The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-12-01

force to coerce thenl7 sstcrlHcc Cuoii WV ~
tions and their conciences to moral 'tyr-
amy If their own makings And these
we find in our midst. Do not try to DIS
cause.-the fact. There are no bayonets
here :a,yainst convictions. There rs no
mower here that could prevent the lowest
cehiH,o Of the people from having a WIN
ana convictions Of his own, and from ex-
pressing them freely. Every one IS the
sovereign master Of his own self. And
vet how many are there who imolate Their
scorsciences, their convictions, all Their
moral independence, on the alter OF saw
age idol, whose name is Party, How
anany submit to thraldom, which is the
more shameful as it's unsupported by
force, and rests only on the slaylsh pro-
pe.fsities of its desotees.
Is not so? Are not the real feelings OF
the masses trampled with IMMUNITY, and
public opinioa treated with contempt'
Are not the most atrocious constitution
al doctrines imposed upon the people
with. as much arbitrariness as the despots
of the old world impose ukases on their
subjects And yet rank and fleet party
stife the warning voice of concience, and
obey, obey. obey! Do not call that re-
belion which recently broke out IN the
carnp, an indication of moral independence
What is it but that one pretender rises
against another, each eager to WELD the
rod of command alone? What is 1t, but
that, in the play of Capaletti and Mon
tehci. the house of Douglas rises against
the house of Buchanan, the white rose
fights the red, an apti-pope lighting
against the pope, but both trying to rule
their clients and followers of the same rule
and to whip them with the same whlpi
Who is the greatest despot Of the two!
Does not Douglas on the one side, dictate
principles IN the same absolute way as
Buchanan does OH the others It is nothing
but double-headed party despotism.
Those who were sincerely fighting for
principle will have to leave the party. The
South will soon declare her sovereign
pleasure, the greedy courtiers will crowd
the anti chamber Of the victor, and order
will reign in Warsaw.
Such is the party, which has stood so
long at the helm Of affairs. It's history
and its present condition are full of in
struction for the people; for not tho pol
iticians, but the masses, who supported
them are responsible for the curse of de-
moralization which that party has brought
upon US.
1t is said, that there are but few men
who. however honest otherwise, can with
stand the seductions of power. Ii this is
true, what effect must it have on political
leaders, when they see that i'll point Ct
Of principle and political doctrine, they
can do with the masses whatever they
please? When they find out that they
will be obeyed and applauded whatever
their command may be- There is no
sumerset SO glazing, NJ sophistry SO abb
surd, aud no doctrine so atrocious, but
the rank and file will accept them. That
they may sell themselves. and sell others
thout being rebuked! That they may
even squander the money and rob the
treasury of the people, without being held
to accouats Nay that their very depravity
gives them claim on the protection OF
their party? Let me tell you, that not
only the politicians debauched the con-
science of the people by contempt of prin-
ciple, but that the masses demoralized
the politicians by culpable indulgence
Yes, when that party put an honest
man in office, they done all they could
to make rascal out of him, while he was
in power, and the virtue of many man
has thus been victinaized by his constitu
ency. And when, at last. such a man
has become regular scoundrel, he did
in his turn all he could to demorallze all
who made him SO, We might call this
democratic reciprocity and it is in full OPP
Grafton everywhere.
Where this course would lead, if the
masses persevered in it, | do not know.
But [ do know there is no remedy, unless
we pur the axe to the root of evil, and
consider this one of the most important
parts of the mission of Republcanisn. II
must be our principal object, not only tc
catch the peoples votes for our can.
didates, but enlist in our cause the peoples
conscience. We must encourage moral
independence in politics; we must oncour-
age every man to think and to reason fol-
himself, to form his own convictions, and
to stand by them; we must entreat them,
never to accept, unseen and uninvestiga
ted, the principles or opinions of Others
even if they be our own. Let those who
follow your lead, believe in your words
because what YOU say is true, and not be-
cause you say it. Do not objecs that this
will loosen the party organization, and de
stroy its efficiency. For our cause is
great, and the principles of Republican.
ism stand on the first ground of the
rights of man. The closer they are in.
yestigated the clearer they stand in the
open light of day, the more invinclble
they are. If what you say is true, you
need no tricks snd deception in order te
make people believe. Address yourselves
to their moral nature, and their con
science will enlighten their understanding
Then you will organize the party of in
dependent men. This independence will
keep the rank and file vigilant, and this
vigilance will keep the leaders upright
and honest. twill put an end to the
omnipotence of wire-pulling, and nip Re
publican Hunkerism in the bud. know
it will require incessant work to keen
up something like discipline in that party
but it will be an object worth working for
for such an organization will never be.
come mere tool in the hand of selfish
I