Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-05-29
From The Columbus Journal.l
RadicaIism.

haulCdllsm means lOOL-WOfk the
~uprooting of falsehoods and abuses"
says DIR. Robertson, and the definition
furnishes such ample explanation of
Democratic hostility to Radicalism, and
its preference for the antipodal article,
conservatism, that we became willing
converts to the quaint creed of Josh
Billings, that when a man is right he
can't be too radical, and when he is
wrong he can't be TOO conservative"
One would think to hear the popu-
lar Democratic -denunciation of radical
ism with which the press and stump
speeches of that delectable party are
so deliberately ornamented, that radi-
Gals were a species of criminals of deep
ly-dyed infamy, whose designs we're
subyersive of law and order, political
and social, and whose success would be
''chaos come again" 1899
The term radical as considered the
choice anathema of their prolific Vocab-
ulary of epithets, and comprises in its
awful comprehensiveness of denueia-
ton all other terms of abuse and COZ
tumely.
In this connection We wish to call
the attention of that modicum of the
Democratic partythstcan read, to some
facts in connection with this horTid
chimera known to them as radicalism.
In the first place and because it is
an argument that commends itself to
the Democratic mind, be it known,
that radicalism is so far from being obi
Gus, that it IS really the passport to
power. Look at the men most bitterly
denounced for 1t, and il will be seen
that they are the men that are certain
to be returned to Congress by heavy
and steadily increasing majorities,
while on the other hand the weak
kneed, invertebrates member goes back
with the most pitiful majority, or is
quietly permitted to contemplate his
peculiar geological condition in private
life. Illustrations of this fact are too
numerous to require mention here
1t is urged that the representative of
a radical district can afford to be radi-
cal because he has a constituency that
viii sustain him. yet it must be consid
cred that the radicalism of the repre-
sentative has much to doin leading the
constituency up to his own level.
Thirty years ago Thad. Stevens with
difficulty avoided a mob of his own
neighbors because he advocated a free
school system, yet he has led that con-
s~tituency onward and upward until to-
day they stand upon his own level of
extremist radicalism.
Again, radicalism has won many vic
tories, yet what step taken forward IN
such a contest was ever lost2 Its con
quests have this peculiar advantage:
when the victory is won all trouble
ceases. No friendly gsrrisons are need
ed from a distance to occupy the con-
quered ground, for the conquered be-
come at once the allies of the conquer
ors. Who ever heard of so much as a
petition for the re-ensctment of the
blacklaws in Ohio, or for the restora-
ton of slavery? Radicalism asks Moth
ing but what is right, and its victories
are therefore pure aud legitimate, new
er humiliating the conquered, but
rather satisfying them that their defeat
is for their own good.
In this country radicalism has done
much, but the suicidal folly of con-
servatism has done more for the cause
of human progress. Our English neigh
bors were more fortunate than we, in
abolIshing slavery without bloodshed,
and with a comparatively small outlay
of money. Yet there, as here, radical
ism did the work. 1t was not the work
of statesmen nor rulers. True, it was
done by act of Parliament, but Chan
ming wrote to Mr.. Clay that ''Parlia-
ment had done nothing but record the
edict Of the people," Your oficehold-
er of secure position is little prone to
radicalism. His interests prompt him
to pursue the opposite course. So in
this country our leading statesmen of
the times before the war were never
radical, nor did they become SO since
until the people of the great North
with n heart and voice decreed the
triumph of freedom.
Abraham Lincoln, with all his heart
felt belief in the final triumph of these
principles, was not a pioneer, but was
led by the people up TO the consumma-
ton of those acts which have placed
him among the immortals, and CON
signed his murderers TO the deepest in
fanny.
In England it was the Clarksons, the
WiIberforces, and the Granville Sharps,
imbued with a powerful Christian in
huenee, that educated the nation up
the true standard of radicalism, while
it is John Bright who has received from
their hands the burning torch of the
higher civilization in store for England,
and to-day keeps it burning brightly.
In America it Is q Loveioys, our
John Browns, and the nameless mar
tyrs of Kansas, whose blood has proved
the seed of radicalism, while the Sum
ners, the Steyenses, the Wilson's and
Others have led our Congress forward
to s'record the verdict Of the people"
We commend these fact to the con-
sideration of our doubling friends, and
exort them 20 study carefully the
progress of radicalism in the past few
years, and see the substantial advant |
ages to the country resulting there
from then turn and contemplate the
ready acceptance of these victories by
the people, md remember thai moth
ing is ever settled that is not settled
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