A surrender of the principle with due explanation of the reasons, properly recorded for the instruction of those who should come after, would have left the Republican party in far better position than did the precipitate retreat which they made without a word of apology, without an attempt at justification.
Blaine critiques the Republican party's handling of a retreat from its principles during a critical period in American history.
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The wisdom of maintaining that institution was abundantly vindicated by the results of the war.
This ratio of influence went into the Electoral College, and gave to the white men of South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana double the power of that enjoyed by white men in New York, Illinois and California.
It is to the eminent credit of the Republican members of Congress that they stood in a crisis of this magnitude true to principle, firm against all the power and all the patronage of the Administration.
I believe that if it should pass it will receive the sanction of nineteen-twentieths of the loyal people of the country.
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