfranchisement their liberty would be jut nominal and a mockery, because, under vagrant *nd other oppressive laws, their former masters, who wera the sole law-givers, would make the situation*^ the freedmen, in a material point of \riew, evea worse than before. Thus the alternative was presented of maintaining a standing army to enforce the Thirteenth Amendment, or to g-ive the ballot to the freedmen foi their own protection. It was considered a dangerous experiment, and the struggle was long and fierce. The Fourteenth Amendment was adopted as a compromise; but in January, 1867, despite tho veto dnd active op position of Johnson, who, after his apostacy traduced these measures and the party, if not with the same ability certainly with equal ze;il, as the malcontents of the Ssnate do to-day; an act was adopted enfranchising the freedmen in all the Territories of the United States. In February, 1869, the personal freedom and the right of self-government was secured to all citizens b7 the ratification of the Fifteenth Constitutional Amend* ment; and thus the work of a century waa crowded into five years. FOR EDUCATION. Next to the franchise stands education. As edge tools are dangerous to children, so tho ballot is a meu nsof destruction to the ignorant and vicious. The Republican party is fully alive to the vital importance of this subject; and if it has not accomplished till that its most progressive leaders have advocated, it has made decided progress in the right direction. Already in May, 1862, finding, that at the National Capital, the public school system had been squelched by slavery, which lived upon the degradation of the laboring classes, both white and black, Congress ordered that a sufficient amount of taxes be levied and apportioned for the support of free schools for both classes. Up to that time the Capital cf the nation, with nearly a hundred thousand inhabitants, owned not a single suitable and comfortable school building; the blacks, of course, were not taught, and the few schools popularly called pauper and ragged schools that \ver maintained by the proceeds of fines and the dog tax, wero situated in shop and stable lofts. Now we have a number of well appointed school hoases, both for the whites and the blacks, and the educational sya terns of both hare made reasonable progress. In Jr.ly, 18G2, tho act was passed which donated large tracts of lands for the maintainanco of Agricul tural and Mining schools in the various States and Territories. In some States these colleges have at tained a high degree of useful uess, while the germs a progress have been planted in all. In January, 1863, when large numbers of soldiers were quartered i:i Washington, a free library and reading room for the use of soldiers and sailors was established. In tha following March, Howard University was incorporated, whose usefulness to the colored race has been very great. It affords the aspiring youth cf that proscribed race proscribed by public sentiment in many places yet an opportunity to study law, medicine and science in a manner so thorough that ita graduates will tale high rank among those of other Universities. Tid graduates of that institution will do credit, not only to their race, but to the American nation. In 1866, -ae Department of Education-vwas established, which, o.?- though it is yet circumscribed in scope, and hampered by inadequate appropriations, will become, as its ob jects are better comprehended, one of the most import ant branches of government. Its reports are highly esteemed in Europe, and the one for 1S72, contains a Dumber of educational ideas of great value, and indis pensable statistical information. Still going in the same direction, a measure has passed the House setting apart the proceeds from the sale of the National domain, in support of public schools. This act ts of two-fold value, because it will have, ia addition to its direct benefits, a tendency to prevent the further alienation of the public domain. Every educator will hereafter insist, that if appro priations for railways and other projects shall be made, they must not be aided by robbing Ihe school fund. Before the late rebel S-tates were re-admitted they were compelled, as a part of the fundamental compact. between them and the United States, to engraft pro- visions into their new State Constitutions fora perma nent public school system for all classes. Already has Massachusetts ushered in a new but parallel sys tem of schools the kindergarten, industrial and poly technic school system, which will be the emancipator of labor from ignoraaco, and. therefore, from servi tude. FOR THE W0UKINOMAN. As ;i rock projected into the center oi a still body of water moves, ia ever increasing circles, the entire sur face; EO the emancipation of three million of laboring men, was an act of such stupendous moral force that its influences were fclt to the furthest boundaries of the globe. Rnssia-, comprising one seven-th part of the inhabitable globe, and with a homogeneous population oi a hundred millions, felt first ibis moral power, and the fetters fell from the ser-fs. The Czar, taking cour age from our example, wrought out this great and beneficent tn asure even at the risk of his throne, for the serf-holding nobility were exceedingly hostile to the plan. Increased vigilance was exercised by Greut Britain to exterminate the African slave trade, and Brazil, which is to Sooth America what the United States arc to North America, at- once initiated measures for emancipation-. Cuba is now the only country in the civilized world where slavery exiso, and there the system rests upon the volcano of chronic insurrection, The workirigmen of al] hinds have taken fresh cour age, aad all their really efficient organizations of trades unions and co-operative societies, as well as the inter national organization, have been established since that The first great act for the benefit, of