Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-07-17
"RepuSlicanism" mt the south.

i NeFOVAaS8mA"s" ~s sMC oVUsM'
Certain radical journals whose sense Of
principles 10 bluntsd BY an interruptions
spirit Of fpartisanship ARE pointing exultingly
10 political movements in the South 40 evi.
dsnoss Of what they call the "pyoyross Of
Repubhcanisn." Tho term Republican.
ism" used 10 this connection may be appro-
pirate ifregardsd a. referring to the objects
and delgns Of the law defying party which
verified the prediction Of JEFFERSON by
stealing the namo Of Republican with which
to get into power; but If regarded in its
original and legitimate meaning, il IL wholly
and absurdly inapplicablc. II is absurd to
call that "republicanism" which seeks ita
ends by means known only to despotism,
which substitutes the bayonet for the civil
law; which, in word, establishes and sus.
tains by the sword partizan tyranny whose
only object is its own pcrpetuation. In that
part Of the country where this boastcd PRO.
gress Of Republicanism' is going on, five
military officials exercise q power equal to
that ofthe Autocrat Of all the Russiss, and
the champions Of this spurious republican.
ism are now legislating to place that power
beyond dispute. Their partizans, who have
gone there in quest Of place and power, are
going through the forms Of holding conven.
tons preliminary to the mock elections to
follow II would be placing a usonstrous
estimate upon popular credulity p suppose
that this mere pretence Of going through
the forms Of popular nominations and elec.
tons can deceive anybody. These radical
conventions in the South represent the sen.
timents Of few other, than those who com.
pose them. The are composed Of Bureau
agents and other political parishes who are
feeding upon tie taxpayers Of the country,
and who form q sort Of mutual society for
nominating and electing themselves to Office.
They have things very much their own way.
anything like effective opposition being
overawed BY the bayonet They arc allowed
to write and speak their sentiments freely,
but this privilege is for them alone. They
have the power through the Boards Of
Registration to make and unmakc voters at
pleasure, ard they can thus decide elections
in advance. Their conventions are nothing
but delurire shows. The election in France
by which LEWIS NAPOLEON was "chosen"
Emperor was not greater mockcry than
the prospective elections in the Southern
States will be. And it is this miserable
hurles4ue Of republican government ths. is
pointed to by radical journals as the pro
gre,s Of republicanism." Asws have abeady
ssid, if by ,hct phrase they mean the !oc.
trines and purposes Of the SO called Rerub-
Gcan party, the phrase is an appropriate
one, for since the party which adopted that
name came into power, it has become the
synonym Of intolerance and tyranny. The
record Of the falsely stylsd Republican party
ia record Of bige.ry and corruption. 1t
had scarcely secured power before it set
aside the forms Of law and the guarantees
Of the constitution, and muzsled newspapers
and imprisoaed citizens for the expression
Of their opinion. Having used its power
for thess unlawful means, it seeks to pro-
long it b. means equally unlawful. Taking
the term ''republicanism" in ia party appli-
cation. its progress is fitly illustrated by the
infamous and disgraceful despotism that
curses, ike withcring blight, ten States
Of the Union. But the spirit Of true Re
publicanism--:ha. Rspublcanism which an.
inatei the patriots Of 81. and whose cor
ner-stone is the civil Law with the military
power subordinate revolt, from q PRO
gress' evidenced by system OF uubridled
power and political corruption from which
the tyrants Of the Old World might have
learned lesson in their efforts to destroy
the liberties Of their subjects.
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