The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-06-20
THE CONVENTION TO-DAY.

THE CONVENTION TO-DAY.
The Republican Union State Convention
is held at Des Moines to-day We hope that
harmony will prevail in its councils we have
no doubt but that it will This party is in
Iowa. as throughout the country, the repre-.
sentative and embodiment of the loyal senti-
timent of the country, of those who were un-
conditionally for Union. We mean those who
were determined at all hazards, and at every
sacrifice, to defeat the purpose of traitors aud
prevent the overthrow Of the Government.
To talk of being Internationally = for the
Union, is to talk nonsense. There can be no
such thing. But there is such thing as love
for just Union, stronger than the love Of
wealth, or peace, or life there is such an
exalted patriotism as summons men from their
avocations, and trains them to the discipline
CT war, and causes them to accept hard SER
vice and hard fare and multiplied dangers
and death to maintain the nations life: and
of that love and that patriotism was the Re-
publican Union party the exponent during the
recent great strife. Then the party consider
ed its action high and loyal duty, necessary
TO save the Government. The task yet before
1t demands just as much unity, just as much
wise, determined and loyal action as were
demanded of the party during those four
years.
1t then had an enemy in the South, armed,
defiant, aggressive that had precipitated war
upon the country to perpetuate slavery, and
that had assumed the disruption of the coun-
try as a fact accomplished; an enemy that
had sworn not to make peace with the Union
until the Southern Confederacys separate
independence was established. 1t had An
enemy in the North, unarmed, defiant, aggres-
sive allied in sympathy and feeling with the
rebels that claimed that the Government
had no power to coerce State; that would
have sold out national honor and right. and
manhood and justice, to make peace with the
South or, failing in that, have said to the Sc
eeding States, depart in peace a party that
did oil in its power, save direct resort to
arms, to prevent the Governments success
whose record, made during that strife, is SO
infamous that the party name has become the
synonym of faithlessness and disloyalty
In union only found in that crisis the Re-
publican Union party its strength. The
considerations inciting to harmony and unity
then, are equally urgent to-day. The care
of the ships master, and of the pilot is not
the precursor of shipwreck it saves the YES
sci therefrom. Counsels to unity and harmony
among all the members of the Republican
Union party result not from any indications
existing of the disintegration of that party, it
is a just prudence and wisdom in the matter
that nearly concerns the salvation of the
country, that dictates them. The spirit that
animated a Southern rebel and Northern
sympathizing Democracy during the war is
we'll known. 1t was hostile to freedom,
inimica to the Government. The strife of
arms, it is true, has passed away, but that
spirit still remains. If the Republican Union
do it in reconstruction. If it only succeeded
in war by harmony and unity, so thereby can
it only succeed now.
We know not what will be the action of the
Convention to-day. Be it what it will, it
should control the political action of every
Union man in the State. The Republican
party is not political automatoD. 1t is no,
senseless machine, manipulated by few
wire-pullers. 1t is great body of intelligent
self-reliant freemen. Men that read aud think,
ard fight and vote intellgently; men imbued
with love for their country and right and
Justice and Liberty. The spirit of the Democ
racy and Of the Republican party differ wide
ss the poles. The former becomes radica
only in behalf of slavery, the latter only ir
the cause of freedom. A large majority o
Democratic radicalism would have destroyed
the Union in order to save slavery, a very small
minority of Republican radcalism, mayhap
have accepted the dissolution of the Union Il
save freedom. 1t illustrates The utterly an
tagonistic inherent animating principle of the
two parties. If q majority of the Republica,
party ever become conservative, il is because
it deems it necessary to advance, in the end
the cause of human rights. IF q majority o
the Democracy cease to be other than conser
vative, it is because they have been impellet
BY tide they could not control, and they e,
forward but to find q vantage ground to de
fend the slave spirit. The man that does no
look forward to the final establishment of gen
uine democratic principles, who does no
desire the total enfranchisement as produc
Of modern political tendencies is out of plac,
in the Republican party. But there are non
such nit. Intelligent, independent, thinkin,
men, then, as compose the Republican party
there may be differences about processes-no
principles. There is nothing alarming in this
We think that Congress has made the greA
national platform for the present; have pu
the onlymatter in issue between 9 MON men an
Northern sympathizing and Southern rebe
Democracy. That upon it should the part
stand unitedly, and fght the rebel elevatin
and Union -subjugating denominations Of /" m,
policy That thereby will we best subserv
the cause OF Union, and Of white and blac
alike. But it is only question Of process,
Principle and right and enduring, upon ther
there Is no controversy. From their defens
tAsss should b, aad Win y No shaiakial
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