Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-04-21
4 Scandinavian View of Our Politics,

State, has lengthy and ably written leader
on the subject of American politics 1t is
interesting as giving the views of highly in
telligent foreign-born citizen, upon the polit-
ical parties of this country. We subioin
some extracts from which an idea of its gen
eral scope and tenor may be obtained. The
Editor says:
Il respect every man, whether he calls
himself Republican or Democrat, if he has
selected his platform in sincerity of heart, so
that he knows what he is doing But if he
has no conscientious opinion-if he has adop-
ted political party because, so to say. he has
been reared in that party, or because his init
mate friends belong to it; or because in the
opposite party there might be some people
whom he does not like; or because the oppo-
site party, among many acts, las committed
an error, then you certainly Will acknowledge
with me, that the time and trouble are lost
in reasoning with your friends if they will
not listen to that rule, that conclusions which
spring from the reason and heart are to over
ride party considerations
He then proceeds to point out the radical
difference between the aristocratic systems
of government in Europe, and the Republi-
can system provided by the Constitution of
the United States, and continues
When new law is enacted in the States
where you live, countrymen, the first demand
of that law is that it shall not conflict with
the leading doctrine of the Constitution.
Alas the spirit of the Constitution has. for
many years, especially in the Southern States,
been encroached upon. Greediness never
T. e
it can succeed. Upon this have mere polite
al parties arisen, whose leaders, "politicians,"
went out in all directions to secure co-opera
tors. They used the votes of the masses for
their own personal gain, and distributed all
the latest offices, at home and abroad, among
themselves The South has. known well how
to carry on this game for many years, and on
an extensive SCALE
The men of the South had a fancy to be
Seigniors and that desire was quite natural,
as every man of US would be likely to ex-
change his farm for a large plantation stocked
with slaves. The men Of the South have. for
long time, lived as Counts and Barons; thew
conld command, menace, threaten and punish
their serts; it was only the title of nobility
that was wanting. 'There happens nothing
new under the sum-" says the proverb and
what has occurred in these days in the Amer
lean Republic has often transpired in Eu-
rope. But the Americans do not open the
historical annals, else they would have seen,
that when the Republic permits part of its
citizens to live on the labor of slaves, pride
and tyranny will be developed in antagonism
ity.
What is now happening in America p
Where slavery exists, there must, of course,
exist an aristocratic feeling, with all its con
tempt for common people and their rights
The families of the masters are grown in the
lapse OF time, and are greatly multiplied; and
every time the young seignors sought to be
established, the South, has in Congress, de-
manded more and increased facilities for the
expansion and diffusion of slavery ia
Keep now, out of mind all the erring party
names of the day, and not become confused
by the color of the slaves What I have
learned in history is this: that it matters little
whether the color of the slave is white, black,
yellow or red"
He then shows how the aggressive and ex-
pansive spirit Of slavery brought on the pies
ent war, and says:
Countrymen, imagine myself to stand, at
this moment in an assembly among you, some
of whom call yourselves Democrats and 9TH
ers Republicans. As [ do not ask for Office.
and have neither the loss nor gain of what
you call yourselves, then we are, at present,
in the relation to each other of Norwegians,
and nothing more. We, therefore, can speak
calmly with each other, and keep out all par
ty luminosity. Therefore, I do not say to the
Democrat that he is to be a Republican, nor
to the Republican that he ought to be Dem
ocrat. Every man ought to be what he is,
bo,
after careful reflection and due deliberation.
according to his convictions
I have only guiding counsel to give, and
if it can be of any use to you, shall be glad.
You all know that in whatever Specification
the words Democrat and Republican else can
be taken, the "leading politicians" who love
the segniorial system of Europe now call
themselves democrats" and every "good
Democrat" must therefore sympathize with
the South.
Contrary to this the political leaders who
are in favor of maintaining the constitutional
spirlt-that is, the freemen who hate the seig-
norial system, and. want every man respected
and honored when he honestly works in his
situation, although his circumstances enioin
frugality-these men, call themselves Repub-
icans, and every "good Republican must
therefore sympathize with the Union and
Constitution, and circumference the pride,
and capricious spirit of rulers.
There is no doubt about the ultimate tri-
umph of the North, and also there can be no
doubt that the freemen of the North will
keep their eyes steadily upon people who, in
the North, call themselves Democrats; that
Is to say, the secret friends of the South. |
read few days ago the speeches delivered
in the rebel Congress, and there it was de-
clared, straight out, that the South now prin-
cipally relied upon their DEMOCRATIC friends
at the North to embarrass the Federal Gov
eminent to that degree, that it would be COM
PEELED to dissolve the Empire, and allow the
selgnlors of the South to predominant. AS
1t is now fact that the leaders Of the re-
belllon are thus relying upon Northern Dem
ocrats, no man can blame the Republicans
when they begin to keep watchful eye upon
every one who declares himself a Democrat.
1t is of no use for Democrat to try to
give his party name a milder Specification.
The name Democrat" as applied in this
country, is, throughout the world, supposed
to signify friendship to the ruling system and
enmity to liberty. Change your name if you
are not what it signifies. < b..
Democrats from Norway, l find it unjust if
any man will blame you because you prefer a
governmental system under which the whole
nation is composed of lords and commons, of
noblemen and serfs There are many millions
of men who sympathise with you, not in the
United States, but in Europe. Only look
back and keep in mind Norway, (which is
still a free country and there too you will
find thousands ready to exclaim with you
Clown with Liberty and Equality and an
United Republic" Long live Kingdoms and
Lords"
There is nothing to wonder at if you prefer