Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-07-26
MORNING LEADER.
The Conditions Of Peace the Issue I'm
the Coming Presidential Campaign.
Democratic vs.. Union Conditions.

South, are forming the subject of discus
sion throughout tho North and viii con-
tinue to be topics of great interest hereaf-
ter. There is no question but that, what
ever the issues Of war, negotiation must
finally be resorted to in order to effect eth
er the reunion of States discovered or their
separation and erection into independent
Empires. 1t is improbable that the war
VIII be prosecuted TO such length Of time
that all armed resistance, however tTiaihg
on the part Of the rebels, shall be dissipa-
ted. Negotiation must come at sometime.
Conditions for reunion or separation must
necessarily be discussed beforehand, in
either event.
We are, therefore, not at all alarmed
that the subject of Peace is to be agitated
We have evidently reached period in the
history of the war, when the rebels are ex-
ceedingly anxious for some way Of escape
from the frightful straits into which they
have been driven by the stress of war
The leaders who see that the ''game is W"
will naturally begin to experiment with
the Federal Government and the northern
people in order toascertain their disposition
and purposes. The Southern people and
army will also be solicitous in regard to
the terms of Peace.
1t is quite evident from the tone Of the
Democratic Press that they are prepared
to take issue with Mr. Lincoln and the
Union party on the subject of conditions
of Peace. Mr. Lincoln has emphatically
announced that there are two essential re-
ouisites. He demands that the rebels shall
concede the territorial integrity Of the
Union and the abandonment of .Staoery. A
portion Of the Democracy, whose embit-
tered feelings control their judgments and
their patriotism, and who, in their coward
ly anxiety to escape the burthens of war
are ready to accept almost any thing, would
not even demand territorial integrity as
sine qua non, but would consent to separa-
ton with the hope of commercial treaty
between the North and South, and posi-
bly, an alliance offensive and defensive.
Another portion of the Democratic par
ty, one which everyday is gaining strength
among the Democratic masses, win at least,
insist upon the territorial integrity of the
Union as indispensable to the establish
ment of permanent peace between the
North and South. 1t is altogether proba-
ble that this portion of the Democracy
will give tone to the resolutions to be
adopted By the Democratic party at Chi
cago. They will enter the campaign with
the cry: Let US have an armistice for three
months, six months, or twelve months, un-
til we can ascertain whether war is the
only alternative. This portion of the De
mocracy will probably say that in the
event of such armistice, if it be seen that /
the Union cannot be restored on the basis
of the territorial integrity of the Union,
then the dread alternative of war viii be
resumed again.
Thequestion to be involved in the COM
ing Presidential campaign will, therefore,
be substantially one as to the conditions of
Peace. Shall Union and Liberty be the
future basis of this great Republic, or shall
it again be built upon compromise and
and such wretched patchwork as trading
politicians viii agree upon2 Is the aban-
donment of slavery Indispensable, be-
cause slavery is the hot-bed soil of future
rebellions and cOnspiracies2
So far as the Union-loving, Liberty-lov-
ing men of the North are concerned, there
can be no question. The bowling blood
bedrabbled monster that has eaten up their
children, and devoured their substance
must die. 1t will not DO to leave the lhy-
dra-headed- beast painting on the sand but
not mortally wounded or dead. The peo-
pie Of the North say, with almost unani-
nous accord, that the Devourer, the origin
and strength of the rebellion, must be Mt
terly destroyed. 1t is useless to tell them
that if slavery is not destroyed and is al
lowed to be re-established in the Southern
States, it will not endanger in the future.
The World and other Democratic Jour
mails may argue that the growing prepon-
derance of the North ana the terrible ehas-
tisements the South has suffered during
the rebellion, will always be a solemn
warning against all future rebellion. 1t
may argue that the Government will never
again be left so helpless as it was, and
that such favorable circumstances for. re-
bellion as existed in 1860, can never re
turn. But the people know very well
that all this amounts TO nothing so long as
a slsveholding aristocraey can combine
with the Democratic party of the North
in gaining and holding the powers of the
Government. There must be no slave
holding aristocracy. All vestiges of it
must gradually disappear, and the Repub-
lie must become homogeneous in free ms
titutions.
Let the people therefore, be on their
guard. 1t is a very easy cry to take up:
The war, if prosecuted until the abandon
ment of slavery is conceded by theSouth,
is an /" abolition" or "nigger" war
But no such frantic appeal to the passions
and selfshness of the people viii avail
They know, too well, that the abandon
ment of slavery is the only guarantee for
the white race in the ages to come. The
war is, therefore to secure all men in peace
and freedom. Against rebellion, treason
and terrible wars again, there is no secu-
rity except in a Peace whose conditions
are the territorial integrity Of the whole
Union and the abandonment Of slavery.