Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-02-19
Political Intolerance.

There is a disposition at this time to
denounce every public man as a rene
gade, a trimmer or a traitor, who shows
the least independence Of judgment. No
length of service in the cause of free
dom, no amount Of sacrifice for princi-
pie, can protect any reputation against
aspersion, or prevent ungenerous sus-
picions and hasty condemnation. Men
who were true to Republican principles
in the dark days that preceded their
popular acceptance; who chung to them
for their own sake at the cost Of being
ostracised in society and business who
wee equally true to the cause OF the
Union when it was assailed by treason,
and who have since uniformly contend
ed for all essential guarantees are de-
nounced with indecent haste by late
converts for daring to hold an indepen-
dent opinion in q discussion or action
upon preliminary or minor matters,
when there is not the least reason to
suspect their fidelity to the vital prin-
ciples with which their names are iden-
tilted. The latest example of this ten
dcncy, which grows out Of the excitable
and revolutionary character of the times
is presented by General Banks, who is
read out Of the Union party or d%enounc-
ed as a trimmer in some quarters in
this State, because he dared to differ
with Thaddeus Stevens on q subject con-
corning which the majority in Congress
have rs yet reached no definite conclu-
sion, and because he voted with the ma
jority against a scheme to establish ex-
elusive and absolute military rule over
a large portion Of the Union. 1t is the
widest folly to impugn the patriotism
and fidelity of such men as Banks, Bing-
ham, Shellabarger, Elliott, Kasson, and
the other tried and true Republicans
who voted with him, and who control a
majority of the House.
1t will be soon enough to suspect
them, and to give the leadership of the
party into the hands of the newest and
loudest ranters, when they shall have
refused their support to a single per-
fected measure embodying the substance
of what Congress has been so long try
ing to accomplish. But so long as every
other man in either branch of Congress,
has his own plan Of reconstruction, and
the greatest difficulty is to harmonise
opposing views, it is worse than folly to
fling the tomahawk at every gallant
head in succession that dares up-lift it.
self. The very difference of opinion
which divides Congress proves alike the
conscientious and able character. of that
body and the difficulty Of the questions
it has to settle-questious involving the
gravest points Of constitutional law and
craftsmanship and affecting the whole
fabric and future Of the Government. II
would be only modest and decent for by
ISLANDERS to withhold their final judg-
ment until the controversy is ended and
opinion has c~rystalized into definite
measures. We may not have any per-
sonal interest in the men who are acting
for US, and who are so rashly assailed;
but if we would not have a noble party
whitfield down to q slayish and con-
temptible minority, we must allow lati-
tude of opinion in the discussion Of pre-
l~iminaries at least; we must encourage
a manly independence among our repre-
sentatives, and be not Indifferent to the
claims upon u forbearance of a long
and consistent record on the side of
rights. +. Bulletin. gr