Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-10-27

| enough 10 desire II, we cannot a Id our re-
| spouslbilities., -.--.-..- .--. -..
Within the past few months ave heard
men of all classes in authority smong the
rebels, from Major-Gen. Cobb, tt ex-treasu-
| ~ thief Of Buehanan's TIM 10 c, pVain Tabb,
| Of the Macon Prison, who believs is al ex.
| clerk for a slave auctioneer, saY hat ''thev
would accept nothing less than indepen-
| dence" The leaders will not treat, and if
| they would they are not to be trusted ''they
| have set their all upon cast, and they will
stand the hazard of the die"
A convention representing one wing, en-
| bracing two factions of once gre It political
party, recently met at Chicago and declared
| g as the sense of the American people, that
| the experiment of war has proved a failue,
and that negotiation alone can restore the
Unionn The permanent convention repre-
senting the other wing of that party, which
has been in session at Richmond since its
members left Washington at che breaking out
of the rebellion, declares that " the recogni-
| ton of the Confederacy is the condition pre-
cedent to any negotiation" And the perna-
nent convention has the most power in the
old party. (Cries of "Thats soy Judging
| from its own statements what have we to ex-
pect but a divided country, from the success
of such a party? And who are the leaders
| of this cago-COnyention-fragm of 4
party which pronounces "the war a failure y
and is so anxious you should enjoy peace that
it imports arms for incipient traitors in loval
states, advises resistance to the draft, and
takes other measures calculated to bring civ
il war TO your own doors Who are the
leaders of this party which desires to repeal
the homestead law, re-establish slavery in
the District of Columbia, remandthe escaped
slaves that have been fighting for their Hber-
ties and ours, and drag the nation backward
over the weary way it has been three painful
years in passing, blotting out the good that
has been done without remedying the evil
merely to experiment on the impractieable
theory of restoring the Union as it was" in
the hope of conciliating desperate minority
which would spurn their offers as it formerly
despised their servility? Who are the lead
ers Of this modest party, which, because its
ablest representatives four years ago became
open traitors, and because secession was ac-
complished and civil war begun under its ad-
ministration pretends that it alone can restore
the Union and end the war? Are they the
quiet, modest citizens who make up the con-
sentative mass in every community? Are
they not inferior men who find themselves
les upon kind Of halfway ground since the
ablest of their leaders like Davis, Breckin-
ridge and Floyd became chiefs of the rebel
lion, and the honest and patriotic ones like
Logan Dix and johnson cast their fortunes
unreservedly into the ranks that battle for
the Union. Are they not for the most part
political adventurers, Congressman discarded
by their constituents, soldiers disgraced or
disappointed, bankers who desire to purchase
power with the wealth they have gained by
depreciating our currency, and a host of less
able and less worthy ones, anxious to bring
their perverted talents to paying market?
Are they not for the most part men of despe-
rate fortunes and base lives in whose mouths
the word peace means the possession of pow
er, and possession implies the abuse of it?
To condemn partizan feeling is not to indulge
in it.
Would to God that these blind partizans
could see, as our soldiers are compelled to see,
the physical suffering, the mental agony, the
moral degradation that is brought upon a
people who inhabit the theatre of active mil
itary operations. Bad as l think them be-
ieve their arms would be palsied and their
tongues silenced in their unholy work of TO-
menting revolt in loyal States. And cannot
believe that their followers are in earnest. |
cannot believe that even these paradoxical
peace patriots who rant about the sufferings
of our soldiers, themselves a thousand miles
from any battlefield, and endure all the hor-
rors OF war In safe and quiet homes, I cannot
believe that even they are willing to pay the
price demanded for a hollow truce, and give
back the territory redeemed from usurpation
by the blood of a hundred battle, fields. Their
policy would lead to the establishment of an
other hostile government On this continent,
but doubt if they are willing to see our
commerce and manufactures ruined by the
-" free trade" policy of reckless rival
doubt if they are willing to see our mines
closed by imposts our lumbermen compelled
to pay tribute for the privilege of passing IN
der odious restrictions to their natural mar
kets, and our farmers driven by devouring
taxes to seek homes in other lands. l doubt
II even for the temporary possession of power
they are willing to see our people stultify
themselves before the world by admitting that
the Republican theory of Government lacks
power to sustain ITSELF and seeking like those
of unfortunate Mexico for a refuge from an
archy in ruler from some decaying dynasty
of the old world, the paltry protege of per-
jured plebeian usurper. Yet such are the con
dltions of this contest 1t is no idle joust to
be stopped by throwing down a glove, but
combat to the utterance. The challenger
made the terms, and will not vary or evade
them; it is a death struggle between two
mighty principles and faction welded to
tyranny or q nation founded upon the princi-
pies of rational liberty, must perish before it
terminates Great applause. 1t will end
within year if we are true to ourselves and
sustain our Government in all its branches,
and push forward our victorious armies. It
may be prolonged indefinitely if we consult
the interest OF our enemies rather than our
own, and pay our armies for doing nothing,
while we experiment during an armistice, in
tl,n j., e
and defeated party. If we were compelled to
acknowledge the Confederacy and the charm
of Union was once broken, anarchy would be
upon US with all its attendant horrors. Chaos
would come again, and our posterity might
grope for centuries helpless and hopeless
through the night of despotism that would
settle like pail over our unhappy country.
If any party or fragment of party has
indeed fallen so low as to desire the triumph
of our enemies, and should it by placing
distinguished soldier on an equivocal peace
platform, bring to its ranks enough short |
sighted -philanthropists, and far-reach-
ing public plunderers to make it a majoritZ
among the citizens I thank God there is
power belonging to the people, though not
now among them, which has the desire, and
believe the ability to save the Republic. The
men who have for three years defended the
nation with the contents of the cartridge-box,
will, if need be, assist to preserve it at the
ballot-box Prolonged applause.
Lying in their dog tents and in bivouacks
in front of the foe, they have pondered deep
ly on the cause for which they risk their
lives,-an from their nearer stand point with
the eye of faith they see the light of final
victory bursting from the war cloud that has
so long Swallowed our land and hail it as the
first beam from the sun of peace. They see
in the inevitable course of justice, the inter-
est of our war debt paid by the forfeited es.