The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1866-05-30
UNION PARTY vs.. CONSERVATIVE.

Midst the turmoils and strife Of pol
itical warfare surging from coast to coast
of our continent it is pleasure as well
as a duty for every true American citl
zen that feels IN interest in the affairs Of
our nation to take for himself retro-
spcct, to examine with accuracy and
without prejudice the past record Of
both parties and present standing of
each. 1t is source of qualification, a
feeling that causes the bosom to heavc
with grateful emotion in every Union
man of our land, when he contemplates
the jnst policy and course pursued by
loyal men during the recent fiery ordeal
through which we have passed It's
unwearied fidelity to the government,
through trials gigantic and almost over,
whelming endear the name of Union to
every heart. Although familiar AS the
nursery rhyme to every intelligent
reader, it is theme which the ablest
cannot find language to depict. Its
praises will continue to be sung by gems
erations yet unborn. We stand to day
as we stood when tried in the fearful cru
chile of civil war. Ever upholding the
true principles of Constitutional and
democratic government willing if need
be to sustain them with our lives. The
political stand point is moro than ever
encouraging. The Mobile Gala J Nation
aliSt says:
The personnel Of the party is remark
able. In the North, it comprises wilh>
i'll its ranks nineteen>twenlieths of the
members of all Protestant churches, ex-
cepting the Episcopalians-and large
majority Of the members of that demons
nation almost the entire membership
Of all moral or benevolent associations ;
four tilths Of the literatl, professional,
men, teachers, ETC., three fourths of the
returned soldles; large portion of the
prominent business men--especially mis-
ners, manufacturers and bankers, and
certainly a decided majority Of the farm
ing population. Ever since its forma.
ton this party has been growing with
amazing rapidlty, and its accessions
have been principally from the above
classes, which do not change easily
until now it controls every Northern
State including Missouri.
Such is the party which Copperhead
journals berate with their coarsest of
epi,hcts, the vilest of abuse. This being
the element which compose the Union
party what composition can the socaled
Conservative Party clam! Senator
Wilson in re eAtspee,h speaks thus -
"Let conservative gentlemen who arc
ever boasttully vaunting oftheir conserv,
atism remember that the crimes against
liberty, against justice, and against hn.
manity that have marked the past thirty
ytals III LNHlcilCa, Neic SoiilIHillcu III
the name Of conservatism, Let consarv
tive gentlemen remember that colserv-.
atives trampled down in congress the
sacred right of petition and the freedom
of speech arragned before the bar Of
the House of Representatives the illus,
trious Adams, ard censured the fearless
Gliding manaced sesmen OH the decks
Of Massachusetts ships,and expelled their
counsel, the aged Samuel Hoar, from
South Carolina, annexed Texas to make
slavery perpetual, and opposed the ad>
mission of free California rejected the
prohibition Of slavery in New Mexico
and Utah, and enacted the fugitive slave
law repealed the prohibition of slavery
in Kansas, enacted slave codes, murders
ed free.state settlers, and framed the
Lecomption constitution, struck down
a Senator on the floor of the Senate, and
fred upon the flag covering bread for
the starving garrison of Sumpter, organ.
lied treason, and plunged the nation
into civil war, plotted insnrrec,lons in
4 the secret counsels of the knights of the
Golden Circle, and fired Orphan Asy-
lums in the city of New York. slaughter.
ed the captured garrison of Fort Pillow,
and sacked and burned detcnceless Laws
renee : starved Union prisoners at An.
dersonvile, and assa.sinated the Chet
Magistrate of the United States. Eve-
ry crime Tor a generation against liberty
and the rights of man in America has
been committed by men who vaunt their
conservatism, and denounce the advocates
of freedom, justice and humanity, as
reckless agltators and radicals. Con-
servatism has come to be word in the
political vocabulary Of America synou-
ymous with cowardice, treachery, base-
ness and crimeu 1t is word every
man in America should blush to use ~
descriptive of any decent political organ.
ization. ,,.l.t. ... ...
Shall there be any hesitancy on the
part of the Union party in the great
struggle now pending, We say not, -
Those who have followed its fortunes
through the contest fol the Constitution
and the perpetuation Of its privileges
will stand by it to the end.
| -------------- - 80. 60
"BIRDs OF A FEATHER. &c."-On last
Saturday, the day of the Democra-
tic election in this county. we UNDER