Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-09-26
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lhN AAAANA ~ VIZ AANHtNtf
after doing up the heavy work for
the Black Republican party in that
county for a number Of years, was
compelled, few weeks ago, 70 "puke
up" some Of the yilc trash ho had
swallowed while the "war for the
Union" was in progress, Like the
Prodigal, he has become tired Of feast
ing on husks and reyelling with swine,
and has packed his trunks and started
for his fathers house. In his fare
well to his old companions, he speaks
'thusly"
ain late issue the Philadelphia
Press asks the question, "Was the
war xjght p We thought it was du-
ring Its continuance aud still think
that the principles which we Of the
North contended for, We're right, and
for that reason we, in the beginning
of the rebellion, linked ourselves with
the great Union party and endorsed
il until the close It's platform was
our platform; its candidates were our
candidates, from the President and
Vice President down. But the war
over, the Union party suddenly trans
formed itself into the Republican
party; the leaders appeared to have
other objects in view than the rest0ra-
ton Of the Union, the most Important
of which objects was and is to-day the
building up of their party in the South
ern States. Tho more rabid of the
leaders, not satisfied with seeing sla-
very so successfully and happily abol-
ished, are seeking now to elevate the
slaves themselves to such a standard
that white man shall be their infori-
or, politically. This policy we do not
and can not endorse. We were salts
fed to see the slaves freed, but we
are not satisfied to see them politi-
cally the peers Of the white man. II
this had been the ayowed object OF
the war We could not have advocated
it, nor do we believe that appeals or
entreaties nor yet conscription could
have filed the Union ranks In that
: aspect We would have considered the
: war wrong, for then it would have
r been a war Of political partisans-the
one for, and the other against, the
negro.
To expect q reconstruction Of the
r Union by building up certain party
is folly. The same spirit which uni
ted the Union party during the waI
r must prevail in the ranks of the dom
D inant party of to-day So long as It's
, leaders look to their own aggrandize
ment--so long as they look to the
! success of their party by disfranchis
ing the negro whom they can induce
@ TO vote for them by the object Of re-
ward, just so long will that party
meet with a steady and increasing op
. position. The Union can only be re
constructed by throwing aside all jeal
ousies, all animositics, all rivalries
> and all sectionalisms. Who can ex
pect a reconstruction that will b,
y final where the opinions OF the peopl,
:. are checked from free expression by
q the military; and how can the wants
of the people be made known where
all the avenues through which they
=, might be made known, are husheC
and held in subiection
u A war can only be considered righ
:, when the principles for which it wa
). fought are practically enforced ]
q the principle of our recent struggl
were TO enforce negro supremacy an,
) keep those who fought for the Soutl
, in subiection, then we are right il
Vt doing so now, but If such were no
d the principles, then we are wrong
!, The war could not have been Tough
upon any such principles, and is itno
P" wrong to insult the memories Of ou
S fallen heroes, who died "for the Un
ion" BY carrying out such a policy
We cannot believe that our living sol
z diers viii agree that they fought 70
r the negro to rule, but the events tina
r. have transpired during the last tw
years, while under the domination {
radical men, point too plainly TO thi
10 painful conclusion. Had the negr
N been left out of the reconstructio
n question, and had the Radicals no
" been permitted to govern the Unio
party, all would have been well, bu
: so long as they are allowed to rul,
IL we can have nothing but discort
ID The war principles trere right, but ii
- Radical principles are wrong, and "
,r have tried them long enough to exp'
Ie rience that such is the fact.