The Ottawa free trader., 1866-10-06

We are subjected to the following ihnlc>
tioE, we presume, for having mentioned
incidentally, in our last, that Judge Z. 5.
LELAND, of this city, had, in a recently pub>
lished letter, substantially given in his adj
hesiou to the Philadelphia platform. 1t
seems Judge Leland is unwilling that such
shall be the understanding. We animagine
why he is thus unwilling, and why he should
consider it the safest course, for one OF has
r,ers, to continue voting the Republican
ticket Judge Leland, up to ten or twelve
years ago, had been a democrat. In those
days Illinois, and particularly the northern
portion of the state, was largely democratic.
During the Nebraska excitement of l854-56,
the democracy lost their ascendency in
Northern Illinois-and lost Judge Leland.
He was a very reliable republican indeed
until about the beginning Of 1864, when
things begaz to look little shakey' for
the reelection of President Lincoln, and
singularly enough, Mr.. LIS republicarism
became "shakey" also. As, towards the
election however, Lincoln stock rose, his
republican,am st,ffened ap. Last spring the
utter failure of congress to realize a single
hope of the country, either as regards the
work of placing the national finances ON a
sound basis, or devising measures for pacify-
ing the country and restoring the union,
again threatened republican ascendency, and
Mr.. l.. became weak -kneed. The Maine and
Vermont elections however, seemed to midi
cate that republicanism still had hopes of
retaining its acendency, and Mr.. l.. again
drops into line. OF course, it would be
unfair to say that Mr.. Leland's back is stiff
or flexible because his party is properous or
the reverse, but we may note the coincidence
1t will need few words to dispose Of what
Judge l.. says about dem ocrats wearing
republican old clothes. We may accept
results, without approving the means by
which they are brought about. The demo-
Gratis opposed southern secession and rebel
lien, as ~eii as the northern madness and
fanaticism by which they were precipitatei !;
but if. out of the calamitous war which
ensued, little compensating good has been
evolved, such as the destruction of slavery
we may accept that good without approving
the diabolical meaus by which it was brought
about.
New questions arise daily, and are DIS
posed of. The democracy take one side er
the other of each issle as It arises, exactly as
it accords with or runs counter to their prin>
ciples. The one principle that underlay all
its action in reference to the questions OF
public .licy that arose during war was its
| opposition 20 undne Capitalization of power
in the general government. "Tha. way
/ danger lies says Judge Leland, and sc
have the democracy SAID always, from the
days of Jefferson down. Judge l.. processes
to differ with the democratic party to-day
only on the question of 80 universal (negro)
suffrage" The republicans propose to force
negro suffrage upon the southern states.
through the action of congress. The demo-
Gratis, opposing Capitalization (Which way
danger lies,') say that is matter tn. con-
stitution has left to The states, and the states
should be allowed to regulate 1t. judge
Leland says so too. But Judge Leland asks.
are the democrats (of La Sale county, in
favor of the southern states granting suffrage
the negroes? We refuse to answer berause
it is none of our business. Judge Leland
admits it is none of our business. but insists
on an answer He admits that on the grea,
principle involved he is with the democracy,
bu, ON the wholly trivial question, " what
would you do if you were in Louis Napo>
Icons place." he opposes the principle be-
cause Smith won't say he would do SO and
So Were we so much at fault, then. in say
ing Judge Leland substantially agrees with
the democratic party and is the inference a
strai.e1 one, that if total radical defeat at
the polls this fall looked more imminent,
Judge l. would be less likely to stickle about
so trivial point?
OTTAWA, Oct lst, 1866.
Mr.. Editor-I am uch gratifed to learn,
from an editorial in your valuable paper,
that the views expressed by me in a hastily