Published: March 08, 2008 11:54 pm            

Core Republican principles

With the rhetoric swirling these days, it makes me wonder — Are the core principles of the Republican Party the same as when Lincoln was President?

From the Gettysburg National Military Park Kidzpage we can find an interesting listing on the causes for the Civil War.

Why not compare what were core Republican principles then to now.

First listed is tariff.

"One of the main quarrels was about taxes paid on goods brought into this country from foreign countries. This tax was called a tariff. Southerners felt these tariffs were unfair and aimed toward them because they imported a wider variety of goods than most Northern people. Taxes were also placed on many Southern goods that were shipped to foreign countries, an expense that was not always applied to Northern goods of equal value."

Today we would call that protectionism as opposed to free trade. Here we should note the reversal of ideals. Where once as a former free trader Thomas Jefferson put it.

"The British War [of 1812] has left us in debt; but that is a cheap price for the good it has done us. The establishment of the necessary manufactures among ourselves, the proof that our government is solid, can stand the shock of war, and is superior even to civil schism, are precious facts for us." --Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 1817. (*) ME 15:115

Jefferson would be dismayed at the idea of outsourcing not only our manufacturing ability but also our creating a dependency upon foreign nations for our necessary items for the military.

Second comes the issue of slavery.

On this one let's just agree that slavery in not something we should hold on to or support. So why does the Republican party of today ( as well as the democrats) want close relations and trade with countries like China that still use slavery?

Finally we get to the idea of secession.

Say what you wish but the effect of the civil war was the prevention of states from seceding and forming their own national government.

So why now is the republican party led by the president encouraging secession in Kosovo?



Donald Dunnam

Quitman

        

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