Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-10-02
rhe MACK Fsepubilcnn PARTY.

Genius had arisen, inspired with dreadful
purpose, and eager to pull down, over the
heads of devoted people, the very tenn
pie of their liberties. The birth of this
party was attended by the shedding of in
nocent blood aud the crimsoNed fields Of
Kansas, and the savage raid of old JoHN
BRowN into Virginia, must ever be mem
orable as the historic solution Of its char
aeter. To scctionalize public sentiment
to break down the safe guards of the Fed
eral Constitution to undermine the
State Governments, the very bulwarks of
American freedom-theSe were the pur-
poses that gave. life and strength to the
party. Civil war aud disunion were thus
loreshadowed as the inevitable consequ-
ences of its success aUl .
In 1860, when the Republicans met in
Convention at Chicago, as if to signalige
their ultimate design, they assembled in
a Wigwam, adopted their resolutions
with the Indian war-whoop, while bowie
knife, eight feet in length, hung above the
head of their presiding officer. That spec
tacle of delrious fanatics threw over this
peoplea deep cloud of gloom, which linger-
ed around the e'Capital like great funeral
pail and, on the sixth Of November,
nearly three years ago, the intelligence Of
the election of ABRAHAM LINCOLN broke
upon the public ear like Sepulchral voice
from the cemetery of nations. 1t was the
death knell of the American Union.
Yet this anxious people might have
been saved the ship of State might have
been rescued from the perils of civil strife.
Sectionalism was the bane Of the hour,
and an effective remedy for the disease had
been pointed out by the elder statesmen Of
the country. There was the case Of 1920;
there was the parallel of 1882 ;
there was the terrific wound which had
been healed in 1850 and there, too, writ
ten in the national annals, was the balm
successfully applied to esch-comnomise,
mutual conciliation.
II is not necessary to break the forms
Of Constitutions and laws, to produce rev.
olution, or rebellion. The violation of the
spirit of system will often suffice to move
a people to deeds Of blood, prompted by
the fear of actual usurpation. This was
the case of 1851. The Republican party
whose success had alarmed the whole
body polite. was installed in power, with
the responsibility Of the natioual life upon
its hands. New and perilous issues were
to be determined, yet their decision could
easily have been made if guided by the
land marks of history But, ABRAHAM
LINCOLN and his co-adiutors, jubilant and
defiant over the triumph Of their party,
saw not the crumbling ruins Of the Re-
public, in the midst OF which they stood.
The conservative press urged upon them
the sacred duty with which they had been
inhusted the people pettioned for com.
promise, coneiliation f; the public councils
rung with appeal for speedy and peace
ful adjustment-bnt all in vain Will
cold, cruel Indifference, the Republican
party, clutching its Chicago bowie knife
with tirmer grasp, stood over the PROSTATE
form OF the Republic, denying it the sphi
life Of the Constitution. The Republic
was shrouded for the graye--'twas buried
And, now. what do we see before us
A carnival Of blood over the tomb of til,
nation ! and vast hecatomb OF hnmal
bones is being gathered to commemorate
this deepest crime in history.
This great war is but the iruit of tina
germ which, under tbe auspices of JAMES
g. BIRSEY, was planted in the Presiden
tial contest of 1910. Thus springing up
in definite shape, more than twenty year
ago its growth has been like that of tn
deadly Upas. In its very origin, great an,
good men but TOO trHly predicted its fatal
t ity to the Union.
But, this Republican party, thongh, Il
: the strength of its wichness, il has gloate,
over fallen, blood stricken people, itsel
must die The soul of American free
dom is immortal and, though its bod.
crun,bla ouyo.r tbot sorl ,,,;ll ,ot,,.,, 49,; I;