The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-06-05
INDIANAPOLIS, June 3, 1867
POLITICAL

The opinion is frequently expressed
in well-informed political circles that
the Grand Army of the Republic in
tends to control, and furnish candi-
dates for, the next State election.
What grounds there may be for such
an assertion your Correspondent is
unable to say, but in view of its pos
sible, perhaps probable, truth, a few
suggestions may not be inappropriate.
It will be readily admitted that un-
der existing circumstances, the hearty
cooperation Of the military and civic
elements of the Union party is abso-
lutely necessary to insure its contin-
ued ascendency In this State. The
obstinacy of Southern rebels, melted
and encouraged by their Northern al
lies, has forced new issues upon u.s.
A zeal not tempered with discretion.
or rather a blind fanaticism on the
part of some who have aspired to
leadership in the party, threatens
to raise other issues for which
the public mind is unprepared, and
the tendency of which will be. un-
favorable to the cohesion of the Union
organization. From the commence
ment of the war the party has pre-
served its unity and maintained its
ascendancy, not by, the general homo
geneity of its elements, but by sim
gle bond of union. Free traders and
high tariff men, adherents of the
Native American policy, and
adopted citizens from every coun-
h.
representative of every phase of po-
litical opinion have tacitly lain aside
their differences for the time, and
under the pressure of great emer
>gency have united in one phalanx un-
der banner which has had for its
only motto, : the preservation Of our
national integrity. External pres
sure has supplied the place OF cohe-
sive attraction, but the cessation Of
war, in the triumph of the principle thus
contended for, and the gradual APP
proach of the country to Its normal
condition must inevitably weaken
such compact. Differences. forgot
ten In the presence of a common dan
ger, will be revived as that danger re-
cedes, and the greatest degree of mu-
tual Cancellation and forbearance will
be required to prevent the separation
of the heterogeneous element, the
consequent reinforcement OF the DEM
oeratic party, and the probable forma-
ton of new combinations. AT such
a time the Grand Army of the Re-
public, bound together by the sacred
associations of the past, the solemn
duties of the present, and the bright
hopes of the future-hopes which
have cheered them in darkness and
danger, and solaced their companions
In the hour of death-may well be
regarded as the impregnable strong
hold of the Union party But the
Grand Army alone and unaided is
powerless to elect single candidate
Its only chance of success is in an
earnest cooperation with the Repub-
lican organization, and such co-ope-
ration implies an equitable division
of the honors and emoluments re-
sulting from successful political cam
paigns.
COMMON sense dictates the nomina-
ton OF the best men for offices, and
the best men are those who will poll
the most votes. This is the true course
according to our theory of govern
ment. The legal voters are the judges
of mans fitness for Office, and con-
sequently, he who can secure the
greatest number of votes, whether
soldier or citizen, must be the best
man.. The majority cannot be acrong.
This principle is the very quintes-
cence of the republican theory. Let
the Grand Army, in genuine affilia-
ton with the Party of Progress, be
guided by sound reason and plain
common sense" and there can be no
doubt as to the results. But let them
assume to dictate terms and to make
up tickets without due consultation
with their natural allies" and they
will be very sure to make muss
of it"
The recent election in this city is
said to have been managed entirely
by the G.. A. r. I am not able to
say positively whether such was the
case or not; but / know that the
whole affair was conducted in the
most bungling manner, and that one
more specimen of such engineering
would produce tunnel large enough
for the whole party, and give the
Cops. control of the city government
Those who profess to have had
view of the ropes during the process
of manipulation say the ticket was
first fixed up in the Office of an emf
nent legal firm, was. subsequently in-,
dorsed by the G. A. r. and finally
nominated in the Union Convention.
No fault is found with the character
or social standing of the gentlemen
constituting the ticket; but there was
nothing like spontaneity in their nom
ination, no energy in the canvass, and
defeat waS only avoided nv bavinr an