The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-09-24

white people to 1eorganize their owr
governments, aud elect Senators and
Representatives" :.@. =. ,o.D IT,
This is the Acknowledged and accepted
policy Of the party. That portion
which, just before the nomination oi
General Blair upon this declaration, id.
mitted that tho new state government
had been recognized by Congress, and
that consequently, according to the de-
cision Of the Suoreme Court, there was
no other lawful method of changing
them than that provided by their con-
stitutlons, now assert that the election
will decide whether those governments
are to stand or to be overthrow, as
General Blair says, by force. Indeed,
it overthrowo at all, it Can only be by
force for it is not conceivable that, in
several of the states, half the inhabi-
tants will disfranchise themselves for
the benefit of those who avow their
hostility to them. BY the words of tho
Candidate for Vice Pre- ident, and by
the eager assent Of the delegates to tho
convention, and of the orators and pa
pers Of the party, as we'll from its char
a'ter and antecedcnts, the issue pre-
sented is simply that of renewed civil
war by the late leaders and. supporters
Of the rebellion.
THE WAY TO WAR.
How a Democratic success at the
election would occasion civil war is
easily seen. Gen. Blair does not hcsi-
tatc to avow it. Congress must be
wholly disrcgarded The Supreme
Court must be invoked. The President
must usurp all powers of the govern
ment and act alone. He must be q
Caesar. "Because," says General Blair
in his letter, "it the President elected
BY the Democracy enforces, or permits
others to enforce these Reconstruction
acts, the Radicals, by the accession of
twenty spurious senators and fifty rep
resentatives, will control both branches
of. Congress, and his administration will
be as the present one Of Er. johnson"
Force is the only alternative.
If Mr.. Seymour be elected, after
this loud and reiterated declaration by
his party that his election will mean
torcible overthrow Of the present state
governments in the Southern States,
the result is evident. He would off,
cla)ly declare those governments void.
He would then be impeached and prob
ably convicted. But the Democratic
party, victorious at the polls, with the
whole rebel force jubilant and ready,
would dispute the sentence, aud rise
against its execution. Meanwhile in
the Southern States the new Democrat
ic state organizations summoned by the
President would be formed. They
would dispute the state authority with
the present incumbents. The President
would recognize the new claimants
and order the army to their support,
and to "trample in the dust" the others.
They in turn would appeal to Congress,
already engaged in conflict with the
President. Meanwhile the representa-
tivcs and Senators sent from the new
state organizations would arrive in
Washington, and in concert with the
other Democratic members would be
recognized as Congress by the Presi-
dent. But, indeed, long before this
event civil war would be ravaging the
country, and Wado Hampton, Robert
Toombs, Howell Cobb, and the old
rebel chiefs who say with Albert Pike,
eve do not love and will not pretend to
love that Union, though we Ii ave agreed
to obey the laws OF the conqueror,"
would gladly behold in desolating war
and ruined Republic the fulluess of
their revenge.
This is the real issue. It cannot be
denied, for the Democratic party cxult-
ingly declares it. 1t cannot be evaded,
for the experience of the last few years
has taught us that We have as desperate
and dangerous elements as any country
at any time. 1t is the relapse Of tho
rebellion, and relapse of disease is
often 6erccr than its original attack
There was nev er a moment when tue
utmost effort of every faithful citizen
was more indispensable than now to the
salvation Of the country. On the one
hand is General Grant, with his mo6er.
alton, his 6rmncss, his tried patriotism,
his singular sagacity,1 his signal illus
tration Of the finest qualities of the in
telligent American; and with him
Schuyler Colfax, who has never said q
word or done an act that can inspire
the least distrust, and who is in full &C.
cord with the best and most peaceful
and progressive tendencies Of the coun.
try. They are the candidates of those
who would do the best that the circum.
stances allow who would reconst, uct
the Union upon equal rights; who
would neither ostracise nor revenge
who would not exasperate the jealous
les Of race: but would neither betra3
tho tried friends nor the pledged faitt
Of the country. They are the candi
dates Of the great body of citizens o
proved patriotism, intelligence, indus