the workingman was passed, May 20, 1863. It is known as the home stead act, giving to actual settlers 100 acres oJ the public domain. Public sentiment had demanded this measure of beneGcience and justice at the hands nf the Democratic putty. It safely passed both Houses oil the eve of the Presidential campaign in hoGO, but the rul ing class the slave-holders demanded that it should be vetoed, and Buchanan yielded and recorded their veto being the only one ef bis administration. Subse quently all the public lands in the Southern States. comprising some forty-six millions of acres, were brought un^er the operation of the homestead act limiting, however, for two years the amount to eighty acres of $1.25 and (orty acres of $ 2.50 lands to each settler. The Hon. Geo. W. Julian, originated this measure, for the purpose of aiding the landless white end colored men to become independent of the large planters. Acts were also passed establishing what is known as the Freedmnn s Bureau, for Che relief of the destitute refugees and freedmen; and also, a joint resolution, directing that preference t-hould be given, in all public employments, to the honorably discharged soldiers and sailors of the late war. Subsequently the eight hour law was enacted, and the United States in its corporate capacity, have set the example of exacting but eight hours work from its employees, without diminution of wages. In no other country of the world have the workers so much political influence; nowhere, and at no lime have they eivoyed so many elements of material, in tellectual ai<d moral deve opments as here. The day s work of the mechanic buys fully twice as much as a day s work of the same artisan upon the continent of I urope; so tint here, if anywhere, the experiment must be worked out of making the laboring classes the equals in the enjoyment of the comforts of life, and of advancement in culture, to the professional nnd commercial classes. FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT Solon the wise Athenian lawgiver, in describing the happiest man of his times, places foremost, as the firs,* element of his buppiness. tlsat he lived in Greece,! well-ordered community. This lesson, which tb< father of historv, Herodotus, records, ought not to ti lost upon ourselves, for we are apt to underestimafc the importance of the fact, that without good govern ment there can be neither national nor individual pros peruv. Therefore, the protection of the purity of the ballot and the enjoyment of persona) security ar among the first purposes for which tree governments were instituted, and to attain this* end the Republican party hag devised varous important measures. In July, 1861, the first act wa* .signed, looking towards the suppression of the rebellion and the rc- sturution of the personal security of each citizen ; and this was followed by no leas than !w> hundred acts, known as war measures, and designed to preserve our precious inheritance, the American continent, in its entirety. These war measures alone are worthy the historic pen, but as we only iotend to chronicle the victories of peace, we pass then) b), wvth reluctance. Among the statutes, especiaHv designed to seeure per sonal freedom, are the Freed man s Bureau an A sevenA Civil Rights bills. One act, May 31, 187o, enforces the right of each citizen to vote, and provides penalties against bribery, threats, interference, or iutimi<latioa of persons entitled to vote. The act of February 28tb, 1871, which is amendatory thereto, provides fur the punishment of false registration, frauds, fraudulent election returns and false swearing. These measures, so esential to good government and in vvliicb all g.ood citizens are vitally interested, have I been opposed by Vhe Democracy with singular vehe mence and virulence. The exploded and senseless States Rights doctrine was interposed, as if it were not the first necessity of any government to have power to devise laws for its self-preservation. We admit that it is to be regretted that laws against the Ku-Klux and against Tammany election frauds are necessary ; we deplore the want of patriotism and morals which ob tains in these sections of the country; we should greatly prefer that lite would be made secure, the fran chise safe, and the ballot-box pure by the people them selves ; but if in these ignorant and unpatriotic com munities, respect for life and for the Republic has died out, no measures can be too strong to repress the evil. A government, without power to protect life and the franchise will,, necessarily, fall to pieces, and anarchy and revolution will, in due time, supercede a violated ballot-box. FOX AG1UCULTU11E. A majority of the people of the United States are engaged in the independent and konorable employment of cultivating the soil. There are about two millions Of farms, owned by their occupants, and these two millions of homes are the center of general intelligence, independence of thought, patriotism, attachment to duty and devotion to the highest interests of civiiiza- tion. These men are preeminently the nobility of our Eepublic, whose aggregate judgment, calmly and in telligently formed, coastituies one of its main supports. Before the sidveut to power of the Republican party, a few cleiks and laborers were employed in the Inte rior Department to distribute large quantities ef gar den seeds. These seeds were bought in the open Market, and distributed indiscriminately by appor tionment to Members of Congress, and were, more- ^ver, so geueraily of bad quality, that they became a ^uisance alike to the sender and receiver. In May, $862, notwithstanding the exigencies of the war, the Agricultural Department was established ; and subse- ^ueutly removed to a suitable building, surrounded by j>ropag.