The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-06-20

1 AuuHu UC.t conN <ADAA1'
senator sherman ON New Issues.
Senator Sherman of Ohio, we'll and favor
ably known as such, but better and more ia
yorably known as brother of the general of
that name, lately made speech in Pickaway
county of that state, which was professedly
review of the present situation of the country
and an attempt to define the present doctrines
of the republican party. Nj. Sherman is not
| in the habit of trying TO ride two horses, but
the task he imposed on himself required
| something more of mystifcation and contra
diction than is congenial to him or than 10
usual in his discussion OF subjects upon
which he essays the public enlightenment.
BE is unfortunate in being prominently con-
| nected with party in which. what Chandler,
of Michigan terms~ CONSTITUTION on the
brain" is regarded as a moral disease. and
| in being subject to the distemper. 1t is now
prevalent in oil the states, and is making
! frightful ravages in the ranks of that party TO
whose assistance Mr.. Sherman came on the
| occasion referred to. He had q very difficult
| task to perform, and it would be no dispar
| agement of skill of the most able member
of that party to say he could not but fail in
| what Mr.. Stanton undertook to accomplish,
| however tightly he might "screw his courage
to the striking point" We append his plat
| form
s'The real responsibility for political events
rests upon the Union party, or, as would prefer
| to call il the republican party. Names are not
| very material, but still we have our choice. That
party which during the war, resoutely maintained
the right and duty of the ational government 10
suppress the rebellion by force OF arms, is the par
| ty | mean. This party was founded mainly upon
| the republican party. whose opposition to slavery
| was always avowed, and whose members have
| maintained that the end OF war IL the end of sla-
| very. 1t matters little what motive unites ms when
| we agreed. Ii IL certain that we do agree
| upon certain fundamental dogmas, and these
| II. That the Union must be preserved. THIS
| il Jacksonian doctrine. II.
| ss2 That slavery must be destroyed. This 10
| republican sentiment.
| ss3, And this is Andy Johnson's declaration -
That traitors must be punished IGreat cheers %
There can be no contest with the democrat
ic party on these points. The fret, as Mr.
Sherman states, is Jarksonian, which is but
| another name for democratic doctrine. The
second ingeniously refers to the future fac.
already accomplished and accepted by all
| parties And the third is declaration by
| President johnson, which eminent members
| of the republican party have assaulted with
much more of vigor than have the democra-
cy. but which is generally acknowledged to
| be correct. 1t will be noticed that of the
three planks in Mr.. Shsrman's platform he
| claims but one as "repu blican sentiment
| We cannot but admire his candor. 1t IL
| something of concession for dominant po-
Iitical party in this country to make
| to confess that but one third of its cardinal
principles belong TO itself. and that the re-
manning two thirds have been borrowed or
distracted from its opponents, and from .
president whom it is afraid openly and une-
quivocally to claim as a member of its organ
| ization As evidence of Mr.. Shermans dex-
| terity In putting the horse behind the cart we
now append what he said concerning the de-
feat of the democratic party. 1t Immediate
" proceeded his acknowledgment that the
first great principle of his platform was DEM
ocratic:
! .'The democratic party may try, through our
divisions to regain power. They may attach them
selvss 10 fragments OF the greas Union party but
it can only he by openly abandoning their old posi-
lions. by throwing adritt every prominent leader
| of their party, and, as l believe, by abandoning
their name, which has become dishonored by the
rebellion. On these conditions they might form a
| healthy opposition 10 hold the party in power 10 a
| slrict responsibility. And In this respect, their
party, or some party based on 1t, may be useful
Bur it can neyer relieve itself from the stain of
turning against their county in the midst of -
/ Touching the last allegation OF, Mr.. Sher-
man, we refer him to statement made by
| Mr. Lincoln, in his last annual message, 10
| which, In substance, he said that in reference
to the preservation of the Union, there had
| teen NO division Of sentiment between the
parties during the last presidential canvass.
| If the senator's usual fairness and cander de-
| serted him on this occasion. we must remem-
| Der the desperate strait to which be was
driven in constructing his platform, and the
necessity he was under of trying TO add to
the strength of his own organization by as
sailing that of his opponents.
| But his speech was not altogether or
4 chiefly ram n ri hhln for its discussion of the
mosaic platform we have quoted. He con.
fesses that there are divisions" in the re-
publican party, and among them some have
arisen on the question who shall vote at the
south. He is very cautious in his Assault
upon the position of the president, that the
insurgent states have never in point of law
been out of the Union at is perfectly
clear" he AYERS, shat unless the powers Of
| the rebel states are changed or affected by
their rebellion, congress cannot nix the quail
| ihcatlon of q voter in state" Whether
they have been changed or not, be sufficiently
| indicates. his opinion in the subioined ex-
tract. and also expresses therein his views a.
to the propristy of permitting negroes to
vote:
ssI conclude, therefore, ON this subject ofncgro
voting that in all states who can claim their full
rights under the constitution il 10 Z question for
the state and that In revoited states II 10 ques-
sion Of policy and military governmsnt, to be de-
81 led by the national authorities until the state
in fully restorsd % its former condition. In some
of the southern states would leave them under
military rule uatil they provide the only 1ssre ss-
carity for the futures thst the negroes should
hays sheir share in reconstruction, they hsss
borne thsr share in 6ehtiag.n u lS
We have noaissd this spsesh msrsly fbf |
@aSA sai % sas27sSlA haee1