Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-12


rythlng but Craftsmanship is in the ascen-
dancy. Threats of impeachment from
Butler heralded its meeting. (By the
way, I've thought less harshly of the Jews
for selecting Barrabas, the robber, than
had ever expected to have done. | sup
pose, if the truth were known, he was
Butler in his way, and popular with the
fanatics of Jerusalem. And this may ac-
count for their terrible folly, If not for
ours.) And Boutwell, glories in the COM
ing of the negro millennium, anticipated
by Boston, in the election of negro legis-
lators. Thad. Stevens swears and drives
the mental poltroons who compose what
is called Congress, into q unanimous and
enthusiastic agreement to exclude the
Southern States in the next Presidential
election. The new Unionism, and the
''loyal" work of ruling country by PreJ-
udice and not Craftsmanship, goes bravery
on. And thus far the masses of the North,
by small majorities, sanction the enormity.
The power of the President is to be Grip
pied, the growth and usages of our Constl-
tutional system to be changed. The Con-
stitution itself already has become mere
empty form, worn out parchment, in the
hands of dominant majority. But the
unthinking masses rejoice at the destruc-
tion of all that should be dear to them,
with the self-satistied insulting supe-
riority that Thad. Stevens mani
tested in the caucus over Raymond last
Wednesday. That scene, as described, was
graphically Republican. When mere bold
ness and recklessness takes the place OF
reason and thought, such scenes portray
the character of the rulers better than any
description. They exhibit themselves for
a nations instruction, even to the Jackal
Schenck's small part of doing his superior's
work. You regret all this. / do not
You grieve that there is an utter want OF
magnanimity, generosity and fairness.
cannot say that 1 do. The fault is not
wholly with Stevens that he is the profane
leader of the pious Republican host; nor
with Sumner that he is the smooth-spoken
hypocrite who, as a man-loving philan-
thropist, proposes to degrade the Southern
States back to Territories to be ruled by
the grace of New England, under a des-
potic control, to which the long despotism
of the Venetian oligarchy would be at
least noble and dignified, if no more cruel
and unjust. Unfortunately, an atheistic
and debauched political priesthood have
preached hatred over all the land. and to
every sect, and made political and system
atized vengeance an article of our most
holy faith, that whosoever shall not sub
scribe to, must be cast out as unfaithful to
the gospel of love and peace. Unhappily,
opposition during the war, to acts of tyr
amy and weakness, not aiding but retard-
ing the restoration of the Union, have
made many honest soldiers believe that
there were class called "Copperheads in
the rear" who, if the cessation of strife
prevented their fighting, as did the Dorseys
and other conscientious patriots, to cover
their plunder, have made plain SOL
diers believe to be their and their country's
enemies, and SO have got their votes against
real Union under the trick ofsecret associa-
tions for its preservation, only meant to
secure prolonged power to the undeserv-
ing. Prejudice is the archimedean lever by
which the Republican consoldatonists
propose and do for the time being move and
rule the American world. 1t is that which
made the atrociously false and brutal utter
ances of the constituencies Morton received
as a fit instrument of party conflict. In al
most any other country his want of truth,
fairness and manliness, his grossness and
vulgarity, would have ruined the speaker
among all honorable men, and degraded
him from among gentlemen; but at time
when moderation is an offense-when
decent discussion is disloyal-the reverse is
the result. His worst utterances were a
Republican document, efforts of genius in
the way of lying and abuse, for which their
author ought certainly to be made Sen
ator! When placed as one of the menag-
erie that play fantastic tricks in the place
where once sat Conscript Fathers, who can
doubt that he will rival Chandler In all that
marks him as fit representative of Michi-
gan, and thathe will be a fitting confrere for
Sprague? But what l mean by all this is,
simply, that it ia no use to regret
impeachments, the distinction of all Consti-
tutional sanctions, the usurpations of
rump Congress, the rejection of renewed
Union, the probable forcing of Wade or
Butler as future President, by the traudu-
lent exclusion of the Southern States from
representation. These, and possibly worse
results, ought rather to be looked for, and
even hoped Tor, as The greater and speedier
the wrong, the outrage, the destruction Of
all that was once held sacred and noble in
the cbaracter:of the republic, the sooner, if
remedy is to come, and our Democratic in
stitutions to survive, will be needed change.
To talk OF Cancellation and moderation now
Is only to invite insult, to have your regard |
for your country denied with abuse and
and your faith to a common
Union falsiied as disloyalty. am tired of
all this--not to say somewhat disgusted. |
Let the mad farce 90 on. Let the angry |
lpes play out their fantastic tricks |
On the public stage where credulous
people havd placed them. 1t may make
angels weep, but men in these degene-
rate times should be made of sterner |
stuff. do not counsel indifference or in
action, but would express no regrets at