^ing gardens and conservatories. For some years past it has given most imporiaat aid to agiicul- ture, by its very able and accurate reports; by en couraging agricultural and horticultural associations; by the careful distribution for trial of rare setds and new grasses ; and by its etymological researches. The fact that the late Commissioner, Mr. Capron, has baen transferred tc, Japan, to organize aud teach a better system of agriculture ui the Far East, is a very high compliment, not only to him, but to the American na tion. That our light should shine so brightly that even the nations beywnd the Pacific should see the blaze, constitutes a complete answer to critics and re porters, whw to frequently pass an ex catliedra opinion iipoQ those subjects upon which they are most pro foundly tgnorant. The establishment of Agricultural colleges, with Chemical laboratories, has already been noted. The increase in wealth and general prosperity of the farm ing class has been very marked during the last tea years- The improvement* in rural architecture have been very great, and the charming villas whicb meet the eye of the traveler in the North and West are expres sive of taste and culture. This general prosperity is owing, in great part, to the fostering care of the Gene ral Government. The agricultural interest almo&t entirely escapes taxation; it having been the policy not to tax either the raw products or the producer. It is laughable to hear some limb of the law, circula ting through the country about election time, telling the farmers th ;t * they are groaning under the load of tax ation," "that every thing they use pays enormous con tributions to grasping iron, sak, and copper monopo lies," &c., repeating this wind-chopping process as long as any one will listen. The truth is, the farmer feels national taxation very lightly, and we state this, not to propitiate this class, but as a matter of fact; because no patriotic citizen shrinks from paying & proper share ot necessary taxation. Let us illustrate; Salt is taxed about fifteen cents a bushel hew much salt does an average family use per year? say five bashels that is 7ft cents. Iron is taxed one cent per pound. How much iron does the farmer consume per year? Estimated at two hundred pounds, he pays two dollars. Copper is taxed about fifteen cents per pound, and if any one should purchase a copper kettle he pays, perhaps, fifty cents tax on copper in a life-time. Sugar is taxed about two cents per pound. Two hundred and fifty pounds per year is a large allowance and this makes five dollars. Now, when we consider that the taxes raised annually amount to three hundred mil lions, the average contribution of a reasonably ecoRom- ical farmer s family is very small indeed. Then in addition, they enjoy the blessings of a uniform and safe currency, and a steady advance in the value of their improvements. FOR COMMERCE. The stats of our internal commerce is satisfactory. A number of great measures have been devised during the past ten years for its encouragement and enlarge ment. In July 1866, a verv important act was passed, known as the steamboat inspection law, which has had a remarkable effect upon the personal security of steamboat passengers. It is true disasters happen eve-n now, whicb greater fidelity and care might ob viate ; but boiler explosions have become so rare that travel by steamship is no more hazardous that travel ing by rail. The Light-House Board has not only relighted th lights upon our coasts, which the rebels, with their characteristic love of darkness, put out, but built other light-houses upon our immense lake and ocean shores. The Coast Survey has pursued its peaceful course, sup plying the mariner with accurate charts of all the dangers of navigation on our coast. The Hydrographic Bureau of the Navy Department, has furnished superior ocean charts for the first time; for until recently aU our ships were navigated by imported charts. Ihree railways to the Pacific have been chartered. The Central has been aided by money and laud; the Northern by lands only; and the Southern, which lies principally in Texas, wkich owns all the public lands. within its boundary, bas only reoeired a charter and right of way. \Vliatever criticism may be passed upon the large money grant to the Centra) Pacific rail- w&v. this fact remains, that it was a necessity to our continued peaceful relations with the Pacific States, which were being alienated in interest; and that it has been a wonderful achievement. 1 he construction, of this road, virtually, from New York to San Francisco- over three thousand miles in length belongs to those fabulous accomplishments, whose magnitude tends to preveut their full recognition until time has embalmed them, ihese railways, and their numerous branches, have pushed civilization five hundred miles westward in a few years, until it nestles in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains. More than ten thousand new post-offices have b^en Opened ; the money order system established ; treaties negotiated for the transmission of small sums of money to the principal nations of Europe; and tele graphic facilities extended. Several ocean cables have been laid through the intelligent perseverence of American citizens, aided by American enterprise and the chartered .-auction of our government. But chief among the great aids to commerce is the system of National Batiks. U ho does not recollect the nuisance siuj loss to the traveling public of an ir- respousi ole State Bank currency, whse value changed not only from day to day but between Suite lines? Who has escaped the innumerable robberies by coun terfeits, (a counterfeit detector being a necessity to every business man,) by broken banks; by old banks revived; by new ones sUirted by scoundrels who paid black-mail to the counterfeit detector publishers to rate th-em good u-util their currency had gained circu lation? U iio do* s not know of the frightiul disasters of 18i>7 and 1S.