Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-02-26
OPINIONS OF THE INTERIOR MIN.
NESOTA PRESS. y 49,
MantorviIle Expressed Republican. }

l
MantorviIle Expressed Republican,
We like the bold and manly conclusion
which the ESprsss comes to in the following
article. The paper, relieved from the La Du
Union, promises to become vigorous expo
nent Of true Republicanism. 1t strikes tn
right chord in the Republican heart when
speaks of the Republican mission being t.
root out slavery, and that the masses will tol
crate no compromises" of this purpose.
WHAT is REpUBL1cANIsM s-The first grea
doctrine in the Republican creed undoubtedly
is opposition to the extension of Slavery owe
territory now free. As National organiza
ton, our party was called into existence, by
the sacrilegious abrogation of the Missouri
Compromise, by the Democracy. So bold anG
startling project for the extension of slave,n
so unanimously supported by the entire al
ministration party in Congress startled the
North from its lethargy and promoted a united
effort to resist.the Entertainments of the slave
power Men of every political precedent,
reused by the rallying cry Of danger, joined
the opposition forces. Thousands who had
till that time acted with the party they now
opposed, large share of the old Wing party,
and nearly the entire body of Free Sellers,
combined to form the National Republican
party. Unanimity of sentiment was not asked
or expected except in regard to the one point,
opposition to the extension of the slave sys-
tenn. Men who would have scorned the name
of aboitionist, and many who had really no
sympathy with the slave, and no sense OF
the system, united with the more ardent
opponents of slavery, to resist the encroach-
-ment, from motives of economical policy
The party, it must be admitted, was at that
time, even in regard to the subject of slavery,
mixture of incongrsOus sentiments and
ideas. s@
With these facts before us, it becomes a
pertinent and interesting inquiry to what ex-
tent genuine anti-slavery principles and feel
ings now prevail in the Republican ranks
We think there is every reason to believe that
so far as the masses of the people are concern
ed, that spirit is vastly more strong and prev
alent than at the formation of the party.
Indeed, we think opposition to slavery, not
only as political but as moral coil, and
crime, is the great animating idea of large
majority of the party. .. -..-. ... .
Various causes have tended to produce this
result. The mere fact of being disconnected
with party in league with the slave power,
has removed the scales from many eyes which
had been blinded by prejudice and education.
The course of the party in power, since that
time, has shown too clearly the aggressive ma
ture of slavery, and how it tramples under
foot the very foundation principles of our free
Government. M.
Pro-slavery men in Congress have been
LII -, &Io:n off ho.c
love and preference for the system, and Of their
contempt for labor and laboring men.
The free laborers of the North have been
tainted with being also slaves, and this has
awakened in their souls feeling of contempt
for the tyrants and of sympathy for their
hopeless victims.
The fragrant outrages committed with the
design of fastening the curse upon Kansas,
the persistent injustice and oppression of the
General Government towards the free state
men of that Territory, and lastly the outrage
GUS attempt to force upon them an obnoxious
has done much to open the eyes
of the people to the hideousness of slavery, and
to it's incompatibility with free Government.
The great mass of the northern people begin
to see slavery in its true light as q aoithering
curse upoa our land; moral cancer, threat
ening to tear out the very vital principles Of
free institutions, a brand Of shame which must
disgrace our whole nation while it is allowed
to exist
Time-serving leaders may dstrust the peo-
pie, and fear to announce trueprinciples openly
and boldly.
But there is no danger. The people are al
ways in advance of creeds and platforms
They will demand of the party with whom
they vote, and the candidates who ask their
suffrages, pledge of the full exercise of all
constitutional poaoer for combining and cisnrna-
ing the SLAVE POWER.
Nothing short of this will satisfy them.-
They will submit to no compromises
And should the Republican party 60 into
the campaign of 1860 with temporizing in
decisive platform it is doomed to inevitable
defeat.