The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-05-17

The Presldency-PrOp0seu Oesis Oh AcAo"
All parties are more or less afflicted with milk
snd-water men-time-servers, who, perhaps OF
account Of their peculiar mental organization
find it extremely difficult 70 contend answering
ly for the great distinctive principles that in al
mos. every political struggle separate the mas
ses into mighty contending hosts, but are forev
er treading with tm:d steps, the low, marshI
ground Of erpediency, where men of ordinary
caliber would plump in at once, and be
come nextricably mired. Two other classes We
will mention. One 10 made up Of those, who
when they see any particular, party successful
(say for instance the Republican party,) anC
bearing down all opposition in its triumphan
course, will join its ranks, not from any love fo
its principles, but that they may take advantag,
Of the first opportunity that is presented TO be
tray il. The other class consists Of those who
affect singularitv, and seek to distinguish them
selves by striking out some imprsct;cable and Of
ten ruinoas course Of action.
Which of these classes the genus homo of the
st. Joseph Traveller belongs to, We leave OuI
readers 10 determine. In No. : of this sbee,
We find the letter of Hon. Edward Bates, OF
Missouri, ana long editorial enuorslng il, and
declaring that las political touchstonc it can
hardly be excelled."
The portion Of this letter which receives the
particular commentator Of the 1rdvelei', and
which all true Republicans mus, smph atically
condemn is as as follows:
n t...- iuuax
thought, and often declared in speech and in
print that il is pestent question, the aSita ton
OF which has never done good to any party, Sec
ton or class, and never can do good, unles.I 1t
be accou1ted good to stir up the angry passi ons
of men, and exasperatc the unreasonng Jealousy
Of sections, and by these bad means foist SO ne
unfit men into office, and keep some hit men out.
Ii il a sensitive question, into whose dangerous
vortex il is quite possible for good men 10 be
drawn unawares.
But when see a man, at the south or north,
Of mature age and some experience persist IN
urging the question, after the sOrrowful expert
ence of the last few years, | can attribute nis
conduct to no higher motive than personal snbi-
ton or sectional prejudice"
In another column this redoubtabe editor has
the following efusion,--we presume for the pur-
pose of making the above wonderful thes IS more
comprehensive to his readers:
"The Negro question was the cause OF the
downfall of the Wing party. 1t anDihilated the
Know Nothing party. Ii will use up the Demo-
cratic party hook and line in 1860. Verify 1T is
a psstiient question which does no good to any
party The republican party ought 10 he AL
monished not to touch the question, but to pre-
serve its high constitutional prerOgative in res;-
ting only the encroachments upon the dignity of
Free Labor, which is the very corner stone of
our national prosperity
Verify, here is a sage That the NEGRO
question" caused the downfall OF the Wing par
ty" is true-and whys
That party arose at time when questions of
a financial nature were agitated in the country,
and so long as the National Bank, a Protective
these measures gathered beneath the folds
of its banner, and the party had life, unity and
strength.
But when the policy of the country became
established upon these measures and other great
questions arose upon rhich its members differed
in their riers, its ultimate dissolution became
certain, and was fastened, bit not caused, by
defeat
ut annihlated the Know Nothing party
Well, the Know Nothing party sprang mp at
time when the Slavery or Negro" question had
risen to the dignity of National issue, and aside
from the narrowness OF its platform, which nec-
essarily made it temporary, and the secrecy of
its organization which necessarily made it odious,
We know of no more potent agent in terminating
its career than than this same policy Of ignor.
ing the negro question, which it is proposed the
Republican party shall adopt.
ut will use up the Democratic party hook and
line in 1860" For the fuflment of this predic- |
ton We offer fervent prayer, with hearty |
Amen.
But why is the Democratic party on the verge |
Of humiliation? Because, departing from the |
old landmarks of Democracy and violating sacred
and time-honored compscts, they have engaged |
in series Of high-handed aggressions upon the |
rights Of free people, until the
cup Of their iniquity is full and running
over, and an aroused and indignant people |
are determined to make their supremacy thing
which mas but - not Now for tho deduction
from these premises. 1.-THE Republican party
ought to be adlnonished not to touch tho ques-
'ion, but to preserve its high Constitutional pre-
rogative in resisting only the encroachment it |
threatens upon the dignity of Free Labor" 1t
seems to US that even q rooden man might be
made to understand that opposition to 'encroach.
ments" OF the Slave Power is one of the life-giv-
ing principles Of the Republican party, and how
the aforesaid resisting" can be carried on,
when We are mot to touch the question" is
verify past our feeble comprehension.
1t is idle to suppose that the Republican party
will consent to 'ignore"its great and distinctive
principles which are, and must be for years to
come, vital issues before the country, until the
old landmarks Of Republcanism are restored, and
& shall become again the settled policy of the
country that Freedom IS National and Slarerv
and that as far as the powers of the
General Government can be brough, to bear.
Justice shaU Be established and the BLESSINGS or
Liberty secured TO selres and our posteritv.
We close this article by few extracts from
The National Era upon this subject, which we
most heartily endorse:
1.-THE Issues have been raised--the Tests have
been made-the country must have an Anti-Sla.
very or Pro-Slavery Administration. We can.
not cheat each other-we cannot unmake the