Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-12-30

AAAerlng - . Bad CospsA
There has been no opposition 10 the
present Administration which hes not
grown out Of it, anti-slavery policy. It
may be that the Democratic party
would have found some other question
upon which to divide the unity of the
country aud embarrass the government
In its prosecution of the war now being
waged against Liberty and Union"
From the election of Mr.. Lincoln to the
present hour, opposition to the war has
been based upon opposition to "Aboli-
tionism, !" and nothing else.
Only those are 10 blind to passing
events, a. those who will not see, and
the partixan who could not understand
long before the ides of November the
settled determination on the part of the
loyal majority to forever settlethe slave
~ question, not by compromise, but by
extirpatlon, darkened his own under
standing. since the November election
sensible men have been led to see and
translate the handwriting upon our po-
liticsl walls, and are now ready to ad-
NIT that slavery is dead corpse" and
that its enemies will increase with the
lapse of time. We cannot believe there
IL sane man in the land who does not
believe that the majority Of the people,
North and South, are not only prepared
but are impatient to rid the country for
ell time of the evil that has broughtsuch
desolation to our homes. We never
could quite understand why that party
styling itself Democratic, 50 intensely
anti-slavery in ls47-s-9, and even 1850,
should have all its sympathies enlisted
in behalf offs rebellion inaugurated for
the avowed purpose of building a slave
empire. Time, however, works its
changes. The prospects and signs Of the
times lead US to believe that the
time is not far distant when every friend
and advocate Of slavery will deny his
master. That conservative pro-slavery
bunker and leading Democratic organ
of the country, the New York World,
is forced to speak rs it never has before.
In very recent number it urges its
readers and partizan friends to turn
their attention to the matters of finance.
The World says:
"One reason why the thoughts Of the party
should be turned into this channel, is that 1t
involves questions Which cannot grow obsolete
With the lapse of time, while some Of the ISSUES
in the late election may. Before another Pres
identialel election, the abolition question, for ex.
ample, s,iH probably be IN such state that past
ovars it. PREDETERMINED solution we shall see
public opinion more aud more disposed to &C.
quicsce ~ ne nsa'afs.t tendency Of srents BefoT.
publican party will have secured Constiti-
tional amendment for the entire extirpation o,
should, meanwhile, gain its Independence,
slavery can no longer be u question OF Federal
politics; but if We disarm Southern resistance,
the anti-slavery amendment will have been put
in force and have done Its work before the Dem
ocratic party ran be in power. Why should The
pe,y 1 I ta 70 %sa Is, hind
to run the hazard OF disintexratiOn IL must dis
tinguish between questions virtually settled, and
pace with events III to accept their Ogic. Public
opinion has no efficiency without political COM
binatiOn; but fOr masses large enough To FORM
majority to act in concert. Thought must BE-
LETT free un ai qu stiors save those which rank
a. living, vital issues. The number who oppose
the abolition OF slevery NOV a minority IS no'
gross OF time. Ever Democrat can, OF course,
hold wha, ever opinion he chooses on that sub
ject. Such opinions are no longer ut the slight
est political consequence. Individual Demo
Gratis will think what they please; bat the sub
ject must be dismissed from the range OF topics
on which the party Is expected 10 have istii. CT
i've views. here is no cOnce. vable position on
the slavery question Mcys the Democratic fdrE
cttl plant aseg and become majority. Its ante.
cedents and ASSOCIATE MS, as Wen as its respect
for the Constitution i; stands, forbid Ii to be-
come an abolition party; the Progress of events
an tho tendency OF pubic opinion. as we'll *
Is the Constitution i'll the form into Which 1t is
certain 10 be amended forbid 10 commit itse to TIE
fortunes Of q na0ribind institution