The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-12-13
The Political Situation.

pcr's Weekly Is the result Of careful and
searching review Of the condition Of parties, and
their relations to each other and the country at
large. since the elections this fall. Its premises
are 80 just Its conclusions 10 sound, and It's Ian
guagc 80 incsive and convincing, that We wish
every thoughtful man would peruse il In or
der that the READERS Of the JOURNAL may have
no excuse for not doing 20, We COPY II entire:
1.-THE elections Of the year are now over.
The result Is that the Republicans have lost
some Of their States by large msjorities; In
all. except Iowa. their msjorities have been re-
ducel; and even when the Republican candi.
dates have been elected. the equal suffrage
amendment, II presented, has been defeated.
What Is the explanation Of this sudden over.
throw Of the party which was SO confident Of
permanent power. and whose general policy Is
unquestionably approved by the country rs Il
Is consonant with common sensef
It Is that the Republican party has not gone
far enough! Is the country indignant because
the President has not been impesched or South
ern property confscsted, or equal suffrage es-
tsblished by Congress throughout the country'
Mr.. Thsddeus Stevens Ia understood to be Of
this opinion. but does he really suppose that
public opinion can Be coerced by law. and that
II the people are opposed to policy they can
be made to support It II Congress only passes
q bill, This may be the opinion Of the sturdy
Pennsy ivanian, but his opinions are seldom
those Of his party or Of the country. He Is
certainly not afraid to stand alone. and un-
questionably he discs SO in thinking that the
people have demanded more stringent measures.
Is Il that the Republican party has gone too
far, and that the country Is Of opinion that the
unorcan,,ed States should have been left to 70.
construct tbem,elvest Nothing Is easier than
such an explanation. It is IS easy as saying
that anybody's eyes can show him that the sun
goes round the earth. But It 10 by no means .
true and satisfactory explanation because It Is
easy. The Republican majority IN Massachu-
sets Is reduced some forty thousand. Yet we
all know that except for the issue OF prohibita-
ton Gov. Bullock would have had as large
a majority as ever. So In Wisconsin the Re
publican vote 10 reduced. And We know that
Carl Schurz, q radical Of tho radicals. declined
to stump the State because OF prohlbitory issue.
In California the corruption Of which the Re
publican candidate was the representative was
known, and the nero name OF corruption
hurts q Republican more than the fact hurts .
Democrat. In saying this We do not wish to be
unjust; but In the State Of New York there
were various republican bolts from Irregular"
candidates who we're at least supposed to DO
tainted. How many Democrats In tho city OF
New York refused to vote for known candidates
Of the ring, In New York the excise law and
the canal frauds were also cardinal elements In
the election. II there had been no prohibitory
issue, no disgust with corrupt political In
trigues, and the question Of the election had
been simply the policy Of equal rights as the
law Of reconstruo ton. 1t would undoubtly have
been approved.
The truth Is. that many Republicans even
voted against the party In order to admonish
Il. The number OF Republicans who did not
vote Is always very large. Many voted under
protest. And surely never was SO cheerful q
defeated party. 1.-THE best thing that could
happen to u.s." "Just what We need," were
very common expressions. The shrewder Dem
o,rats fully understand this, and they half de-
precate their own victory, foresseing Its ineYi-
atble result.
That result Is plain. The Republicans will
trim ship the Democrats will crowd sail. The
success Of party always developes and
strengthens its radical OF extreme tendancy.
The country, It Is said. Is tired Of Republican
extremes. Very we'll lit chooses II may try
Democratic extremes. The Republican extreme
Is impeachment, confscation, and equal rights
secured by national law. The Democratic eI-
treme Is rebel reconstruction and reputation.
Do the elections mean approval Of that1 The
Republicans, we say. will trim ship. We must
remember that while many Republicans are
good Temperance men, we are not Prohibi-
tory party. Many also favor high tariff, but
We are not q Protection party. Political par
ties must deal with paramount issues. The
great vital necessity Of the country, upon
which oil other interests depend, Is reconstruc-
ton. It Is to that. therefore. that the Repub-
lican party must address itself, and not wranglo
by the way upon other questions that may or
may not hereafter divide the country.
The Republican policy Of reconstruction Is
- I. -. IL In, Ia
fundamental principle Is the consent OF the
governed, expressed In the usual American
manner. by the voice Of the majority. A GER
tain number Of the governed are to have no
vote because ofconspicuou perjury and rebell-
ion but the disability Is to be removed at any
time by Congress. This policy cannot be re-
voked without national dishonor and danger.
Side issues nay aud should be dropped. Leg
islation should be calm and sagaciOus, tighten
fng the public burden, and looking to imme-
date harmony. A narrow and fierce leader.
ship should be promptly and plainly repudi-
atej. But the policy Of restoration, founded
on equity and common sense. must be main
tanned. That Is not extravagsnt. not fanatical
nor extreme. II reorganires civil government
upon the only acknowledged basis Of popular
system. Just as s,renuously the Republican
party opposed the extension Of slavery into
free territory. which WAS the paramount issue
ofls36. 1.-THE country Is not ripe for 1t, II Is
Q profound misfortune. But our duty 10 not
the less plain. The country was not ready for
q policy OF non-eKtension In 1856. But the
Republican party did not feel that Il must
therefore relnquish It's faith and Its policy.
Had Il done 30 nothing could have saved the
United States from becoming vast slave en-
pire.
lin the present situation the party should
abandon its national policy, II yields to what
To policy which restores the Southern States
to the unqualified control Of the most disatiect-
ed element Of the population, disfranchiscs the