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272
that single issue was hardly broad enough for a
permanent organization. All who for the time
regarded that as a paramount question united as
Bepublicans; arid yet entertaining every shade of
variant opinion on every other question of moment.
This limitation of slavery strangled it, and logi
cally, men may expect that, with the accomplish
ment of the purpose for which the party was
formed, it would dissolve. By force of the laws I
have attempted to evolve this would follow, were
it not for intervening causes that take it out of
their scope.
The pressure of the war gave consistency to the
the party; its leaders and people became accus
tomed to act together, and endeared to each
other. It has prestige and memories, and must
remain until we have completed our transit to
stable government. And with its capacity to ad
vance, I can see no immediate cause for its decline,
and none for its dissolution. And yet one may
intervene in a month ; and I repeat, if overthrown,
this fate will be evolved from within.
XX I. Two vital questions are already in agita
tion by outline parties, and must sooner or later
receive some political adjustment, neither of which