Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-21


The Union Movement.
The Warren Chronicle thinks that the
LEADER oyerlooks the more weighty con-
alterations which suggested the organiza-
tiOn Of the Union party, and is governed
by selfish feelings in its present opposition
to that movement. We assure the Chroni-
Gle, and all others who oandidly disagree
with our present position, that such is by
no means the case. We have no selfish in
terest to further; no considerations to in
auence US save those of the good of the
country, the State and the party. Wesay
"and the party" for we hold it to be the
duty of every representative Of party
whose principles are just and right, to up
hold the interests of that party whenever
It can be done without prejudice to the gem
eral welfare That the Republican party
can now be sustained and its principles
urged without detriment to the good of the
country at large we firmly believe.
The Chronicle truly says that the Union
party was to waive past differences and eff
feet a cooperation Of all parties that they
might present united front against the
rebellion and in support of the administra-
tion. But was the contract fulfilled by
the Democratic party2 Il was certainly
as binding upon them as upon Republi-
cans. The latter did honOrably give up all
party spirit and enter heartily into the
Union movement; the former gave no
united or even general support to the move
ment, but nominated distinctive ticket
and drew off much more than half their
strength from the Union platform, albeit
that platform was framed with distinct
avoidance of anything obnoxious to the
Democracy. The Chronicle says that
Union Democrats We'd with Republicans
in whole-souled devotion to the welfare Of
the country" Admitting, for the sake Of
argument that this was generally true, of
how large a portion of the Democratic
party were those Union Democrats the rep
resentatiyes2 And would not those who
thus looked only to the welfare of the
country have equal opportunity for dis
playing their patriotism by joining direct
" with the Republicans, as by meeting
them half way? They profess to be utter
ly opposed to the platform of Vallandig-
ham & Co.. how can they better and more
efeotually oppose it than by joining the
Republican ranks7 The Chronicle viii
not deny that the Republican principles
are such as all well wishers to the Govern
ment may cordially agree upon; what is
to prevent loyal Democrats from sustaining
them? We would not be stickless
for the name of Republieanism il
under the name Of q Union, the same
principles would be upheld in their purity
But Of this we have no assurance. On
the contrary, the experiment was fairly
tested last year, and the result was any
thing but gratifying to those who have Ia
bored for years to secure the triumph Oi
Republican principles.
The Chronicle draws the inference from
the LEADERS article, that because the Leg
islature last winter, failed to elect q
United States Senator, therefore the Union
party is a failure. We make no such
charge. We do say that that refusal to
elect Senator was one of the unfortunate
results of the Union movement, but if il
had been faithfully carried out and sus-
tanned in all other particulars we could
pass this by.
The Chronicle says that neither the
LEADER nor the Herald clique will control
the people Of the State in this matter
We are the organ Of no clique Whar
we have written has been upon higher
ground than the advancement Of persona
interests or the dictation of any clique
And knowing this, we plainly tell the peO
pie what we believe their duty is in th'
premises If they again suffer themselves
to be sold into partial bondage to doctrines
adverse to their Republican faith, it shal
not be for want of warning.