~>7 and the ever recurnnjj minor <_r.ses, of a Bank system which promised to redeem in gold when no one cared for it. but which always suspended pay ment when the gold was wanted. If the Republican party had devised no other measure m beha i of gene ral business prosperity this great unifying act aloue tvould entitle it to universal gratitude. We adm.t that the rebellion caused the destruct : cu of our foreign commerce; and before it could be re built, the material <.f which the keels of ships were constructed, changed from wood, in which we excelled, to iron, for which change we were not prepared. I hat this coiiiiiurce must be rev.ved there can be no doubt; and various measures are pending to accomplish this purpose. It is not merely a great pecuniary loss, but a loss of national prestige, thut our flag Covers not a single European liue ; and that, if these foreign .cor- poratious we.e, for an} reason, to withdraw then 1 ships, we wouid be compelled to carry our mail , and travel to Europe iu sailing vessels. We have full confidence that this uupropitious state of affairs will be remedied before this Congress exp res, and that the starry bau- uer, the most beautiful tiag yet devised, will again be wafted upon the Atlantic Ocean. FOR RIVER AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS. Y. hen the Whig and Democratic panics contended for ascendancy the question of Uiver and Harbor im provemeuu was of great prominence. Ii was part oi what was known as "iieury Clay s American Sybtein." The Democrats, under lha influence of ihealave-holders who hated commerce, interposed hair-splitting con stitutional objections, and the pitiful sum of a few thousand dollars, absolutely needed for harbors o: national importance, waa refused. Suce the lijpubli can party came into power there have been expeudec iroin four to five millions per year; and under trie new regulation, which appropriates specific sums for par ticular objects, (in place of giving a gross sum to the War Department to use at its own discretion,) the ex penditures have brought about such excellent results, that all opposition has been abandoned. Thus, one o thepetpiauks in the Democratic platform, is now as dead as the old Democracy itsa f. It is true the aggre gate expenditures of the Government are attacked, Hit ill specific opposition to river and harbor improvements has been abandoned. This money expended iu aid of navigation, benefits our citizens every wh re; for all those W!H> sell pro duce or purchase goods share in the ad ravages, be cause easy transportation cheapen:* purchases, an ! aug ments the price.- paid for raw products. Thus has been quietly settled one of those former vexations political controversies, and the nation placed iu the channel <;f Life-saving stations are als^ maintained upon the most exposed poiivs on our shores, so that the maridiefa from all nations, may receive succor in cus of ch. aster. This is onlv one of the many evidences eropu - ! g out in every direction, that the Bepnbl Oafl party values human life more than money; and that tu LaitMvrund selfish views control its po icy. OUIt FOREIGN POLICE. During the last ten years the pub it 1 peace has b3U rnai- tained without loss of national prestige or dignity. Napoleon committed his first great error when he ia- vaded Mexico; but Seward bo.ved him out with hia usual suavity. A little petul mce like that displayed by the German Emperor, would have forced Napoleon to fight, and we might have had an expensive war to achieve the same result which tact and patience accom plished. ihe Trent controversy, which gave the I nghsh Tories the sought tor opportunity to br-ng on a was skilliully conducted; and llie Alabama <;: has subsequently been managed to the satisfaction of the American public. It is true, unexpected ob.--Ui.cIof> have been raK-ed by Great Britain, but we are still cau- tidein that they will be s -tisfactonly a justed. Com- nitTcialand Postal treaties have been made wilh nearly all the nations upon the globe, and the average rales of postage reduced one halt . But pieeminently has our states man sh 5 1> sUoae forth in the Far East. Japan had been closvd to all the world until the doors were opened to the Uniuid Suites. This great change of policy almost lead to a revolution ; but the statesmen that now coairoi the government of Japan are wise and progressive, and u;il welcome American principles and ideas. I he United State s was, moreover, the first power that introduced China among tne sisterhood of c.vihzed nations; and it was a former Ammic-i i ombasiukdor. Mr. Buriingame, who accomplished this great result, China, hereafter, promises to be buMKi by th^- Inter national law of Christian nations; i:d claims also its many benefits. Our influence over As a, is greater thin that of England or faissia for ii is purely moral- it, is that of a friend and pei.ce-lonng neighbor, in stead of a war-like and intriguing sirauger or FOR THE COLORED MAN. The principal measures for the abolition of Hhrery and for the security of his persona 1, civil and political rights having already been noted, ue onl_y add that he owes every thing liberty, security and en rane.ase- meut to the Kepublicau party. It has svemmed the. tide of brutality and prejudice which thr t^-j overwhelm him subsequently to bis enrtauc patiuti; 4 has expended a number of millions of do 1 law fur Irs educat on and support; it uphol is h.ru to d.iy, as far as w.thiu its power, in all liisjust rights. The over throw of the Republican party would result in bis practical disfranchisemeat; us he well understands. it is true the Kepublican party ha> stwod by him upon principle, for the vindication of human rights and good government, it has not enfranchised him to obtain hia t-uppon, blind!? and without enqu.ry ; but it. does ex pect that he will zealously uphold his new-born rights, and for that end be energetic iu the support of the good cause. No perils or efforts to intimidate ought to pro- rent the colored men from making