Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-07-20
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

down Natl0nal Republican Platform,
by means of its Reconstruction Amend
ment, it has become necessary for the
opposition to take their ground and de-
fine their position, for the coming con-
flict of parties.
At first it was thought that, not only
would all Republicans be unit upon
the fair reconstruction platform now
established, but that the President him.
self would stand with them thereon, or
at least would assent TO this adjust
ment so that there should be no real
or permanent rupture between him and
the Republican Party.
In that case, there would be clear
sailing; and with nothing but the scat
tered fragments Of the old pro-slavery
democracy to oppose, Republican Lib
erty would march on without serious
difficulty, to its continued and abiding
triumph in our land.
But instead of this, President John
son has seen fit to signify his dissent
from the Republican reconstruction
platform of Congress, thus separating
himself, We fear finally, from the Re-
publican party. A limited number of
his personal adherents, will of course
think it necessary to follow him out of
the party. The Republican ranks will
thus be undoubtedly diminished to a
limited extent. What then?
The detection will be so small, that il
will have no sensible effect in strongly
Republican States, such as Iowa and
Massachusetts. Indeed, there is no dan.
ger Of our losing any of the Northern
States, except perhaps a few closely
contested points, such as New Jersey,
Connecticut, Indiana. Yet even this
would extinguish our t,co-thirds power
in Congress, and would greatly leopard
Use the Constitutional Amendment, the
main point in issue.
How formidable will be the opposi-
ton, must depend upon the degree of
it's consolidation, and the leadership un-
der which it falls. With the old but
ternut democrats at the front, and few
Johnsonian skirmishers merely acting
as their allies, little Roadway can be
made against the grand Republican ar
my of the land.
But if the old bcd-ridden pro-elavery
democracy shall consent now Mt length
to expire, or, in other words, to merge
itself into new johnson or administra-
ton party, to be now gotten up, as the
lending element of the struggle, the
butternuts taking the back seats,-then
indeed will our opponents be more re-
spectacle if not a more formidable COM
pany; and with all the conservative, i"
negro-phobian, and Southern elements
thus combined, we may bel put upon our
best endeavors to carry the great Recon-
struction Amendment, or even to main
tain the permanent ascendency Of Re
publicanism in the land.
The indications now are, that the
political conflict is to take this Latter
and more formidable shape. The dan
ger now is, that the Democratic" Par
ty so called, seeing its own dead con-
dition, and selling upon the hope of O
resurrection in the form above indicat-
ed, will proceed now to own and pub
lish itself as fully defunct, willing owe,
its dilapidated effects to the use and
behoof of the new johnson party which
is trying to be born.
The day of dccouchmem is set for the
projected birth, in the shape of u ma.
tional Convention at Philadelphia
1 whereat the Johnsonian defectants are
to pat themselves in array. And lest
the occasion should prove an abortion,
! the Democratic members Of Congress
have now come out with an endorse
ment and recommendation of the Con.
vention, and the butternut priesthood
and press of the land generally are
pushing on the movement.
Whether this shall end in what IL
foretokens, the full and final purchase
of " Democracy by the new firm OF
Johnson & Co., will soon be seen. We
shall hope to the last, that President
johnson will not fully forsake us, and
become our open enemy. But if that
is to be the manner of the battle, let il
but appear; then will we with the
grand Republican host, grid on oul
armor for the mighty struggle between
Congress and President. And oul
Tactic shall be-"GoD--GRANT-VIcTO
RY.v