The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-05-08
THE BROAD ISSUE.


The Republican party was organized efec .
ively in only one half Of the Union before
he war. In the other half there was neither
free speech nor free press, and the masses
we're held in actual bondage, or rendered
subservient to the behests Of powerful oil
Carchy Of landholders and Shareholders. The
Republican party achieved it's FIRST national
success in the election Of Mr. Lincoln to the
in consequence Of division Of
its opponents. The rebellion against the
Government, and the forclble resistance to
its authority, constrained the patriotic masses !
Of the North to rally TO the standard OF their
lican party, for the support of the Govern
ment and the defence Of the Union. But
while the Democratic party of the South,
which had absorbed all others, waged
bloody war against the Government, the
Democratic party Of the North still main
tanned its organization, and under some Of it's
old leaders, arrayed itself against the war,
and opposed and embarrassed all meas
ures for its prosecution. They sympathized
most heartily with their Southern brethren,
and hated the Administration with an inten
sity of revengeful malignity unknown even
TO their brethren in the South, who were en-
gagged in battle against the flag of the coun-
try. But the efforts of the Northern Demo
cracy we're Intellectual to stay the onward
march of the victorious armies of the Union,
or TO thwart the efforts of the Government,
for the overthrow Of the rebellion. Sher-
mans guns announcing the fall of Atlanta.
and the fate of the Confederacy, were the
fitting salute with which the resolutions Of
the Chicago National Democratic Conven-
ton S platform, proclaiming the failure OF the
war, was greeted on its reception in the
Sonth. The game was played out, and the
Chicago Convention platform thenceforih
only did for Mcclellan and the Copperhead
party the service of stone, tied round the
neck OF puppy, to sink it more speedily
and to a deeper grave under the waves
When the war was over, the severed wings
Of the party, the Southern rebels and North.
ern copperheads, sought once more to en-
brace each other, and, through their politioe.
reunion, to seize and control the Govern
ment, and run il once mort in the interests
of the Aristocracv of the South and the
Democratic politicians of the North. Andy
johnson, on account of his position and his
antecedents his proclivites and his charac-
ter, was chosen and manipulated, anointed
and beslavered, and duly installed as chief Of
the party, under the new dispensation The
Philadelphia Convention was held to an
noance the programme, the President
swung round the circle, to give eclat to
the reunion, and to enable him to recover
from the effect Of the pathetic scene in which
a Democratic oifice-seeking soldier, from
Massachusetts, had walked arm,in.arm with
pardoned traitor from South Carolina.
But the hopes Of the Democratic leaders
we're just as efectually crushed, by the
Union soldiers, after this Convention, as they
had been by Sherman's "boys in blue .
after the Chicago Convention. While
the Northern Democracy, and the Southern
traitor Osigarchy, are one in heart and in SEN
timent, and have a common purpose, theirs
is still the oft told experience "the course OF
true love never does run smooth" But they
never will give DER. nor exhaust the
strategy by which they still seek success,
through their hnal reunion, Of the long sew
cred wings Of the party. And should they,
in the chapter Of accidents, be once more re
united. and exclude the colored people from
the right OF Suffrage, aud succeed in regain
ing political power and control Of the Ma
tonal Government, who shall predict the ca
lamities Of the county under worse regime
than that OF the Bourbons.
The only sure way 10 prevent such con
summation in the ever shifting scenes of pol
itics, and the changing policies of parties, If
for the Republican party now, in the height
of its power, TO proclaim and insist upon
equal rights and universal suffrage for all
men of all colors, and in oil portions Of the
country. Concede freely, ungrudgingly
conscientiously to all men the same rights yot
claim for yourselves and no longer exhibtir
theory, or practice, the gross injustice Of im'
posing upon others the burdens, while deny
ing them the benefits, of the Government an
der which they live, or of a voice in tn,
choice Of those who make and administer hi
laws thereof. This is the only Just prin ipl,
the only principle admissible in a republ
can form Of Government and in It's our on
ly hope Of safety for the South, and, ult
mately, for the country at large. It is, more
over, the only basis on which the Republican
party can be nationalized, and rendered per
manent, enduring, and universal; broad a. be
land over which our flag waves, and deep anG
farreaching as the sympathies of humanity
and the rights and liberties humankind l.e
our platform secure equal rights to all, anC
our party and our cause.-the party of free
dom and the cause Of the country. will be i-
umphant in the South, as in the North. auc
the rights and the honor OF the Government
and Liberty and Union will be maintained
now and forever, one and inseparable. Gu
party will rest firmly and secure on the broad
basis of the common rights and personal free
dom and civil equality Of the masses, and ih,
ChAoh Will VIC AaAfNcNtublcs bStAuHE II Will "
eemented by the interests and in the affec
tions Of the people. Every minor issue. ev
cry trivial scruple or apprehension Inspired
by dough -facery or conservatism. should b.
promptly discarded from our coansels. enc
our programme; and we should marcl
boldly forward TO the achievement OF IN,
glorious destiny Of the Republican party. b,
extending its principles and its power. Al,
enlargins its circle to include the masses o
So the bonds of universal liberty
equal Nights, ai4 impartial suffrage.
The Democracy of the North are in svm
patty with the Aristocracy Of the South to
day. as they have been for a generation pas,
The hearts of Northern Copperhead. an,
Southern Rebels, overflow with reciproes
of Fiction FIR each other, and 'hey Mil con
sttute IN the future, rs they baye IN the rasr
one political party, in The interes, and unde
the domination Of the oigarchy Of III
South. And in order to secure permanent
enduring and National success ard contro
the policy OF he Government. and the AS
tinies Of the country he Rpprl,i,,..,, ~,