Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1866-10-24
The Issue.

| We heard the political issues OF the
present campaign very succlnctly stat
| ed the other day as follows ; the Dem
ocratic party North, and South, oppos-
ed the proposed constitutional amend
ment, not because there Is anything
! wrong or unjust In the amendment,
| but because they have welded unjust
/ Is a power which the three-hfths rep
resentation gave them, and they do
not now wished to be deprived Of that
advantage. Again the Democrats of
the North urge the immediate admis-
sion Of the Representatives Of the
disloval South to seats IN Congress,
not because they believe the South
deserves any such leniency, or that
the public safety or public Justice de-
mands it; but simply as means Of
strengthening their party IN the cOun-
ellis of the nation. Governed by the
same principles which have actuated
them as a party in the past, they
place party interest and party power
above the interests of this great ma
ton. True to the teachings Of their
party, they falsely charge Congress
with a desire to make the negro the
superior Of the white man, simply be-
cause they fear, and Justly too, that
the enlranchised negro will not vote
their ticket They believe that If
Justice, simple Justice, Is done to the
negro, it will ultimately end IN the
weakening of their party organlza-
ton. They rejoiced at rebel victories,
and grieved at the success of Union
arms. simply as they believed these
events would weaken or improve their
party. The life of their party Is to
them Of far greater moment than the
welfare, ave, the existence Of the Re
public. To build up their party they
would destroy this Government and
build upon its ruins a model govern
ment Of their own. They would have
no general law granting protection to
the negro, but would leave him to be-
come the prey Of their Southern
brethren. for fear that they may lose
the right to use him IN their represent
tation, or that he may if allowed the
chance, become their superlors. These
are the motives that actuate the great
masses Of the Copperjohnson, monde
scr't party of today.
The Republican, Mon Party, what
ever NAV be said to the contrary, are
actuated by love of liberty and
profound respect for the rights OF all.
That political organization accepts
the terrible lesson of the past four
wears, and are disposed to be instruct
ed by the logic OF events. The past
has taught them that the South can
not be trusted, that they only wait a
favorable opportunity to again imbrue
their hands in the life blood Of the
nation. This great party, embodying
all that IS true and loyal to the Gov
ernmeut. have through their Repre-
scntatives in Congress, imposed no
! terms upon the rebels which they, the
/ Union men of the North, are not vii
ling to be governed by. They say to
the South. you shall not represent the
negro. but your representation shall
/ in every way be as governed by the
same laws that control us ; YOU have
/ forfeited by your murderous attack
upon the government which has nur
tured YOU. all of your political rights,
/ but we viii be lenient to you, yet We
cannot grant to you this advantage.
And further they say to the South,
YOU shall not Cypress the weak: This
great Nation viii protect all of her
/ children, and you shall not Interfere.
This great promise, overwhelming
party Is, and can afford to be generous,