The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-10-05
Republicans and AbOlitionists the same
in Temper and Spirit.
ARTICLE MBER TWO

platform of the Republicans, and we are
constantly confronted by enthusiastic clam
orers for Old Abe with the assertion, "Wby,
the Republicans don't intend to interfere
with slavery where it exists-they only want
to stop the spread of slavery"
THE REASON THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM DON'T
Avow THE SENTIMENTS OF THE PARTY.
To this it may be answered generally, that
men who engage in desperate and revolu-
tionary schemes would be very foolish to
publish their programme to the world. 1t
would have entirely thwarted John Browns
plans to have told Virginians his real OBJ
jects. He professed going to Virginia as far
mer. So John E. Cook kept his real platform
in his pocket, until he and his compatriots
could steal march on the Virginions. The
Republicans know that open abolitionism is
too strong diet yet awhile for the people.
They are we'll aware that an open avoscal of
abolitionism, would lose them more than
half their followers, who still claim some
conservatism, and some regard for the law
and the constitution. Their plan land it is
wise) is to lead them on by degrees, gradu-
ally fanaticise the public mind by rehearsals
Of southern cutrages, sectional appeals to
the pride, the jealousy, and the lower pas
sions of the north, instil into their minds
morbid hatred Of slavery and sickly senti~
mentalism. " Agitate, agitate, agitate," as
Giddings and Hale recommended, until the
will to abolish was educated and fostered in
the northern mind,-well knowing that
"where there is will there is way" and
platforms are only made of planks, which
are as easily taken up as they were put
down-which can be as easily altered as
they were originally made, and which are
constantly altered to suit the changing
views of the tickle multitude. Whenever
the will is educated and fostered, the way
will open, and the Republican platform will
be shifted as it has been on the Know n 9TH
ing question, to suit the popular breeze.
They aim first to abolish what they call
pro-slavery sentiment north-they will aim
to abolish slavery south.
ALL THEIR LABOR POINTLEss, UNLESS THEY
MEAN ABOLITIONIsM.
Again, it may be answered, it is impossi-
BILE to inaame the popular mind against slav-
cry, and array the north as unit against
the south, and inculcate the higher law doc
trines of Seward and his " irrepressible
conflict" and contempt for every law
sanctionipg the rights of southern men and
every court upholding those laws; it is inn
possible to band together million and a
half of men, with their passions excited and
wrought up to the highest pitch, with thou
sands of presses, pulpits ard rostrums add
ing fuel to the flame it is impossible to
get up all this destructive machinery, point
its batteries against the institution of slave
ry, and then tell the million and a half of
men, not to interfere Nth Slavery autere it
erists-for they nnotinterfere acith it any
schere else, and they will never appreciate
the point of raising such tremendous storm
to end in nothing-to be directed towards
an evil where 1t don't erist, and where it
never can or never will exist, unless the peo-
pie want it, and tie climate and soil are
suitable for it, which is not the case in foot
of territory belonging to the United States.
They will demand to be led on in the cir
repressible conflict marked out by their
great leader-Wm. H. Seward-until
The United States shall become entirely a
free labor nation and the cotton and rice fields
| of South Carolina, and the sugar plantations of
Louisiana shall ultimately be titled by free Ia
Dor, and Charleston and New Orleans become
marts for legitimate merchandise alone.
THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY DEMANDED BY
LINCOLN AND Stewards "IRREPREssIBLE
CONFLICT" AND AssENrED TO BY THE CHI
CAGO CONVENTION.
This is the "confict" marked out for the
party by Seward. To this conflict he de.
mands the assent of the party, and to this
conflict the party at Chicago asssnted by
adopting Abraham Lincoln, the original au-
thor of this doctrine, as their candidate for
the Presidency, "confsssing," as Seward said
in..his Boston speech, "ths obligations of the
HIGHER LAW" and "contending for
aueal or noe, for life or death, in the IRE
PRESSIBLE CONFLICT between free.
dom and slavery." Thus already is shad-
owed forth the advanced steps to be taken
after the territorial question is settled.
Thus Mr.. Seward, the mouth of the par
ty, tells us "this is nozephemeral struggle,
but conflict between opposing and endur-
ing forces which means that THIS Ma.
TION mot simply the Territories) is to be
altogether FREE LABOR NATION,
or altogether slaveholding nation"
Thus, by evidence stronger than platforms
by sanctions higher and more binding than
paper resolves, by the vital breath and spirit
of the party emanating from its leaders,
and captains, and taken up and adopted by
the party in its Presidential candidate, and
acted on and carried out by the rank and
file in every State and county North. :,