Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-09-04
THE CONTEST BEFORE US.


was IN Immense ana oVerWnelmlpK tfi'
umph. The vote Of twenty-five States
agsinst three Of nine-tenths Of the cleo
tors-with a popular majority Of 400, 900
combine to render the victory all but
unparalleled. Yet change Of $4,000
votes in certain States would have given
the presidency to Mcclellan, and the coun-
try to the rebels. How tremendous an
issue to hang on the doubts and vacillations
Of $4,000 wayering votes in a poll OF four
millions.
We are within few weeks Of another
presidential election. The last decided
that the rebels should not divide the
country, We are now to determine that
they shall not have il all. The shape Of
the question is changed, but its import
ance is nowise diminished.
They who, a few years ago, tore down
and trampled on the flag Of our Union
now wave ii over their columns, advanc-
ing to storm the Capitol. The White
House is already in their interest; they
mean to keep that, aud add to it whatever
remains to. day in loyal hands. Should
they triumph, il is, exceedingly probable
that Grant, and Sherman and Sheridan
will be required, for the next four years
to receive their orders from Robert Toombs
or Howell Cobb, as Secretary Of War. IL
is quite possible that Gen. Forrest may
claim and be accorded to the War De-
partment.
i certainly would not object to the full.
est amnesty for bygone offeuses. 1t is
the restoration Of power to the unchanged
rebel spirit that is deprecated. The au-
thors and inspirers of the rebellion ex-
cited alarm by explicitly proclaiming
themselves the same to- day as in 1862.
They were faithful to the Union so long
as it subserved their ends; when its helm
was transferred to other hands, they did
their utmost to scuttle and wreck the ship.
If il is now restored to their guidance,
they will sail it as before, but, If not,
then. Not ore Of the millions of
rebel supporters Of Seymour and Blair re.
gard their election otherwise than as a
recovery by other means of what they
lost by their defeats at Fort Donelson
Vicksburg, Gettysburg, and Appomatox.
We have conquered the physical force
Of the Rebellion; we have now to triumph
over its ideas. We have to prove that its
discontinue on SO many hard-fought
fields was the harbinger Of humaner era
--an age wherein the reign of justice to
the weakest aud humblest should super
scde the dei6cation Of mere force. We
have now to prove that Repu blican as.
cendancy implies aud involves prosperity
for all sections, through the reign Of Or
der, Industry, and Thrift.
As yet, the South is cOnvulsed by the
hope of restoration, in effect, of the
slave-holding regime. Her Whites toe
generally loathe the thought Of address,
ing themselves in earnest to manual la
Dor. They were so long comforted aud
dignfed by assurances from the pulpit
the journal, the stump that God mad,
Blacks for the field, the kitchen, the shop
and Whites to direct their labors and en-.
Joy the fruits thereof, that they are slow
to be reconeiled to a different dispense
ton. They must have the verdict of tn,
battle field confirmed by that of the bal
lot-box, before they can accept it as final
There is no other portion Of the Amer
icau People to whom the election Of Gran
and Colfax will prove so benefcicnt as tC
the Southern Whites. They need this I,
dispel their illusions. They need to b,
thoroughly convinced that Equality o
Rights is henceforth the unchangeabl,
law Of American Nationality. They neeC
to be convinced beyond relapse that they
are never more to profit by Black labor
unless they render a satisfactory equiva-
lent for it-not to some White owner
but to the laborer himself.
When the Southern Whites shall b,
prepared to say to the Blacks, "You
rights are the Same as ours. Hencefortl
we prosper or suffer as one people" tn,
prosperity and rapid growth Of the Soutl
will have been assured. The whole coun
try will flourish, because of the new i'm
pulse given to Southern progress in ever,
useful art, and in the wealth whereof thes'
are the springs. Every good word ant
work for the South awaits the election o
Grant. But the devils that have to-day
possessed her must eyince their nature b,
tearing and rending GRE they come out o
her. They are causing her to foam a
the mouth to-day. She needs externa
aid to issue her complete and prompt de
lliycrance.
The Republicans are summoned to al
ordeal more difficult than they can b
made to realize. They are too general,
inclined to fancy the election of Gran
and Colfax already assured. So far j
this from the fact that they are this hou
in peril of defeat. They will surely b
beaten if their steadfast supporters ar
not speedily aroused to general and in
tense activity. We must triumph. TIL
progress Of civilization, the dearest inter
ests of humanity, require il, yet We shal
not triumph unless we work as the grea
mass Of US have not yet worked to insut
their election. We have to poll our yer
last vote in half the States--many NOR
than we have ever yet polled in the bel
of States beginning with Connecticut an
extending through New York, New Jer
sey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio to Indian
-or Seymour will be our next President
We shall triumph; but the work viii c
will insure that triumph is yet to be done
We have some FIVE thousand Grant club
organized; we must lave thirty thousand
Most of US take newspapers; we must So
thateve voter who will need it is prompt
ly provided with some good Republica
journal. We have perhaps one millio
men actively jealous in the cause; we mus
increase the number to two millions, an,
these must gather and CLEAN half mil
a.. Il II L