all reasonable ex ertions ia support of tbose questions in which they are EO.ritally interested. FOR THE INDIANS. The savage tribes of American Indtass, who have for years subsisted upon bunting and plunder, arc cer tainly not promising subjects for beneficial legislation. .The "public sentiment in the Far West demands their extermination, and not entirely without cause. The horrible tortures to which Indians subject their vic tims, and the mutilation which they inflict upon tbeir bodies, have inspired universal indignation and a crav ing desire for vengeance. Ihese Indiana, moreover, are without representation and political inllueuce, so that, whatever is done fir them, cannot be ascribed to selfish motives. Under cover of this hostile sentiment a number of Indian agents, contractors, sutlers and other adventurers had formed "rinirs" or organizations to plunder these ig norant and practically dumb savages; who only felt that those whites with whwrn they came in contact were such faithless scoundrels, that their own treachery became excusable. For the purpose a. breaking np this system, radical remedies were devised, and Peace Commissioners were appointed representing the best elements of various Christian denominations toassist n the superintendence ql Indian affairs. The p reseat Commissioner, Gen I. Francis A. Walker, is a high-toned Christian gentle man of unimpeachable integrity and of very decided executive ubilitv. The Indian ring has been broken up; rations are being issued t-j beads of families in stead of to tr.bes, which has resulted in very great economy; the Indians have been placed upon smaller and more easily accessible reservations; devoted mis sionaries have been actively at work; and the peace has been very generally maintained. This has been the first earnest effort to reclaim these savages, or, at least, their children, thus saving them from inevitable detraction. Thus far these efforts have met with bet ter success than even the most sanguine expected, but should the new policy fail, it will not detract from the credit which is due to its originators. Kindness, con sideration and justice shown to the most benighted and unfortunate inhabitants of the 4 Republic charac terizes our country fur more as a "Christian" land, than written assertions of dogmatic creed in the Natio nal Cons Huiion. Unselfish regard for thr interests and happiness of all classes; charity, education, tree homes, a free pul pit and a free press, constitute the essence of religious life, und afford the highest possible evidence that the philanthropic elements of society coutrc-l the destiny of tho nation. FOU THE EX-REBELS. The student, cf history well knows that the suppres sion by the regular government of extensive rebellions \ya.s always accompanied by numerous butcheries, exe cutions, .nd expatriations, j he histories of Russia, Austria, Prussia, Italy, Franc^, Spain and England, tell the same blood v story. The executions after the late communistic revolt in Paris were numerous and for three days the soldiers were encouraged to kill at sight tr.y and all of the fleeing wretches they could find Our own rebellion was surpressed without a single execution r act of oppression. We makr this statement us a matter of fact, not that we, alt g< ther x approve this great magnanim ty, wlrch ha* never been appri elated, but misconstrued into cowardice by the {K-frebe s ; but. if the nation was wrong i-n this respect, i; trrtid on ;he side of iorgiveness ai>d bn the> ly love. Froia ihe day of Lee s surrender to the great Chieftain of the Republic, every measure parsed by the General Govern men l has been designed to benefit the rebels, rfbd lo encourage them to become faithful citizens once U^t>re. Not only were their lives spared and their -ruperty r.ot confiscated, but all special taxes were speedily removed. During the war, cotten was taxed three cents per pound, but this tax was speedily re duced and finally abolished, ihe rebellion increased the annual expenditures of the government from sevepty to three hundred millions of dollars. The South not only paid no taxes during the war, whea more than a thousand millions were contributed by the loyal people, but the tax paying capacity of that sec tion wns so reduced by the rebellion, that the amounts paid since the restoration of peace have been exceed ingly small. Cotton was the only production which would have brought a considerable amount into the Treasury, and bv the abolition of the cotton tax, the South has gained almost entire immunity from taxa tion. These ex-rebels have been re-invested with the right of citizenship, and with insignificant exceptions, they were amnestied, ihey were again admitted as co-ru lers, and their new State Constitutions made more con formable to the demands of education and civilization.. When the cry of distress reached Congress that tiie people were starving, relief was granted to the amount of tive millions of dollars alike to whites and blacks; a joint resolution passed Congress in February, 1867, placing our ships-of-war at the disnosalof the charita ble to carry provisions to Charleston, Savannah, and Mobile. In May, 1807, another joint resolution grant ed specific relief to the destitute people of the south western Slates. Thus have these men, notwithstanding their persist ent hostility and treasonable practices, been clothed, fed and protected by a generous and humane people; and if they could only so far rise above sectional preju dice, as to* take hold of the National Government, and regard it as their best friend and protector, they could at once rescue their States from misrule and corruption. It is they who close the door and exclude themselves from power and National influence ; it is they who keep back emigration and wealth by acts of violence ; it is they who ar^ the architects of their own discontent and misfortunes. Why do they not grasp the brotherly