The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-09-13

To the Editors Erening Post:
In the account OF the interview betweer
Col. Jsquess and Mr.. Gilmore and Mr.
Davis, portions of which you published
in your issue of the 18th inst, Colonel
Jaquess Is reported to have said to Mr.
Davis:
but three -fourths of the States can
amend the constitution. Let it be done
in that way--in any way--so that il is
done by the people. am not statesn,a
or politician, and do not know JUS,
how such plan could be carried ont; but
you get the idea-that~the people shall
decide the question:
Mr Davis replied:
"rhat the M sjarity shall decide il, you
mean. We seeded to I'D ourselves of
the rule of the majority md this would
subject us to it again
This reply Of Mr.. Davis discleses the
true motive of the rebellion. 1t was not
novel declaration of the leadirg con.
sprator. The same anti-democratlc sen :
timent was uttered by him in his speech
at Jackson. Miss, on the 5,h Of July,
1889. In reviewing the course of poli,i-
cal events and the possibility of the sue.
cess of an opposition candidate 10 the
cam paign of 1860, he used these words :
'The success of such party would
indeed produce an 'irrepressibls conflict
10 you would be presented the question,
vii you allow the constitutional Unioa
to be changed into the despotism Of a
majority r
IL has been held by some who have a
reputition as statesmen aud dem mocrats.
that the true theory of our popular form
OF free government rested upon the doc.
trne that the majority should rule. No
man made louder professions Of .democ-
racy" than Mr.. Davis and his associates.
and the people, trustirg their SIN cerity,
held them 10 Office almost continuously.
But when they saw that the majority
would no longer be ruled by the minority,
they resolved to destroy the foundation Of
democratic government, and "seceded 10
order to rid themselves of the rule of the
m Majority"
The war. then, in which the country
has been so deeply involved, and which
has occasioned such great calamity, is
simply war of the minority against the
democratic principles Of ftce government
Slavery, tariffs, free trade, the righ, of
secession, State rights. and other ques-
tions of which 50 much is said, are only
the masked batteries of treason, behind
which the conspirators hope to q BIT their
battle Of aristocracy against democratic
government.
Herein lies the great issue before the
American people to-day. The perma.
nence Of free institutions 10 this country
is the viudication Of liberty for all time
and for humanity. It is the great ques
tion. All others are incidental, subor.
dluate ard temporary. Vindicate the ma
tions unity, perpetuste the institutions
OF democratic cvernment, and the whole
scheme Of progressive development in the
path of freedom and progress becomes
assured.
Herein lies the broad battle field of the
republic. Let the friends Of the Union
20 before tie people of the country wi h
the issue as the traitors have presented il
10 US. and the result will be a md and
glorious triumph. Lay this question be-
fore the masses; give them the facts, the
evidences, and the declarations Of tie
southern leaders; let them understand
that the predominant avowed purpose OF
the rebellion is to overthrow democracy.
and substitute privileged classes and the
rule OF the minority, and the verdict OF
the people will be the death knell OF
treason and the victor shout of freedom.
Have the leaders of the Union party
the moral courage to go before the people
on this broad question of democratic lib.
erty, and fight the battle as the conspira.
tors have offered it TO US Z. II they have,
they can unite the people of all parties
under their, banner, and leave traitors and
their northern allies to the doom which
history shall award to the enemies Of free
dom, of Union, and OF progress.
On behali Of labor,
= Yours respectfully,
WM. GLAND BOURNE,
Cor. Sec'y Workiugmen's Dem. Eep. AS