Only Republicans can define their party

The Republican Party cannot be defined by those who are not Republicans and have never been Republicans. I have long participated in our party's grass-roots efforts and attended my first state convention in 1946.

I recall the repeated efforts of our party to pass anti-lynching legislation in the 1940s, against solid opposition of those who later claimed to be champions of civil rights.

It was our party that pointed out the hypocrisy of Franklin Roosevelt's campaign to bring economy to the federal government. After World War II, our party resisted the unbridled power of union bosses. Our legislation led to decades of industrial peace and prosperity in America.

Republicans exposed the folly of sidling up to communists in China and Russia. Our party resisted the decimation of our armed forces following the war, which resulted in the Korean War and our weakened military presence.

A political party's mission is good government. Could it be that, as human institutions, the parties have occasionally gone astray?

There is a vital role for the loyal opposition in our republic. Now Republicans oppose the administration which, in their moment of power, is led my messianic zeal to create a new heaven and a new earth. We must prevent it from becoming a new hell.

Chuck Dunham

Deep River