The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-10-12

NJ ZL1EHGtFryN tTtE-fE- q
The man who would win the respec,
Of others must respect himself. be
Z who would gain the confidence of 9TH
I ers must contide in himself. he who
I would convince others must himself be
/ fully convinced. Perhaps there is nc
I lesson which the Repu bIican party 50
much needs to learn as the truth con-
{ tanned in these simple maIims. Look
[ At its history since the day IL came into
I power. In go the Democracy openly
threatened disunion, If the people
should place the Government in the
! hands Of their opponents. The issue
[ Was fairly made. The people accepted
( Ii, and placed their government IN the
B hands OF the Republicans. Self-resPsct
I taught that they should, in good latin,
I accept, hold, and to the best OF their
Z ability, discharge the duties of the trust.
Z The people by their vote, said, We are
I tired Of Democratic rule, and want a
Z chaugs;" they were entitled 10 the
change they had dscreed. How did the
Repu bIicans execute the trust repOsed
in IhemG How did they respond 10
this demand for change? Simply by
retaining in office, enough Democrats to
prevent the harmonious working Of the
Government on republican principles.
They did not manfully, and with self
reliance, grasp The helm placed in their
hands, and steadily and stoutly wheel
Z me snip OIL s9NdAG luLO tue new asDuEEE
ordered by the owners of the craft.
They showed lack OF nerve when the
threatened conflict burst upon them,
by appointing, to places OF high re-
sponsiOiiity, a majority OF men who
had been lifelong opponents OF their
principles. OF the early appointments,
in the army, the Democratic Generals
were three 70 one Repu blican. In the
Government Departments hundreds of
their enemies were retained, or placed
in positions, where they had power to
betray them. They disappointed
friends in hope OF conci!ieting enc
mics, to such degree that in 1862 1t
was impossible TO rally the people to
their support. When driYsn in '63 to
show confidence in their principles and
to take a determined stand against
treason, the people rallied TO their aid
with wild enthusiasm; and nothing
could be more plainly Indicated as the
popular will that this, Treason is a
crime and must be punished" The peo-
pie demanded that treason should be
made odioUs, and JEFF Davis hanged
ION a sour apple tree" Their darling
thought, throughout all the horrors of
the struggle thrust upon them, was, to
hang the traitors. They never could
have been induced to fight out the war
to the bitter end on any other ground
than that treason was to be made
. OllOuss uulESS Ol the pllIGiPAt Nl4dt TIC
/ Southern States, and people, by their
acts of secession, had become foreign
enemies to be conquered and dealt with
according to the law of nations. They
demand always, a definite policy. As
traitors, the leaders must be hanged or
banished: as foreign enemies, those i'm
plicated in numbering prisoners should
have suffered the extreme penalty OF
the law. Self respect demanded that
our soldiers should be secured in the
treatment awarded by civilized war
fare, but this demand WAS not met
The party in power, with false mag
nanimity, had overlooked the claims
of n hundred good and true men, who
had distinguished themselves as advo-
Gates OF its principles, and elected a
lifelong enemy, to those principles, TO
place from which an nssassiu's bullet
l transferred him TO one of almost su-
prsme control.
When he had thrown OF the mask,
and confronted them as traitor, in
/ full sympathy with traitors, instead OF
acting promptly and hurting him from
his seat, they halted and reasoned and
| tempOrized. They have permitted him
/ TO make treason safe and profitable.
They have allowed the escape of the
! guiltiest nest of criminals that has yet
I disgraced the records OF modern history.
I They have shown lack of nerve and
decision They have neither treated
the rebels as rebels, nor ns foreign enc
mics. They have not enunciated any
definite and distinct policy. Treason
l is not made odious. Traitors are not
I punished. There is so little difference
I between the re yard OF loyalty and
treason that it requires II philosopher
/ to define it. The people do not see the
distinction. The men who lead in rev.
olutions must be prompt and confident.
The measure which would be carried in
| to great success to-day may be dead
| drag Tomorrow. Negro Suffrage in the
South, and disfrauchiseIneut OF rebels,
| would have been hailed with acclaim in
the spring OF '65. Now they must be
secured by patient labor; and il only
remains Tor Congress to convince the
people that they themselves are con-
WINGED OF the justice OF their pOlicy-to
hold the ground already taken, and
/ press steadily forward. They must
/ light it out on this line, or be swept
from the ground, next fall, as autumn
leaves are swept oefare the wind. Anv
yacillHtiOn, any going backward Will
! call forth the contempt OF friend and
/ foe, The American people Will pardon
any crime rather than cowaTdiCe. They
worship courage, pluck, daring. The
doggedness of Andrew johnson begins
to command their respect. He stands
his ground. Let Congress WAIVER, and
the people viii have no further use for
them.