IS THE UNION A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION? 265 



accomplished ! It will never do ! We will never consent 

 to it." "O ye wicked and false generation !" How long 

 do you expect these parties to live on what Jefferson, Jack- 

 son, Lincoln and Stevens HAVE done ? 



But no, my dear brethren; don't get scared just yet 

 If these parties are saved at all, it will not be for any good 

 they have accomplished within the last twenty years. Pull 

 off your hats now and let us have a little talk about it. 

 You came very near getting angry just now. But don't 

 do it, at least not until we get through with this chapter. 

 If these grand old parties are saved, it will be by the 

 laboring men of the country, for they "are the salt of the 

 earth, and if the salt lose its savor, wherewith shall it be 

 salted?" "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the 

 prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how 

 often would I have gathered thy children together, even as 

 a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye 

 would not." How often have we "asked for bread and 

 been given a stone ? " " for a fish and been given a serpent. ' ' 

 We have started on the road to reform. If anybody is 

 going our way, they are welcome in our ranks. We have 

 invited our dear and grand old parties to travel with us in 

 this direction. But they have refused. If they persist in 

 their refusal and prefer to wander in the wilderness, we are 

 not responsible. If they get in our way we will be com- 

 pelled to clear the road. They have not killed our 

 prophets, but they have crucified the truth, slandered 

 justice, and rejected the teachings of the fathers. 



There are three things which we are bound to consider 

 if we arrive at a proper understanding of the real situation, 

 and a correct remedy for the evils with which we are 

 burdened: 



First. Our Condition. 



Second. The Cause. 



Third. The Remedy. 



