The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-06
Str. Stewards speech.

If Mr. Seward has not acquired a great
reputation prophet, his opponents, past
and present, have been compelled to arknowl.
edge his sagacity rs politician. In his
speech at Niagara Fals, on Saturday, he
said
SEMust desert my course, my government, and
my country, to follow party divided, distracted
week, i'm beetle vacllating, and absurd. seeking
lts destruction / have done very dIfier
eut thing. We set the railway train on the track
The cars all empty. 1t under the
guidance of the conductor, Andrew Johnson
All the privileged seats offered TO this party
that complains of 'desertIOn.' They were the
very first invited TO enter, but no, they would not
enter. And now, when they that it IL fast
filling up with outsiders and is passing by them,
they say they have been deserted by the conduc-
tori
Here Is much truth within d small com
pass. The president hes adhered to the
course marked tor him in the Baltimore plat
form and by Mr.. Lincoln and his cabinet
There was not authoritative utte-ance by
che republican party during the war which
did nos roputate the doctrine of state sui
eide" whenever it was mentioned. Pres-
dent johnson did not want any quarrel with
til party which elected him to the vice pres
idency, and with which he had acted for
three or four years. He endeavored to avoid
a collision, but the radicals in congress de-
termIned upon war with him and with the
| southern states The republican party might
have relied upon him as leader, and upon
the south as ali ally, had it remained true to
it's pledges and pursued cOnCiliatory course
Instead of this, IL went deliberately to work
to arouse the hostility Of the president to
| trAmple upon the Baltimore platform, the
Crittenden resolution, the constitution, and
the rights of the states. It acted as if it
wished to drive from Its ranks every conserv-
alive man within them, and to AIRY in oppo.
sition to il the entire union sentiment of the
country. Mr.. Seward is frank enough to
say that he wishes to act with "successful'
party. He did not originate the principles
of the republican party, but he did organize
victory" for it. lie was its Carnot. He
took it's discordant elements and brought
them into harmony with each other. He
taught its mem bers that all political issues
must be made subservient to the one which
opposed the further extension of slavery
Wings, democrats and old line abolitionists
worked eide by side for the accomplishment
of common purpose under his direction.-
The end for which they wrought has been
attained. New issues are before the country,
and the party which was proud to acknowl-
edge him as it's leader has cast awsy the only
cnanoes Wlicn promised III continuance IN
power. Animated by fanatcism and hatred,
and insensible alike to justice and policy, it
has assaulted those who alone could have pre-
served it. Remembrance of it's ingratitude
towards himself would not influence Mr.
Seward if the party remained true to it's
pledges and prinoi pies. However selfish may
have been his course as politician, he has
had faith in the principles which be advo-
Gated. He believed they would triumph
The party has deserted them to follow, it
knows not what, and because it is divided.
weak, imbecile. Facilitating, absurd" and
doomed to destruction. he keeps on his course
and refuses to follow its blind and insane en-
ginesrs. He is to the republican party what
Lee was to the confederacy, and he surren-
fers himself to the conservative and consti-
tutional forces gathered and rallylng for the
defence of the republic Chicago Times.