hand so kindly extended? Why not seek relief through the dominant party that can grant it, instead of growling and snarling in a hopeless minority. In so far as the Democratic party encourages this hatred to the national government tor partizun ends; in so far as it induces these ignorant people to persist in Ku-Klux violence ; in so far as it upholds the abuse of the colored workingman, who would gladly build up that section, if permitted ; it is the worst enemy that the ex-rebels have. For, should the patience and forbearance of the North become exhausted by con tinuous disregard of the rights of Northern citizens; and by criminal and cowardly midmght attacks upon thei-r unoffending associates ;" the writ of habeas corpus may again be suspended and traitors receive speedy justice by means of a drum-head court martial. All ex-rebels, who are legally entitled to vole, cart abuse that, sacred privilege if they choose. They ca-n ally themselves with the party of mental darkness and reaction, as they have hitherto done, but they must be made to respect the rights of others. The system of terrorism prevailing in some sections must be broken up at all hazard and at every cost FOR THE NATURALIZED CITIZEN. The United States of America is the home of refuge of the oppressed of all nations. No other nation ia the world admits foreigners on so easy terms to share the governing power. The political refugees find here a sate ass\lum. No Monarchical nation has ever had the audacitv to demand the return of a Ueiker, a Siegel, a Meaner, or a Mitchell. The workingmen find this a paradise of material comfort, for industry and rea sonable economy result in the rapid accumulation of wealth. UpoiTthe Euiopean continent a laborer is always a laborer, a servant always a servant, ilia chil dren* moreover, are compelled to share with him his social sufcus, so that it is very rarely, and onVjrby some peculiar fortune, that the child of the artisan can enter the ranks of the nobility or professional classes; whUe in the United States it is the rule, that citizens, born in bo most humble circumstances, like Jackson and Lin- Coin, receive the highest offices and consideration. For many years a great majority of our foreign-born citizens attached themselves to the Democratic party. In grasping at the shadow of a popular name they be came, in fact, the allies of the elave-holders and op pressors of humanity. In time the most intelligent disassociated themselves from the army ot darkness and reaction, and have faithfully labored in the rinks of liberalism and progress. Special efforts are again made to induce these naturalized citizang, and particu larly those of German descent, to join hands once more with the Tammany and Ku-Klux Democracy. The pretest is "Reform," but the practice would be Tam many corrupuon. The impudent claim is set up that n few hundred Republican deserters contain all tho honesty of the Republican party ; and that this com- binatio n of deserters, ex-rebel3 and Tammany Demo crats, if successful, would usher in a new era of econo my and reform. For many years the Democratic party was in power, and that too, chiefly through means of the support it received from naturalized citizens. Did it give them : .he Homestead bill* Did it encourage American labor toy a judicious tar.ff? Did it confer up m them any place of responsibility ? Did it not always treat them iiko in feriors and voting cattle? Did it protect them by treaty from beirg impressed for military duty when they visited their former homes? Did cot the proscriptive public opinion engendered by (ha slave system, also cause the Knownothing persecutions? It is true, the Democrats, who profited exclusively by the foreign rotrt, opposed Knovrnothingism, but merely as a mat ter of interest and not upon principle. This they could not do: But since the Republican party, with its lib- oral programme, " the world is our country and all mankind our countrymen," came into power, Know- nothingism has ceased, not merely us a matter of fact, but what is of far greater consequence, as a sentiment. In the brief reign of the Republican party, treaties have been made with all the Luropean powers whose subjects have, in large numbers, emigrated, providing that if any emigrant, though he was of military age when emigrating, has become a naturalized citizen of the United States, he may return to his former home and stay there for five rears before the military laws of bis former country re-attach. The provision of tire years was adopted because it was claimed thr.t many parents might send their youths to the United States to remain there five tears and become citizens for the very purpose of evading military service. This Clause is o*f no importance to the born) \ fide American citizen, against whom, if he never gains a residence in En- tope, the limitation does cot run. For many years, during Democratic rule, the tide of immigration has poured into the United States, yet never did that party do any thing for the protection of emigrants while in tranxitu. They may be abutted upon tho ship ; they may be furnished with rotten meat, and badly cooked food ; they may be overcrowd ed ; they may be kept upon extra trains upon railway- cars without warmth or water for a week, and there is no law upon the statute book which can give them jus tice. It is tcue the State of New York taxes them one dol lar and-a-ha!f, which money is chiefly expended In salanss for the Castle Ganden officials. The Tammany Hall Emigrant Commission has licensed a set of low and disreputable. Bourding-house keepers to solicit emigrants to stop with them. These places overflow ^ith filth jvr.d vermin ; they are the recruiting places tor prostitutes and illegal voters; and few emigrants ever leave them without being swindled. The present Administration is deiro-ui to abolish these abuses. Secretary Boutwell sent an experienced gentleman to Europe, and