Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-08-18
The Instiuct OF Nationality and the
Republican Party.

The instinct for national unity, often
blind and unreasoning, but rising at times
to a passion, is perhaps the strongest po-
litical characteristic Of the American peo-
pie. 1t helped the moral sense in its con-
test with slavery, and gave it final victory.
The Republican party only triumphed
when il became clear to the majority that
its principles were necessary to give US
national conference and peace. So, in the
war, il was this instinct of nationality
that, mounting to a passion, swept over
the country, and extinguished rebellion so
powerful and wide-extended that no mere
brute force could ever have conquered it.
Mistakes were nothing, losses were incon-
sequential valor and numbers and per-
severance on the other side all came to
noughs, against this national passion for
oneness
In these cases. the Republican party
had this feeling as an ally in its cause /; by
it, it became great, and was invested with
power, and was able TO impress its policy
upon the nation. But now it is parting
company with it it Is proving deaf to the
demand for national reconstruction and
reconciliation-fof Fastening to compile
ton the restoration OF national unity-and
so is threatened with the loss of its power
in the government.
This is the simple explanation of the po-
litical situation, Of the division Of the ad-
ministration, the separation Of the execu-
tive from Congress, and the efforts making
to form a national Union party in opposi-
ton to the Republicans. Granted that
the demand for national unity, in the
speedy restoration Of the Southern States
to their status in Congress, is unwise and
uniptelligent, and its success fraught with
danger. the fact remains no less the m
1t is the inspiration of present political
changes-the source of hope to the old
Democratic party who have espoused it
along with Mr.. johnson and Mr.. Seward,
and the occasion Of just alarm to the Re-
publicans.
The practical duty Of the leaders of the
Republican party in Congress was to have
recognized this feeling, espoused it, and
SO respected it, or yielded to it, as to have
left it no cause Of complaint, and yet have
endangered no rights Of the negro, and
put in future peril no interests OF the
Union. We believe this was possible.
For so long as the Republican party kept
itself intact, and so in power, no conces-
sion TO the Southern States in the matter
of representation could have worked mis-
chief or wrong. So long it retained pos
session Of the military power and courts
Of the country, so long could it maintain
what the war decided, the unity OF the
States and the emancipation Of the negro,
and all that those facts carried with them.
A more practical craftsmanship in Con-
gross, and a more patient and self.poised
and less ambitious Executive would have
united to insure this. Even m OF these
we think would have secured 1t; but the
weakness of Congress, and the perverse-
ness and impotence Of the President have
played into each other to produce the re-
suits now before the country.
We doubt IL it is possible now to modify
the case to restore the Republican party
to that sympathy and co-partnership with
the instinct of unity and nationality, that
are necessary to its continuance in power.
But IL il is to return to a minority, the
field of its usefulness is only changed, not
destroyed. 1t may have fewer offices to
bes,ow, smaller jobs to divide, but it will
represent still the best moral sense OF the
nation, and the most Of it, and BY that
possession, and the considerable numerical
power i. will continue to hold, it must re-
main a great influence and instrumental
ity in the continued growth and prosperity
Of the Nation.-Sprin9feH Republican,
july l4h.