716 THE IMPENDING REVOLUTION. 



pies was over, and chattel slavery went down amid the 

 boom of artillery, the rattle of musketry and groans of the 

 dying, the Republican party emerged from the conflict with 

 a prestige and glory that commanded the admiration of the 

 world. Flushed with victory, they said in the pride of 

 their heart like the king of Babylon see, we have done 

 all this. 



Then the work of despoiling began. The issue, the 

 principle which had given them vitality, had been brought 

 to a successful termination. They had accomplished the 

 work which had called them into existence. The people 

 had done this. In the meantime, while the people were 

 engaged in the struggle, corrupt men had obtained control 

 of much of the political machinery of the government. 

 On the plea of the necessity of the hour, false systems, 

 burdensome laws and gigantic corporations had been cre- 

 ated. Before the smoke of the contest had cleared away 

 the immortal Lincoln, who saw with gloomy and prophetic 

 vision the danger to be encountered, said: "I see in the 

 near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and 

 causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. " Late: 

 on, Stevens, Wade, Morton and other patriots uttered their 

 warnings against the tendencies of the times. But they 

 were powerless against the maelstrom of corruption which 

 prevailed in every part of the government. The glory of 

 the Republican party has departed. Their bright sun has 

 set in the hopeless misery which their financial policy has 

 entailed upon an enterprising people. Their record on 

 contraction of the currency, national banks, back salary 

 steals, credit strengthening act, funding schemes and 

 demonetization tendencies should have consigned them to 

 political oblivion long ago, and would, but there was no 

 power that promised any better, and the people were in the 

 hands of corporations and combinations. 



Not less grand and magnificent was the record of the 



