Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-12-06
RUTLAND HERALD.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER A, 1866,
The strength OF the Great Republic

conduct OF the war for the Union. In
all otter forms government, that have
yet ex sted, save that OF pure Democ-
racy, ~ p strength of the Nation has re-
posed In the Executive. II the King, or
Emperor, and his counselors, have been
weak or vascillatlng, the nation has been
overtaken by disaster, and often with
ruin, so that the welfare of Kingdoms
and Empires, in war, has depended not
so much upon their potential resources,
as upon the courage, wisdom and general
ability Of their rulers for the time be-
ing. It is true that in an Empire, vast
power is lodged in the hands Of the Ruler.
Both men and money are at his CON-
mand, and may be welded at his SOW
ereign will and pleasure. But should
the ruler be found to lack in wisdom or
courage, all these seeming advantages
are Of but little account, and often may
be the occasion of great calamities.
It had been predicted, before our late
war, by all the crowned heads, and
titled nobility, and the adherents of alb
soletism on the continent OF Europe,
that the weakness OF our Republican
form Of government would become man
ifest in any great national war, and es-
pecially in a war made necessary for the
preservation Of the unity of the nation
against civil dissensions. As if TO illus
trate in the very gristle Of our existence
as Republic, the utter falsity Of such
predictions, and to convince mankind
that our system of government is all
that its most ardent supporters claim for
it. the most formidable rebellion the
world has ever witnessed was precipi-
tated upon it, at time when it was ap-
parently disarmed, and hopelessly IN
ready for resistance. And, what added
to our apparent weakness, the Executive
government itself was hating, timid
and covering when the storm Of rebellion
struck. Its chief minister and guiding
spirit for many months, was William ID.
Seward, who thought seriously Of no
other expedients to cope with and meet
the emergency, but compromise and con-
cession TO the spirit and the demands OF
the rebellion. His oft repeated predic'
ton that peace would come in ninety
DAYS. was founded upon no other "a
tional belief than that union could only
be secured by yielding to.the rebels prac
tically allIwhich they alleged against TIT
government as their grievances. Blu
mark how, what Immediately followed
the first armed attempt at secession, de
monstrated the real strength of our he
publican system. 1t was found to be
in its trying hour, not government G
. weak and vacillating Executive, bu
essentially and practically government
by the people, and their immediate REF
reservations, for the people. The masse
of the entire loyal portion of the natio
srose az one man. The dunn beat {
.nreparation was heard in every villae
and hamlet from Maine to Orego
The loyal States through their lesisl
tares and executives, Immediately cor
menced aiming their citizens for u
great conflict. The representatives
the people in Congress provided u
means for prosecuting the war upon
scale 50 gigantic that the whole wor
was amazed. The executive arm WIFI
had been placed in sling by the tim
cosnsels Of Seward was unleashed, al
nerved for the strong blows VIM
followed. At that moment of extreme
tiuuS. peril, had the President yield
to .ne weak diplomacy of his Premi'
much - he was loved by the peop
he woaii have been swept from pow
before the rising storm of popular
dignation, as chat is blown away
the hurricane. In short it was the pc
pie WAC inspired the was, the people W
inspired the wisdom and prudence a
courage and obstinacy on the part of
executive and the captains of the armi
which brought it to successful iss'
The executive was as much guided a
controlled by the people, as if it h
been under their immediate collect
command. And thus was demonstr$
the real inherent, practical power OF
Republic to maintain its existence unC
the guidance of the wisdom and the W
of the people at large. With a we
monarchy, we should have failed W
a weak Executive, never. For in
one case, all depends upon the monar6
in the other all, depends upon the p
pie, acting through wise and practi
organization, provided in the simpl
and yet the strongest and grandest 10
of government ever devised by the
of man. ..
1t is a singular coincidence that
the close of the war, and when
great work of reconstruction Of the g
eminent necessarily follows that Gle
we are met with the same timid, n;
lag counsels Of Mr.. Seward, in the