to New York, to thoroughly investigate the emigration system. The President, in his message, urged upon Congress immediate action", and there is no doubt, but a comprehensive measure drafted under the awpicea of the Treasury Depart ment, and intruducwd by that excellent practical legis lator, 0. D. Conger, of Michigan, will becomo a law. Then, for the first time, the emigrant will f.cl the pro tecting care of the Government of tho United States. These matters are of vital importance tu the emi grant, and he ought, therefore, to exieud to the politl* cal organization, which has taken so great an interest in his welfare, his earutut t-ui:>u \. FOB NATIONAL PROGRESS. Since the close of the war, taxation has been reduced by successive acts, equal to an annual average of two hundred and thirty-five millions of dollars. In the game timo the latest official public debt statement shows that upwards ot three hundred millions of dol lars of the public debt have been paid during the last three years. The act refunding the public dent at a lower rate of interest converting 200 millions of dol lars from six per cent into fixe per cent bonds has been successfully carried out. No doubt the balance of the loan can also ba thus converted, and perhaps at even more advantageous rates. The National ef- penditures have been steadily reduced, and new sys tems of accountability adopted. Every d -sbursing of- ficer is now obliged to send in a weekly balance sheet, showing the amount deposited and where, the amount disbursed, and l.h balance on hand The Assistant Treasurers and National Depositories are obliged fo make similar returns, and a comparison by competent oificers will speedily lend to the discovery of fraud. Every effort has been made to expel unworthy men from the civil service, and it more thin the usual num ber ( f frauds have been discovered the pastyuar it ?3 owing loan increase of watchfulness ami more earnest efforts. At the close of Johnson s Adii.ioistratian, a one hundered dollar United States 6 percent bond tvas worth but $8 ^ in gold, while it is uow worth $101. Our currency was twenty per cent below pur, it is now but 10 per cent, and constantly appreciating. All the interests of civilization have received atten tion. Ihe Army Signal Corps has been employed to indicate coming storms and the probability of tb<3 weather, and these reports have reached an accuracy so great, that it is the universal testimony that mari ners and agriculturalists bae been greatly banefitied. Commissioners were appointee} to a general conference to be held in London, ut which, all civilized powers will be represented, to discuss Scutes Prison reform. The Statistical Bureau has issued a book of great vain?, cot only to the emigrant, but to our cit zens generally who may contemplate a change of residence. Said book gives detailed information ot the price of lands and the value ot labor in all sections of tho country, aud has been in so great demand that private partJea have purchased a number of thousand copies. Of a!l human efforts to hand down the stream of time evideucea of taste and civilization, architecture has held the highest rank. We sraud with wondrous awe within the colossal monuments of the middle ages, that overwhelm by their gigantic proportions all sur rounding modern objects. If the traveler first views the majestic dome of Cologne, all other bsildings in that city seem cheap and tawdry. A timilar impres sion of the gmiid architectural conceptions or the miiHle ages is produced by the cathedrals cf St. Paul in London, and St. Peter in Rome, aud the cathedrals of Strassburg and Brussels. In the United States, where we Imve no need cf imperial palaces, and no State Church, architects re can only be exhibited in its highest form in our public buildings. No private cor poration can afLrd to erect monuments of that dura bihty aud imposing character that will be a witness ot oar times five centuries hence. 8 But church and palace architecture are not applica ble to our public edifices, wnicb need an abundance of light and other pecul ar facilities. In the new Post Office build ngs tit Boj>ton and New York, all these con ditions huve been realized. At a small expenditure, JQ fac , exceedingly small when compared with the money waited on (he architectural abortions of the New York Cay Court House, the Custom House at New Orleans, and other similar structures, edifices are ia the course of construction, more colossal and im posing than any upon the American continent, and yet perfectly adapted to the public use. Ihese architec tural monuin -uts will uot only be an evidence to the European mind of the genius and skill of American architects and artisans and monuments to future gene rations ; bat teachers of correct taste and due appre ciation of the grand and beautiful. THB PROPOSED LABOR COMMISSION. The Labor Commission project which has passed the House, will, i ndoubted y become a law ; and if an able and piactical Comurssiou is appointed, who will ad dress themselves to the great question of ascertaining in what way legislation may benefit the workiugman, we have secured the first and most essential condition of progress. Thf President, we are reliably inf irmed, takes a special and personal interest in all measures designed to benefit the workingmen, to which clas^ he hiinse;! belongs, and of his faithful co-operation, there can bo no doubt. CONCLUSION. This summary of the achievements of the Republi can party shows, that iu every department of legisla tive a. * ty, t has been on the side of humanity ; and a ca/ ^xanunati m of the voluminous statutes eu- actt 1 ; **ag the past ten years, enables usj to testify th* J / / and every statute enacted has had a progres- ? X y ndc.ncy. Men whose thoughts range beyond V / ines und party possibilities and who only view iv^-w.