Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-10-01

and opportunity, to stir UP revolt for the SAX
OF civil promotion. It is prize offered 70
the greatest proficiency in disloyalty and pub
lie disturbance. It is made the qualification
OF Governor, of large and powerful State
70 have declared void the acts Of Congress
the authority Of the public servants, and ex
cited Instruction among the people whose
government is rendered to him. The example
OF allaRdigham is more deprayed than the
combined ferocity of the New York rabble
because 1t leads to such outbreaks. The only
compensation in this shocking transaction i;
that the brutal murderers who are instigated
by such teachings. viii serve out their period
OF Incarceration and stink out of sight. but
the Ohio traitor will never be forgotten as
long as the name of Benedict Arnold is re-
membered. twill retain its bad pre- commence
/ after his more feeble imitators in Wisconsin
shall have persisted forever.
lamentable want of political candor is
observable throughout all this enormous plat
form. The Northern or loyal states have
been visited, we are told, by an experience
OF woe and danger, of tyranny and oppres-
sion to an extent seldom found on the pages
OF history, and the final conclusion is an
nounced: ''Better Liberty and right ont of the
Union, than a government abore the Consultation
and lars" This piece of gasconade is not an
original conception with the platform. It is
an oSd fre-eate3's sentiment, drank too 1njH a.
fa'lse for the last quarter Of a century IN .Sostth
Carolina, and tie stare cities qeneroly, from
u3teace it has been tronsplanted 6y our Wisconsin
oracteS. And to give point to this motto, we
are further told that in certain contingencies
the masses will be found worthy of the faith
ers who founded the constitution ''by initial.
ing their example under lawless oppression"
That is, the Constitution is to be preserved
by levying war against the federal authority,
as our fathers did against George the Third
and the Stamp Act. 1t is to be deplored that
able men will work themselves up to such
pitch Of lnt1ammatory expression at an hour
requiring SO much elaboration as the present,
and 1t Is still more wonderful that such south
ern eXotlcs should make their appearance il
the medltatlons of modern expOunder To
cap the climax, the genius of Wisconsin, ia
lntuSng hatred of lawful authority, soar to
such height that it declares the history of
the world has rarely shown a grosser or more
systematic abuse of powers or more insolent
assumption OF arbitrary power, and that the
administration, in conducting the war. has
left the world in doubt whether their princi-
pal object is to restore the Constitution at
the South or to subvert it at the North. In
the Administration to subvert the Constitu-
ton at the North, have been equal to all the
great battles, and the expenditure of a thou
sand million OF treasure, and hundred thou
sand lives, engulphed in this war against the
South
Is not this the language of insanity?
We are told that the South are destrol in
the most benig nant government on earth, but
III another breath we are informed that our
own authorities are systematic oppressors, in
S0lent assumers OF power and deliberate vi0-
Iators Of the law, and that no man can tell
whether they are attempting to destroy the
constitution or to save it; that we are right
IN defending our country, but that the ad-
mlnlStratlon Is not the government, and that
we have ii right to revolt from it. If we
would march firmly against the enemy, we
are pointed to greater foe among our com
rades. The broad ground is admitted that
the South has robbed us of our tairest pos
sessions, but we are especially instructed that
we nave been robbed Of our most precious
privileges by our own government in the
North. w are told that most undoubtedly
we should defend the Union of our fathers, and
the same breath admOnishes US that the very
means employed to do so are in danger of be-
ing used IN the most unholy device ever con-
CelNtu ny tyranny ana amDltlOn.
The armies OF the South are our enemies
on all the battle-felds in this war, and on the
seas OF the earth. They have destroyed our
peace, shed our blood, and sunk our ships for
two year. Yet we are told that an equal
enemy prepares destruction for Us at home,
and that both of them are foes to US of the
greatest magnitude.
In d Crisis demanding the utmost singleness
OF mind, an honest patriotic party ask advice
they are ANXIOUS to do their duty, and they
repair to "a pubHcist OF note he gives them a
platform, and their confusion is complete.
They are thus imbued with the idea that
the National Administration and the Demo-
cratic party constitute hostile elements, and
tnat the latter must find fault with and de-
nounce every act Of the former. The safety
OF the country is at stake, and may be deeply
and fatally affected by this ruthless proscrip-
ton; yet the most AFFECT subservancy to
these prejudlces Is the only acceptable pledge
OF party obedience, although it banishes JUS
tice and patriotism from our ranks, and de
prlves our country Of our sympathy and aid in
the moment when its life or death hangs upon
passing events.
Again, an able-bodied youth experiences
an antipathy towards shouldering musket,
and consequently desires to defraud the coun-
y
ors tell him that the war is a nefarious one,
and may become "unholy" in its present
hands, and he willingly participates in these
views. He and Thousand or more like him
self, finally adopt an address and string of
resolutions setting forth these doctrines, and
he stands upon his platform. The laws Of
Congress, the decencies Of patriotism, and
the common peril of Us will have been super
ceded by his platform. He lives and breaths
under the Ryan dispensaton. IF he commits
treason, well and good, so have his friends
and guides. Will the democratic party much
longer submit to such guidance. We call
upon them to repudiate this stupendous sys-
TEN Of contradiction and selfish distractions,
and once more raise the standard of our for
mer triumph and glory.
Amidst all these infammatory appeals, no
word is spoken of the ceaseless cares which
weigh down those guiding our destinies no
thought is bestowed on the mighty task Of q
government sending forth thousands to battle
who may never appear again among their
friends; no sympathy for the wisdom which
has preserved our national capitol from desc
Grafton, and which has kept the country un-
entangled with foreign nations, and unscathed
bv their hostilities. We are not enjoined to
admire with gratitude the development of
our colossal finances, or the resources and
which strike other nations with
wonder. We are not referred to the mate
rial comfort and increasing independence of
almost every branch of industry, or the mag
ical development of heretofore unknown
sources OF security and power. Why are we
not reminded of the opulence that has settled
upon the cities, or of the suspicious rewards
that are gathered from labor in the country.
Even the narrow partizan cannot offer his |
ae,,,1rra La inns that tapnrita If