The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-07-03
Duty Of Republicans.


Duty Of Republicans.
There is fallacy in the reasoning ofthose
who profess to find in the unanimity with
which the people of the North, irrespective
sfparty, have rushed to the support Of the
government, and have enlisted to fight its
battles, evidence of the extinction of all par
ties, party organizations and obligations to
party. 1t is said that party is dead and all
have united as one man in tbs fight for ma
tional existence.
The fallacy consists in eonfoundfng the
extraordinary demands and obligations of
the war, with the ordinary operations and
claims ofparties in civil affairs. No doubt
there is a unanimity, the most sublime the
world ever saw on the part of the Northern
people, in fighting for the government. No
distinction is felt or recognized in the army,
between Democrats or Republicans. They
literally stand shoulder to should r, and
share impartially all the dangers and priva-
tons as well as tile distinctions and glories
of the service. This il all noble, and patr-
otto, as we'll as right and rational
But it does not follow tiat all party ties
and Obligations have been obliterated SO far
as civil affairs and governmental policy is
concerned. 1t may he that such ought to
be the fact, but we contend that such is not
the fact We have never heard of Demo-
ocrat, the most patriotic and the strongest
in support Of the present administration in
its efforts to maintain the Federal govern
ment, not even Mr.. Douglas himself, who
protested any change Of political opinion or
who recognised any inconsistencyjn Demo
erat, as such, supporting the common gov
crnment in defending tile common flag ofthe
country. They all evidently and very prop
erly repudiate the idea that in helping an
not of their choice, put down
4 dangerous rebellion, they become thereby
members ofthe political party by whom the
was placed in power. They
Nil say that they remain Democrats STILL and
intend to remain Democrats, and such is
the fact And if this is true
Of the Democrats who are for the Union, it /
certainly ought to b. true Of Republicans,
who to man are for the Union first, last
and all the time.
There are many Republicans who, in the
exuberance Of their benevolence and patriot
ism, feel that because Democrats and Repub-
licans fraternisc in the army, they ought to
fraternise at the polls; that there ought to
be no party nominations in the presence Of
this great national struggle. They think it
not only right but practicable for Union men
of all politics to act together tremendously
and effectively, as Union party, for the
preservation ofthe Union and suppression
Of rebellion, entirely independent of all past
political claims, prejudices, habits and asso-
Citations.
With all due respect for these gentlemen
and with an effort to give to their views all
possible consideration, we are compelled to
differ with them. We think thc-eourse they
recommend is unnatural, impra cticable, in
expedient and wrong. 1t is so for many
reasons. In the first place, there is no reason
to bel eve that the organizations of either Of
the parties Will or can be abandoned. In ia Ct
there is abundant reasons to know that the
Democrats, as a party, will not abondon theirs
They will hold a convention, nominate party
ticket, and make the best fight they can, as
usual. Can anybody expect anything else
Suppose the Republicans should give up taei,
organization and unite with such Democrats
as might be disposed to unite-with them, in
calling and holding a Union Convention
what then +? We should see just what We
saw at our City election last spring. The
Democrats would nominate every Dcmocra
on the Union ticket, and with the help o.
Republicans, elect their half This on thu
part Of Republicans would doubtless be be
nevolent as well as magnaminous, however
agreeable it might be to see, as would bt
seen, the Democratic half of the Union tickle
working and voting to defeat the Republican
half This latter might not be done, but j
not it would be no fault Of its enemies OF
credit to its friends.
Then again, there is too much at stake tt
risk anything upon the contingency of the
success OF new party. The Republican
Party placed Mr.. Lincoln in Office, end they
are under sacred obligations to stand by hin
while he stands by the principles upon which
he was elected. That lac has done so, dis
creetly. wisely, periodically, nobly no
only Republicans, but Democrats without
number, admit. No Republican, surely, viii
for moment entertain purpose to with
draw their confidence and support, even BY
implication, from their noble champion, at
moment when he stands so blarely confront