Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-07
The Duty of Republlcans--sThe Demands
of the Tlmea.


EDIToRs LEADER You may not be
wholly unwilling 10 receive, and perhaps,
to publish communication from this quar-
ter, although we have never seen anything
in your columns credited to the citizens Of
Madison. Indeed, we seldom speak through
the press, and will say but lille now but
we will speak tho minds Of many in this
locality. We are fully convinced that
your valuable paper is the best exponent
Of the great Republican idea-and in fact
the only one in your city with sufficient
courage and magnanimity to resolutely and
faithfully defend our principles, now SO
we'll represented in the lower House Of
Congress by A. G. Riddle, and in the SEN
ate by POn. B. F Wade. We are no poll
tician, and have no ambition 10 be one;
but we have a laudablo amount Of patriot
ism, an earnest desire for the welfare Of
the nation, and the utter overthrow Of its
enemies North and South. We would not
dsmpen the hope nor lessen the prospect
Of a speedy and satisfactory termination
of this war. Yet we are impressed that as
whole, We are TOO saagliae. That the
signs of the times are cheering, all must
admit. But suppose the back Of this
wicked rebellion is broken, and its hideous
and serpent-like form passing from our
view, Us spirit s0iH certainly tarry lOih as,
and, we doubt not, prove far more treach-
erous, cunning and formidable enemy than
its aniHiated form. Even now, stimulated
by an approaching election, this fCulBpirit
begins to reanimate its old rotten carcass, and
this mass Of corruption actually raises its
hydra head, and with brazen impudenee
talks Of Union conservative candidates and
compromises. This demand for comprO-
mise measures and compromise men, is not
confined 10 Congress and national ques-
tions. It extends to every school district
and to the lowest offices in the gift of the
people. II is sensibly felt in this county
and township. It is advocated by milk
and-water Republicans, no less than the
secret enemies of our government. We
should meet that spirit and stamp it lOith
shame as promptly in county and town
ship, as in State and Nation. 1t viii GER
tainly need no argument to prove that in
every concession to the "cutsneous De-
moeracy," liberty has suffered detriment.
This wooden horse Of compromise, once
taken in, is always found fun Of armed
men. Sometimes, indeed, a present adj
vantage may seem to be gained, but a ret
repression, back stroke, is as certain to
follow as effect follows cause.
" Wrong ever builds on uiclxssnds, but the right
To the firm centre lays its moveless base" :
The adamant Of justice is the only sure
foundation. That barbarism and civiliza-
ton cannot exist together, is written upon
| every page of the worlds history. If we
| wish to upset colossal system Of wicked
ness, we must take universal principle;
one that underlies all ages, and parties
and creeds; one not MANNED by oompro-
mise limits nor distorted by compromise
restrictions. With such a principle for
orr lever, and faith in God as our fulcrum,
we can turn the world upside down. For
\ the Puritans to behead that tyrant peTju-
rer, Charles Stewart, was q bold act, but
they had learned by sad experience that
no bonds would hold him but the bonds Of
/ DEATH and no prison but the grave, and
! there they put him. Death is the only cure
/ for compromise and slavery. If there is
/ any weapon in the wide armory Of Justice
| which will cleave down these colossal sins,
we are bound to use it. If the Republi-
can party was strong enough in 1860 TO
hurl from the places they disgraced the
norf1y than "a narzll,.-Si. hfssts1rJ1Urr UT- IUs
own choice Certain it is that experience
\ has shown us that our rights and the best
interests Of our country are quite as safe,
! quite as well subserved in the hands Of
Republicans as when yielded to the tender
/ care Of those who fought Republicanism
until it triumphed, and who now, because
their party is given over TO iniquity-be-
| cause from it shines forth no ray of light,
/ and all is as the blackness of midnight,
rendered dismal by the terrors of q Grip
| pied rebellion on the one hand and an utter
| loss Of power on the other, modestly ask
US to compromise and give them exactly
what we have been fighting to secure. No.
Let as have no more compromise. Rather
let US point them for example to our Rid
die - and Wade in Congress, who dare ad-
voeate the whole truth, and speak it right
out Point them to Republieanism, COW
cred as it is with glory by the mighty tri-
umph it has achieved in this great contest
between oppression, disunion, and the
power Of slavery on the one hand, and
equal representation, freedom of speech
and the press, and the eternal principles
Of our Declaration of Independence on the
other, and bid them blush for the infamous
rscTedRey and degeneraey of their once proud
party and leaders Let us tell them to
first serve their season Of probation, and
by their act and vote aad life, prove them
selves safe depOsitaries of power and
worthy representatives Of a free people
Let us tell the people in every election pre-
cinct in our State that unless this spirit
of compromise can be aWed by the thun-
ders of the public voice now, while we
have it in our power, our present songs of
triumph will soon be substituted for the
requiem of unavailing repentance, and
sackeIoth and ashes for the livery Of rejoic
ing. & c.