The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-05-02

Kansas CONSiSfencV

Kansas consistency.
The National Era comments as follows up
on a recent statement in the Tribune, that,
while the grossest falsehoods were perpetra-
ted by the Kansas officials in making up the
lists of voters, "the Free State men allow
them to do as they please:
"'The Free State allow them to do as
they pleased Aye, and when the work is
done, we shall have an cutlery against the
frauds of the census. BIT rhat good soiU
At do then? What will be the proof of q
fraud9 'If the Free State men allow them
to do as they please TO enter or not enter
their names, and to enter spurious Pro-
Slavery voters. and give themselves no trou-
bic about it, they may thank Memsetres IT
their rights are trampled upon. We DO
think that it is high time to gice up thus pot
icy OF 1,olitisal emaseulatioh."
The Era seems to suppose that the con-
duct of political parties. in grave crisis OF
public affairs, ought to be governed and
guided by common Sense. 1t apparently
forgeis the superior claims of what is popu-
LARRY styled political consistency, which con
sists in adhering to a position once taken,
right or wrong, regardless alike Of changed
circumstances or Of the consequences to
wIirh such adherence may lead. The Free
State men of Kansas a couple Of years ago
U
formed n state Constitution and el, cted state
officers Of their own-beli.vIng this to be
] the best method Of putting their case before
the country, ard "f urging their claims up
on the attention and adoption Of Congress.
But they failed in their attempt to enter thc
Union with the Topck Constitution. Con-
gress refused to recognise that instrument
as the le Ultimate embodiment Of the pop liar
. wilI-th- Executive Administration refused
10 adopt and enforce its provisions, and,
wlLa:is still worse, the people OF the conn-
t-y failed to elect either Congress or an
Executive which would reverse the action
Of thcir predecessors. IL would seem there
fore, 20 be as nearly certain as anything in
this uncertain world can be, that the Topeka
Constitution, and the Government organic
cd under 1t, are utterly eXplodcd-that what
little life they may once have had has long
since departed, and that they are now Of no
more importance 10 any party or any person
than the resolutions Of IS, or the eiirte
platform Of any political faction which died
and was buried twenty years ago.
But this fact Is deemed 10 he Of not the
slightest consequence by certain school Of
petitions. The circumstance that 4 party or
an issue is dead, does not strike them ~ toe
ing any reason why they should abandon it.
and. therefore, they cannot be anything else
in 1851. Pol!'ical " consistency require,
that they should stand in their rrackS--cyrn
IT he whole cOurtry should aiyc moved of.
They could not recognise the bogus !esis,a-
turc OF 1855, and, therefore, they cannot
counteuance any Of it, acts, even by taking
part in an election which might reSl.l; IN lis
Overthrow. They are 50 much opposed TO
making Kansas Il Save STATE, that tuey can-
Mt even 20 Ia the polls 10 out-v0tr those
who are trying tG secure that end. lh.> O.,
tie very QuIXO, Sm OF laftlZlH>hIV. Ii -
uore> everything but H. own "cuI> ~t-uCy
and, Of course, sacrifices every thiug to
tIat. And when Il cnd>-aS i very pro a.
h'y Wi! cud-.n the adoption OF Il Pro
: avery Constitution fer Kansas and her
a mission into the Union s.atu State
these men will lave the consolation Of re-
hec'inI that, whatever they may have lost,
their CONSISTENCY" has been preserved.
Politics Is ouiuenfiy an experimental
srieucc. and can 40 more i,uoie changed
. circumstances, than an experiment ia i.atJi-
raj science rau ignore the conditions essen
al 10 i!s ,ucce~>. There is a ~ large
class of artye politicians "h" feel bound 10
. keep up just A. active party cauEa-s after
o. t4rY did before the election. They or
they oppose It now. lhcy insisted that 1t
wuull ruin the roua,ry. and thy feel bound
TO insist upon it s,.l. They f. <, indeed,
60 hc th,ir solemn duty t. help !, achieve
tbs veza!,. IN sfGsf -, ,l,ir icons S,ctisy'
may - wand ~at-i and their principles t.
tAb.ishCd. NOW, it l. not cay. We confess.
TO break the force Of habit or to disregard
.he -vr''i',-vft- ara pu:Hiols o: the party or
Clique with which one mas been II a. oilS'y
acting. 1t J. much easier to resist and Il
more the opinion Of tie whole country. than
1t l. to oppose or doubt tne party with
which YOU have been accustomed To- act l.
cuS'> less truuo!c L. forget that tie Prosl-
dental election Is ovor.-that lac ErpUh.i-
cans were beaten and that whatever j. done
for the county must Ia. done hyttncir OF yO-
neu,S, that II do,s TO shape your action &c
cor,iug to those tAri facts. The easiest
way l. the DID way--G Oh with the fight, -
stand by the Topeka Constitution, ignore
the t.rri;oTia! authorities, -prcs,rvc Your
= CONSISTENCY and allow t.ose who hay,
the power and are disposed 70 abuse it to
40 aS they please So long as the Free
State men mi Kansas ATE governed Is such
COUNCILS As t csc, the National En- /, quite
,iLnt in saying that they may "tL9zk than
seize, If their rights ar trlmpleI upon