The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-06-15
The Duty of the Republican Party.
70 Tie Editor Of tie Press
WAsIIINnro,r N q lima 1ol

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. June 8, 1866.
from the attack on Fort Sumter to the final
surrender of the rebel armies vigorous and
t;oiasIIlhg t;oS an war was waged to decide the ques-
s:' :ou' rs the United States of America a Ma
I,oIr OF only Confederacy of independent
;s EXISTING by the mere sufferance of
i.S ,ionipls. During the progress of the ter
IiDio sIsessie, which grew out of this question,
dangers would arise scarcely less tbreataning
than those which hover over and around The
field of blood on which the fate of n nation ia
to be decided; that after the sword was sbeatbed
and the cannon sllenced, the highest states
manship would be required to made available
the fruits Of victory, and to establish a peace
which should be permanent because founded
upon righteousness and peace.
Our patriot soldiers, officers and privates, did
their duty nobly and well; they not only de-
serve, but they receive the gratitude OF the
country redeemed and saved by their valor.
Their work as soldiers is finished, and they now
gladly resume their work as citizens, in which
many of them will achieve additional honor.
While we acknowledge with, gratitude the
services rendeied,by the heroes OF the kepub-
lie, let us not forget that the present emergency
does not call for military powers, but for shrewd,
careful, far-seeing craftsmanship. In selecting
our public officers to-day it is less essential to
know whether a man proposed has led a sue
cessful charge has stormed a breach, has con-
Quoted successful raid or even successful
cimpaign, than to know if his opinions and pur
poses have been right and true from the begin
ming until now. The fact that Marshal Lannes
led forlorn hope when he "heard the bones
crack all about him like glass roof in a hail
storm" does not prove that he is fit negotiator
to settle the basis of European peace. Gen.
Sherman made the most brilliant campaign of
our war, but he failed wretchedly when he
came to make terms with Johnston. Yelling
ton could conquer the Peninsula, and beat Ma
poleon at Waterloo, but he made the sworst
Prime Ministerffreat Britain ever had excep-
ting Castlereagh.
What our country now requires is political
knowledge, not military genius When both
are found together in the same person, that man
should have the preference over his competi-
tors; but if he has military reputation only, it
will be found dangerous to intrust him with
such an exercise of power as can materially af-
feet the action of the people.
AS Republicans, we should not be too anx-
ious to entrust power to the later converts to
our faith. We have suffered enough from ex
cessive magnaDimity already. Andrew john
son 11ds Democrat; he sympathized with the
Republicans upon one essential point only
opposition to the doctrine of secession. His
entire record showed him to be the opponent of
the grand central idea, round which the Re-
publ IAN party was organized. He never be-
lieved in the doctrine that "dH men are crea-
ted equal" yet because he was the foe of our
foes, we took him to our arms and made him
what he is Now he turns upon the Republic
can party, and entrenches himself behind his
old reeord!as Tennessee Democrat, The war
at an end, the causes of his old enmity to the
traitors Of the south, and of the north as well,
have passed away he returns to the friends
and the flesh pots of his south; his denuncia-
tions are reserved for the men who, rallying
around the administration of Lincoln, carried
the country triumphantly through the war; his
kind words are reserved for those whom year
ago. he considered odious because they had
been guilty of treason.
The striking example of Presidential de-
fection should put us upon our guard against
like treachery Unless exalted spheres. In Sc
lecting candidates for high political offices, let
us not be blinded by military glory nor the
brllllancy Of very recent conversions. The
country needs sound, reliable men, whose opin-
ions are fixed, whose records are consistent.
We want no compromises upon our list of can
didates. Conservatives are men who do not
dare to struggle for the absolute good but
who would rather retain little of the bad
which has been made venerable by age. We
want no Conservatives. The men the country
requires are those whose high moral courage
prompts them to grasp the issues which are
presented, to meet all difficulties which may
arise, to take firm hold upon all questions with
a determination to settle them upon the basis
of absolute right. 1y- aaI
The Republican Party can stand alone and
triumph; but, if it attempts coalitions and COM
promises, if it steps down from its high posi-
tion in order to obtain additional support, its
foundations viii slide from under its feet, and
the history of its rise fall and final destruction,
may be recor ed. The party has carried the
country successfully through the war; if 1t is
heartily sustained it can secure the highest
blessings of peace for many generations yet to
come. Its business is to stand by its princi-
pies and to carry them out to their legitimate
conclusion; to make its theories existing fac g.;
to make human liberty the distinguishing char
acteristic of American institutions; and to
select only true and tried men for high po-
litical stations. nN &C.