Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-01-16
The Convention.


tcrday was largely attended. Those who
desired to wicld the Democratic party for
disloyal purposes. among whom were the
most active and prominent Of the leaders,
used great exertions to procure full force
of their own men. that they might control
the Convention, and the loyal portion
turned out fully to resist them. But the
managers had taken time by the fore
lock, and secured so large portion of
the delegations by local effort thas they
manifestly controlled the body. This was
evident from the start But it was equal
ly evident that if they tried to force the
Convention into open or even covert hos
tility to tho war. they would meet a resis-
tance that would ruin the whole arrange
ment. The loyal men were strong and de-
ter'nined. But though not strong enough
to control and dicate the position of the
Convention. they were strong enough to
check and modify the disloyal designs
of the others. The consequence of this re-
sistance is seen in the resolutions. The
platform is queer medley of hesitating
loyalty. and timorous disloyalty. The
war is charged upon the Republicans, but
if wagcd "for the maintenance of the Cor.
stitution" it pledges itself to support il.
Our soldiers arc justly eulogized. but the
rebels are norhere censured The war is
nowhere opposed. but is nowhere cordially
and fully approved. The Administration
is denounced, Of course, and the Demo
cratic party proclaimed to be the on
ly one capable of restoring the Govern
ment to its former condition, but it seems
to have been completely forgotten that the
Democratic party is as largely represented
as the Republican in the officers of the ar
my who direct the war by which the Coy
ernmenr is to be restored. In all that re-
lates to the war the language is guarded.
cautious. and timid. This is the natural
result Of compromise between those who
oppose it and those who support it. On
points where there was no difference the
language is bold and decided enough, as in
denouncing the arming of slaves, and the
waging of the war for the overthrow of
State institutions. But here they could
speak safely, for no patty disagrees. Il is
said that at the mouth of the Amazon the
tremendous current of the river encounter
ing the incoming tide from the ocean
makes violent and turbulent ridge of
water. which boils up and down without
moving in any direction. These resolu-
tions are an illustration Of the same effect
in the encounter OF political cross currents.
They seons be fully. heartily and cordial
ly loyal, and dare not be openly disloy.l.
So they are bubble and foam of besita.
ton, dodging. and caution. Disloyalty
prevented loyalty from speaking out, and
loyalty was outgeneralcd and gagged. But
the significant fact that nonhere are the
rebels denounced. nowhere charged with the
crime of the bloodshed which they have
caused, but that the blame of the war is
laid mainly upon the North. shows what
spirit had the upper hand in the meeting.
One amusing "dodge" it is worth while to
notice separately. The resolutions declare
the "unalterable attachment of the party to
the principles avowed by all Democratic
National Conventions" But they omit
to say phich of the National Conventions
at Baltimore made the genuine "old Jacob
Townsend Sarsaparilla." If they had.
they might have shown that there was
lquite as much provocation Of the rebellion
in the Douglas as the Republican platform.
The declaration ''tha. the sectional princi :
pies ayowed at Philadcl Dhia and Chicago
caused the feeling which produced the re-.
bellion, was unkind to John Petit. who
said in his letter. which we published yes.
terdsy, that the Republican platform was
more conservative than that Of the Doug