^ as means toward ends, may hold that upon uestions a more radical course would have been and that the activities of the party might have blened to a greater range of subjects; but examina- 4on Will bring to them the conviction, that, whenever the party has acted, its actions have been uniformly progressive and patriotic. There is not even one diso- nant note to mar the general harmony. Nor has this record been made without virulent op- pOsition. As the uation moved on with a current as irresistible us that of the Father of Rivers, the ho tile elements became more blind with rage, more maddened With anger. On every roll caliin both Houses of Con gress will be found the same stubborn array of oppo sition names. 80 uniform was this negation, that Senator Salisbury, after his term had expired and the new rieuute hai organized, forgetting that he was no longer a meuibs. r, rose once more with " Mr. President I object." But as these parliamentaryobjectionswere over-borne by the collective will of the nation, this deadly hostility to progress took another tin u. First it was rebellion, earned on with merciless cruelty ror four years ; and When the ivbel flag SVMS driven from the tie ld by Gen. Griul with his army of brave and hercic men, it de veloped into assassination. President Lincoln, the true Representative of the Republ c universal, honest, rnagnai imons, patient and forgiving, was all the more intensely hated by this element of darkness, because be possessed these virtues. He was the most illus trious of all the Amt rtcau Martyrs, who died that the Republic m ghl live; but he was only the precursor of thousand;* of more humble men and women who have since cied by the assassin s hands. 1 he midnight murderers, with their dis^ui^es, are still about. The crackling Uamta of humble homes, the moans of the dying and the shrieks of the helpless yet startle the midnight air. Fora umr, with martial law impending. there is a lull ; but woe unto the victims, if the uatior-il flag were torn from the hands of loyal men. No pen could describe the awful massacre of colored men that would inevitably follow. The Republican party is an organization of self-think ing men ; it doea not follow Conkling, Morton, or Grant; neither doe- U fu-llow Sumner, (Jreeley, and churz. On the contrary, the party at large demands obfd ence and loyalty from all its members to the declared prin ciples of its organization. Of all the ridiculous inven tions of an unscrupulous enemy the story that official patronage can con rol the policy of the Republican party, is the most insulting and absurd. Did not John- son try that? Didn t he offer all the patronage oJ the government, which was considerably greater during his administration than it is to-day, as prizes for polit ical treason? How many worth buying did he get? Not one! And if the President were to endeavor tc interfere with the free choice of the party, both as tc men, principles or measures, he would become the ob ject of rebuke instead of the malcontents, who, bj threats of bolti og, intend to coerce the organize tion. The Republican party never surrenders. It may, in time, be overcome by its political foes; but under no circumstances will four millions of self-thinking voters surrender their well matured convictions to a factior so f>rnall that an omnibus will hold them all. It is th main security of our Republic that it rests not upoi the shou ders of a few political leaders, but upon th self-thinking masses; it is the most encouraging fea ? tu re of Republican progress, that it has educated th people to a point, where public men only become fh mouth pieces of (he popular will. And as long as th people remain the master of their own destiny ; refua^ ing to follow leaders, however brilliant, when they ar actuated bv personal motives; thinking for themselve|f and weighing all public question by their own calf judgment, the Republic is not only safe, but will b< Come the model government of the world. In the St. Lorenzo Church, at the city of Xurember. can be seen one of those transcendet-t efforts of geniu: which photographs upon canvas the history of eighteej Centuries and of centuries yet unborn. It tells tr wondrous story of the rise and diffusion of Christianity in lines so sweet and plain, that even a child can r-.fl it there. In the foreground sits Joseph and near hiij Mary with her beautiful infant in her lap, in the elab: where he was born. The three Kings, from the Fi East, have just arrived, and kneeling, are depositii. tiic-ir crowns and offerings at the feet of the Chrii: chi.d. These wise mt-n of the East are only the IK vauce guard. At the threshold are the apostles an disciples; the Romans, Greeks and Crusaders are ac vancing; nations with various flags and banners, an men of all conditions are approaching; here sks tb- proud noble upon his stately steed, and yonder p.oc the pilgrim, worn and foot-sore. As fur as the eye c^ reach, over hills and vales the endleas pnesic *T: cc its way, and at the outer edge, shipd mmi cti*r tJunt nents are disembarking the hum&A ti&9 4?26 -*Tc; &W to this center of truth and fratsrnit/. And thus our Republic "a gov.rnrneut r-f the pe< pie. by the people, and for the peop >," as the illu trious Lincoln, so well defined it has also become tl: asylum of the oppressed, the light of the world; tl hope and faith in the possibi ity of belter days. A the children of Israel, smitten wiih disease and deal! gazed with eager eye upon the brazen serpent elevate as a means ofsafety, so is the starry flag regarded t the promise t;f Paradise regained a conscious, created paradise, founded upon wise laws and unive Sil justice. The Mouarchs from the Far East, wit their bowed flags and crown offerings, are at hauc the endless procession a contnbu ion by all nations- is advancing; the light of the Republic shines wit. increasing effulgence; and our example Cdl<s in tl language of liberty and brotherhood intelligible to u mankind ; " This is the way, walk ye in it." U.C. BERKELEY LIBR