The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-05-01
The Democracy and the War.

From the Boston Post.
There are no State elections for six
months It is fit time for frank political
communion. Especially fit is it that con-
sentative men should endeavor to under
stand each other; for there are signs of
mischief, of disunion among them. We
cannot resist the conviction, that their
union on the simple basis of fidelity to
the Constitution, not as extremists one
way or the other, chose to construe it,
but as, in essentials and fundamentals, it
was construed by the court and the coun-
try for the two generations We were
united and hence powerful and happy ma
tion-union on this basis constitutes the
hope of the nation for final peace on the
basis of one nationality.
There is, fortunately, authentic evidence,
at the polls of the October and November
elections of last year, Of what tends to
unite conservative men. 1t was such po-
litical action, as in good faith, ignored
mere partisanship, but kept in the front
rank what belonged to constitution and
country. This was done in the democrat
ic State organizations in their conventions.
They protested against the abolition pro-
CRANE, but, as sOrrowfui necessity, they
urged prosecution of the war. Some at
the North, who said, "wayward sisters, go
in peace" and are opposed to the war,
voted with the triumphant party, but they
did not give tone to its platform; and it
was its broad nationality that attracted
portion of the republicans who voted with
the democrats, because they recognized
<ho e
that this organization, as the representa-
tive of great and traditional law-abiding
party, is the only power that can trium-
phantly breast the wild and destructive
radicalism of this crisis hour.
The action of New York, specially, may
be termed representive action; for Bell
and Everett men, and constitutional re-
publicans and democrats welcomed the
calm, well-put, statesman-like speeches of
Horatio Seymour before his election; the
platform on which he was nominated his
noble address as Governor. His language
before election was, "We solemnly dedi-
cate ourselves, and all we hold dear, to a
restoration of the Union as it was. To
this end, the ranks of our armies shall be
kept full, and the treasury of the nation
replenished." The same pledge was re-
newed in the brief and model platform
adopted by the State Convention at Al
bany, which met precisely the public
wants. Though it came from the demo-
cratic organization, yet it lowered so far
above party as to make worthy platform
on which the sincere supporters of the I'm,
ion, the constitution and the law, felt they
could stand and breast armed secession at
the South, and insidious anti-lawism in the
North. It was platform for the country;
and while it was responded to by a noble
conservative phalanx in New York, it
was echoed from New Jersey and other
States in majorities, at the polls. Only
two democratic Governors, however, could
constitutionally be elected-those of New
Jersey and New York and, thus far, have
either manifested the disposition, so reck-
lessly charged upon them in the canvass,
of resisting the war; The New York
Times, reckless as is its course towards
the democrats, comedies (Aprii 8, 1869
that Governor Seymour and Governor
Parker shave shown no disposition to lift
finger toward embarrassing President
Lincoln" and it has "no doubt that they
will effectually cooperate with him when
ever and however it shall be found neces-
sary." The democrats desired to sustain
President Lincoln for the sake of the
country; it was the terrible suicidal press
ure that embarrassed him, and forced him
into the lamentable action that created
such sorrow at the North.
But since these elections, the extrem-
lists, representing the few who are at heart
opposed to the war, and perhaps at heart
in favor of recognition ofthe Oonfederaey,
have come forward with peace propesir