The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1867-10-31
Democratic Generals we're three to ono
Republican. In the Government De.

Republican. In the Government De.
partments huodneds' <of their enemies
were retained, Or placed in POSITIONS,
where they had pouers to- betrsy them.
They disappointed friends in hope Of
coneiliating enemies, to. such degree
that III 1862 It was impossible to rally
the people to their support. When
driven in '63 to show confidence in
their principles, and to take DETER
mined stand against treason the people
rallied 70 their aid Nth wild enthusi-
asm; and nothing could be more plain
~ >indicated "a the popular will than
this "Treasm is crime and must be
punished."- The people demand that
treason should be made odious, and
JEFF: Davis hanged "on a sour apple
tree;" q; T1heif darling thought, through
out all the horrors ofthe struggle thrust
upon them, was, to hang the traitors.
They, never could have been induced
to fig ght out the war to the bitter end
on any other ground than that treason
was to be- made odious, unless on the
principle that the Southern States, and
people, by their acts o.. secession, had
become foreign enemies to be conquered
and dealt with, according to the law Of
nations. They demand always a def
mite policy. As traitors, the leaders
must be hanged or banished as foreign
enemies, those implicated in numbering
prisoners should have suffered the ex.
treme penalty of the law. Selfrespect
demanded that our soldiers should be
secured<ia the treatment awarded by
civilized warfare ) but this demand was
not met. The party 10 power, With
false magnanimity, hdsoverlooked the
claims Of a hundred good and true
men, who had distinguished themselves
as advocates Of its principles, aad elect
ed life long enemy, to those princl-
pies, e ., z place from which the sssaszin's
bullet transferred him to one Of almost
supreme soutTol. -
When he had, thrown off the mask,
and confronted them as traitor, in
falfsymFath5 with traitors, instead of
acting promptly apd hurting him from
q ais seat, they halted and. reasoned and
temporued:: .. They have permitted him
to make treason safe, and profitable.
They have allowed the escape of the
gujltiest nest of criminals that. has yet
disgraced the records, Of modern his
tory. They have shown a lack Of
nerve and decision. They have neith-
er treated the rebels as, rebels, nor as
foreign enemies. They hare not enun-
ciated any definite and. distinct policy.
Treason is not made odious. Traitors
are not punished. There is so little
difference between the reward of loyalty
and treason that it requires a philoso-
pher to define it. The people do not
see the distinction. The men who lead
in revolutions must be prompt and con-
fdent.- The measure which would be
carried iato = great success to-day may
be dead drag tomorrow. Negro
Suffrage in the South. and disfran-
.chisement Of rebels, would have been
1ej!sa gj #RuiIRR uiR 81 e. sssasRa saijRr ST St
patient labor; and It only remains for
Congress to convince the people that
they themselves are convinced of the
justice of their policy-to hold the
ground already taken, and press steadily
forward. o They must fight it out on
ttiSj line, or be swept from the ground,
next fall, as autumn leaves are swept
before the wind. Any 7acillation, any
going backward, will call forth the
contempt Of friend or foe, The
American people will pardon any crime
rather than cowardice. They worship
courage; pluck, daring. The logged
ness of Andrew johnson begins to
command their respect. He stands his
ground. Let Congress waver, and the
people. will have no. further use for