The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-11-20

/ the law of reconstruction, 1t would
undoubtedly have beenapproved.
The truth is, that probably every
voter knows many Republicans who
even voted against the party in order
to admonish it. The number of Re-
pubiicans who-did not vote is also
very larges Many yeted under pro
test. And surely never was SO cheer
ful a defeated party, The best
thing that could happen to-us, just
what we need, were very common
expressions. The shrewd.r Demo
Gratis fully understand this, and they
half depreeatethcire own victory, fore
seeing It's inevitable, result.
| = That RESULTS plain. The Republl-
cans viii trim. ship The Democrats
will crowd sail. The success of a
party always develops and strength
| ems its radical Or extreme tendency:
| The country, it is said, is tired Of
Republican extremes. Very well; it
it chooses, it may Try Democratic ex-
tremes. The Republican extreme is
impeachment, confscation, and equal
rights secured by national law. The
Democratic extreme is rebel recon
struction and reputation. Do the
elections mean approval of that?
The Republicans. we say. will trim
ship. We must remember that while
many Republicans are good Temper
ance men, we are not Prohibition
party. Many also favor a high tariff,
but we are not a Protection party.
Political parties must deal with para
mount issues. The great vital neces-
sity of the country, upon which all
other interests depend, is reconstruc-
ton. It is to that, therefore, that
the Republican party must address it
self, and not wrangle by the way upon
other questions that may or may not
hereafter divide the country 14a..a
The Republican policy of recon-
struction is already declared. and it
is in operation. Its fundamental prin-
ciple is the consent of the governed.
expressed in the usual American
manner, blythe voice of the majority.
A certain number Of the governed
are to have no vote because of con-
spic1ousr perjury and rebellion; but
the disability is to be removed at any
time by Congress. This policy can
not be revoked without national dis
honor and danger. Side issues may
and should be dropped. Legislation !
should be calm and sagacious, light
ening the public burden, and looking
to immediate harmony. A narrow
and fierce leadership should be
promptly and plainly repudiated. But
the policy of restoration, founded on
equity and common sense, must be
maintained. That-is not extraEagant,
nor fanatical.T nor extreme. 1t re-
organizes civil government upon the
only acknowledged basis Of. a popular
system. Just as strenuously as the |
Republican party opposed the extern
sion of slavery into free territory, !
which was the paramount issue of I
1860, must it insist upon equal rights |
as the cornerstone of reconstruction, I
which is the paramount issue Of 1867.
If the country is not ripe for it, it is
profound misfortune. But our duty /
Is none the less plain. The country |
was not ready for a policy of nom
in 1856 But the Republic
can party did not feel that it must
therefore relinquish its faith and its
policy. Had it done so, nothing could
have saved the United States from
becoming vast Slave empire. se
If III the present situation the party
should abandon its national policy, it
yields to what? To a policy which
restores the Southern States to the
control of the most dis F
affected element Of the population, !
Iisfranchises the freedmen, and re
pudiates the debt, The approval of
such policy by the country would
De condemnation OF. the war, and of |
he American doctrine Of liberty and |
government. aa aea.. $500 sHt8 ,f'j
We have the most unshaken con
idence in the good sense Ofsrthe K
American people, nand therefore we f
10 not suppose that they. mean to i
write fooln upon the brdwlof every
of the war, and. upon the +
3ead stone Of every dead, Union 5$30frl h
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