, 1861-02-16
4 MODB6T QUEKY,

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE has generally
been accounted Republican journal OF
conservative proclivities. 1t did some ser
vice IN the good cause anterior to the nomi-
nation OF LINCOLN, and continued its labors
until lie was elected. It has been usually
recognized as an earnest, outspoken and
reliable monitor and guide.
Suppose when the last contest was at its
heighth-say month before election, when
the threats Of disunion and revolution
were rs thick and just as alarming as they
are to-day-thc TR1EUSE had astonishcd
its rcaders-among others certain pork men
and water street grocers-by IN uncondi-
tional abandonment Of the Platform Of the
party, AMI IN adhesion to the DANTE or
Breckinridge plan for regulating tho status
Of all tho territory in the United States
that will ever be threatened with the en-
croachments OF Slayery-what would hare
been said? What terms would have been
severe enough, what denunciatiens bitter
enough TO express the morti6caGo1Aa md
rage Of its Republican readers? The names
Of its editors and proprietors would have
been synonyms Of reachery and rascali-
II; aud they would barely have escaped
personal violence at the hands Of those
whom they had betrayed?
We ask-1s not the truth in October, tie
truth in february? We ask again-As
men who are shaping aud moulding the
opinions Of tho people Of the Northwest,
a. we devouuy believe for patriotic pur
pose, what would be thought Of Us, if any
loafer could shake his fist under our
editorial hoses and coerce us into disa-
vowa1 Of the sentiments which VIC enter
tain and which this journal proclaims?
VIC need not answer the question-our
readers will do that.
Apply the foregoing to the state Of facts
now existing and see where the shame is:
Is not s!avery the same monster Of hideous
mien that We contended against with such
special earnestncss from May to November:
Is its extension into the national domain,
under constitutional guarantees, any less
a great crime now than then: No msn
can say No! to these questions. Why
then shall We he blamed if we cor
tinue on that road in which all
Republicans agreed TO travel? Why, i!
we ought not to submit to threats at homo,
aud write under the impulse Of personal
fear,-shall VIC quail when State threat
ems? Have The issues changed? No.
Ha. Right lapsed into Wrong? Nc.
Why then give way! Because, cay
the subm;ssionists, there's tho South in a
threatening attitude, and il you and those
like you persercre in the way in which.
conscience and patriotism point, she will
do some desperate thing; perhaps she will
secede, trade will be injured, and you as
we'll as NC shall suffer loss-in other words,
there's that threatening ruffian with his tist
under your uose-now surrender!
No, gentlemen, no! Truth is not cha
meleon. Principle ante-dates policy. Du'y
outwcishs interest. Love Of Liberty IS
stronger than love OF pelf, are maxina
upon which the TRIBUNE is conducted Ii
Republicans Go not like its coursc, let them
drop it. It may CT, misjudge, be hasty,
passionate, possibly intolerant, ut times
but they shah never have reason to say that
it was false to its principles or that 1t quail
ed before threats. For very shame, it
could Motif it would, be to-day what it was
! not yesterday-this year what it was noi
last year. Let others cringe and so theiz
way. We staud TO the colors,