The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-10-20

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- Of the supremacy ofthe Slave Power Or |
VI the policy inaugaratsd BY our political
fathers under the auspices Of the Constitu-
ton which they have handed down to Us, is,
sooner or later, to be met, unequivooally and
squarely? The history Of the past, the
signs of the times, augur nothing more sure
". It's the issue Of the present hcnr. Be-
fog and prevarieate ~ you may, 1t is the
conscious and impelling principle which |
sivcs tone and character to the present can
vass il 10 the power which directs all efforts
and anticipates all results. Leading men
most nearly interested on either hand, hon.
est and candid minds everywhere, confess
and proclaim il; cunning and tricky poli.i-
clans who screen and torture issues to meet |
local prejudces, though they denyit for
purpose, always betray it in their argu-
ments, their acts, and in all the line Of par
ty defence. To the apprehension OF every
sensible msn, nothing 10 clearer. We hope
il is to be settled now, and settled in the
right manner. We have an abiding conf
dence that it win DO. But whether il will be
or not, no man, however dull his apprshen-
sion or however blinded he may be by big
otry and party prejudice, can deny or doubt
that the question viii be settled, must be
settled, and if not settled very soon, in the
nature Of things must be . prominent ques-
tion in issue until it Is settled. 1t Is strife
between two principles. The main prine-
pie and leading idea Of our Constitution and
form of government, is Popular Rule and
Universal Freedom. Underneath the sur
face Of our Great Charter, not mentioned BY
name nor recognized in specific terms, were
Gown the seeds Of . pernicious system and
an antagsnistic principle. They terminated
there, and under the influence of cupidity
and fortaitous circumstances, they sprsng up
vigorously, until now they contest the field.
It Was at 6rst thing to be covertly protect
ed; next it claimed equality; to the dulest
man it soon must be, to our mind it plainly
now is, q struggle for supremacy. And il is
. question which cannot be hidden. Il must
be met. II tremblingly pushed aside or
fraudulently screened now, it will immsdi-
ately re-appeAr. Why then pursue the part
Of q coward and refuse to meet it, Why
permit trading and trucking politicians TO
hide the fact of it's imminence and it, maSni-
tades- Its the part Of intelligence aad Of
patriotism to meet it frankly, to meet it fear
lessly, to meet it now. 1t 10 folly, it 10
fraught with the greatest danger, to do 9TH
erwise. Il must be met: it must DO settled.
Why not, then, like men, like patriots, meet
il frankly, meet it now, and settle it empha.-
ically and forever, giving our Constitution
free course and the policy Of its founders un-
questioned supremacy and abiding perma.
character and integrity, that we have gloried
it is under that policy that we have so won
derfully prospered; it is under them both
that we have lived 80 amicably and happily
and grown SO great and so strong. Shall w
permit their radical change? Shall We per.
init an insidious aud sntsgonistic element to
acquire supremacy, and practically to give III
another primary law md another policy? l.
there no reluctance, no fear, no danger in
doing SO? Does not every impulse Of patri-
otism, every dictate Of wisdom, prudent re.
gard for our safety and well being as peo-
pie, prompt US to demand the continuance and
permanence Of the old Constitution in its
true intent and historical character, and Of
the old policy which has given us peace and
prosperity, and q future full Of hope and
promise to the friends Of Human Rights and
and Social Progress? Who is the craven,
sinking coward, the shutting trickster, the
shrinking traitor, the blind, fanatic fool who
will tell US that it is dangerous or unwisc TO
meet the question now, in plain and lawful
way, in the open field Of politics, with an
unfinchng resolution2 Put it of, but Il
will come. II it is numbered about with
difficulties now, the longer it is delayed the
greater viii be the danger. Il is question:
BILE if the only safe time be not now. That
, is safe now, is beyond question. Then lo
us settle it,--settle it now and forever, and
} settle 1t like men OF sense and discretioA
like patriots, who lore our country like
, friends OF Human Rights, who wiN not have
the law OF Force and the code Of barba-
rous age to rule over US.
KEEP II BErosx TIE PxopLE That thu
Republican members OF Congress voted
three times to admit Kansas into the Union
as Free State, and three times did tn
Black Democracy defeat their object and
vote to continue civil war in that Territory
KEEP II BEroRx tbs PsorLs--That every
Republican member but one voted to rector
the Missouri Compromise, and prohibit
2 Slavery forever in Kansas.
. KEEP IT BKroxE TIE PEoPLE--That on thu
! End day Of last July every Republican mem
4 Der Of the Senate voted to permit the peo
It pie Of Kansas, through their Territoria
u Legislature, 70 prohibit Slavery, but ever
: Black Democrat voted against and defeats
:, them.
KEEP IT BxYoRE TEE PsorLx--That al til
J journals and orators of the Black Demo
:. cracy are continually vin0easing and W
holding the acts Of tho Slavery -PropAgnnd
iats in X ansaa including their electinn fraud,