American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-10-02
MAINE AND CALIFORNIA.

If the Republicans in California had
rot been notoriously divided, and If the
Maine election had not turned upon the
prohibitory liquor question, the result in
those States might fairly be claimed as
the beginning Of reaction. The Dem.
oeracy have indeed brought out their
largest wooden guns, and have announc>
ed with the utmost satisfaction that the
people at last begin to long for the good
old glorious days of Pierce, Buchanan
and the Southern oligarchy. But their
loud salvos over these elections are but
an energetic kind of whistling to keep
up courage y For it is plain that if the
question of reconstruction is finally set
tied by the party which believed in the
wal, and brought Ito a successful and the
Democratic party will be wholly demorr-
allied, ;,r qis.,i sr,lr.r;, - r,i br
We do not deny that the result in Cal
ifornia ischeeringto the Democrats and
the uncenstructed rebels, while it gives
us the disadvantages of the depression
which always accompanies defeat. Nor
do we deny that parties perish from dis
integrstion as well from open and tri-
umphant assault. If, as was undeubted-
ly the case in California; corrupt in.
fuences succeed iu nominating candi-
dates. no feeling of the necessity of par
ty organization can save, or ought. to
save, party. This is especially true
of the Union Republican party, for Its
chief ends could not be secured by cor~
rupt agencies. Corruption, universal
and profound, if it exists in party, is
not one Of the minor and episodical is.
sues which we claimed last week should
be sacrificed to the. great cause to which
a party may be devoted. While, there's
fore, every truly patriotic man must de-
plore the result in California, which
gratifies only virtual rebels and their al
lies and apologists, let him not misun>
derstand it. The responsibility Of de.
feat rests with those leaders who served
personal and corrupt interests instead of
the general good Of the cause. The
heart of the people of that State is un-
changed; and, although the late elec.
tion makes success more difficult to the
Union party at the next trial, there is
no reason to doubt that in the serious
crisis which has fallen upon US they will
be rs true as ever. fa. li.
In Maine our friends evidently sup.
posed that they could indulge all kinds
of private differences. The result has
probably shown them that until they are
ready to surrender to the united enemy
in front they must fight only upon the
great and real issues. 1t is uuquestion.
ably true that eight if not nine tenths of
the strictest temperance men are also
Republicans. But to make prohibitory
law the issue of u party campaign is to
divide our own ranks and to do nothing
else, Prohibition is not a measure Of the
party. If it could be made such to- day
the Republican Union party would in
evitably dwindle, and the Democrats and
the President would have their own way
Tomorrow. Governor Andrew, of Mas.
sachusetts, for instance, is not prohibi.
ZIONIST; but is there any truer or more
representative Republican in the coun-
try?
1t is unwise, and it is certainly up,
generous, while the national interests
demands as much as they ever did the
united action of all loyal, liberty loving
uen whether they are prohibitionists or
not, to insist upon making prohibition
party issue. Would it be any satisfaction
to any man in Maine who is as sincerely
a Republican as. he is prohibitionist, that
his insistence- upon his scheme might
paralyze the party in every State, and
bring into power not only the President
with his perilous policy, but the party
which is the sworn foe of any prohibito>
ry law The case is clear. If the pro-
hibitionists hope to carry their point by
the agency OF any existing party, it must
be by the Republican. If, however, they
hope nothing of present parties, do they
think the necessity of carrying their
point so paramount that to reach it the
country may be abandoned to the party
of Vallandingham, Fernando Wood, and
Andrew johnson? That is the practical
question. Let every prohibitionist con-
template the situation of the country and
answer r lt @ e rsr aGfa7
CURE FOR CoRNs.-Some person who
has suffered Several deaths" with