The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1868-09-12

the Government Tor the past three years Is
with them, not with us. They are on their
trial, not we. Applause.
When we demand of them to say why, in
three years after the close of war waged to
restore and maintain the Union and the
Constitution in ten States of the Republic,
the results of the war have not corresponded
with the objects of the war, why the Union
is not restored and the Constitution is
authoritative are not to be met with an
outcry about "traitors" unrepentant
rebels" whatever that may mean nova
days. and torrent of bad language gen.
orally.
SO when the people ask their stewards at
Washington for an account OF what tney
have done with the more than 2, 900 millions
of public money which have gone into their
hands since the war, what the people want
is clear showing on that subject. They
will not be put off with noisy protesta-
tons and rhetorical flourishes that they,
the said stewards, were the only patriots
and true men in the war, and that but for
them there would now be no country to vex
them with troublesome questions.
SOBER SECOND THoUGHT-NEw ISSUES.
We do not at all agree to this claim
on which our opponents rest their hope of
success; namely, that they saved the coun-
try in the war. The country was saved in
spite of them and their mismanagement,
by the American people. 1t ia not the
first time that a little busy, buzzing fly on
the broad shoulder of the honest sturdy
OK has flattered himself that he was draw
ing all the load.
founded as it is unfounded, does it follow
that because they saved the country in the
war, they must be suffered to ruin 1t now
! by their odious reconstruction policy and
their reckless expenditures?
We rejoice to say that the unworthy at
tempt to rekindle the passions of the war
for partisan success, has failed and will
fail before the sober second thought of the
American people. We hail this as the best
omen. Let the people understand and fairly
weigh the true issues Of the contest and We
have no fear of tie result. Great applause
1t is time that the reign Of discord should
cease that citizen should not be set
against citizen because of events that are
past.
1t will be our duty to prevent our oppo-
nents from obscuring the real issues of the
contest. These issues, in my judgment,
are the restoration of the Union and the
Constitution in the States and in the gov
eminent: and, in the next place, thorough
reform of the entire financial policy, the
expenditures and taxation of the country.
But why, my friends, these concerted
efforts of our opponents, to obscure these
issues by Misrepresentation and unbounded
personal abuse? We invite them to discuss
The real questions their Congressional
policy and their financial administration.
We are ready to meet them in argument.
They meet us with mis-statements and
hard words. Much practice has made them
versatile in these tactics. At one time they
would show that after all there Is really no
great difference between them and ourselves
in this contest. Our position is so strong
they seek to gain it from us. They would
persuade thepeople thaHthere is no practical
question between us. Now you know, and
they ought to know, that there was never n
greater mistake. Applause.l Thedivision
between us is profound, because it is funda-
mental; it goes down to the rock. We differ
on the construction of the most vital princi-
Piles of the American Constitution. II they
are right, We are as wrong as men can be.
If We are right, they are equally wrong.
THE CRY OF "CIv1L WAR;"
In like manner they seek to create PAN
ic in favor of their candidate by affecting
to believe that the success of the Democrat
ic party will produce civil war. 1t would
be the excess of charity to suppose that this
charge was seriously believed by any CON
siderable number OF our opponents. 1t Is
an absurdity in terms. The successful par
ty in an election does not provoke civil
no object in it. Its interests are all for
peace. The Reconstruction policy of Con-
gress is now for the first time to be passed
upon by the people. To the fair expression
of the Judgment of the people, even though
wrested by false issues, if it shall be for the
Radicals, the Democratic party will sub
nit. If on the contrary as we confidently
expect, the decision shall be against our OPP
ponents we shall expect them to submit in
like manner. The reliance Of the Demo-
cratic party is on the American people, and
in the Irresistible moral effect Of the peace
full Revolution which will give them the
President and Vice President and major
ity of the House of Representatives. We
propose to fight the great battle of the Con-
stitution within the lines of the Constitu-
ton as construed by the Supreme Court.
By the decision Of that tribunal whether
for or against us we will cheerfully abide.
Can our opponents say as much Or is
their cry of "civil war" the child of their
own evil intentions2 We prefer to think
that it is raised merely as good cry for the
election though we cannot but see that the
horrible project of farming en- masse the ne
gro hordes of the South, only defeated in
the House of Representatives by few votes
and which may yet become law, is full OF
menace. Here is the real ground of alarm
lest the war of races, which is the natural
consequence of the Radical policy as fore
seen by every one Of our ablest Generals in
the South, will be precipitated by the folly
of some and the design of Others of the
Radical party there as the only mode OF re.
tanning their ill-gotten power in country
where they have no footing in tho soil, and
no real strength except that which springs
| fnrnn HnnOarV
Ireland, Poland, unhappy lands, can tell
many bloody tale OF disturbances foment-
ed or Invented by the oppressor as fresh
plea for tightening his grasp on the throat
of his victim.
All (! gentlemen, how could it enter the
heart of any man who knows what war Of
racesis, who has ever heard of Hayti and OF
the unutterable horrors Of negro warfare
upon white population, of any man who
has ever loved mother, a sister, a wife or
child,-or felt the sweet influence of
Christian home,-to do or say or support
anything which could favor the arming at
this time, of the negroes of the South
What thanks do we not owe to the little
spartan band of Democrats in the House
and to the Republicans who stood with
them, against their own party, for even
temporary postponement OF this terrible
measure !
RECONSTRUCTION A FAILURE.
Though it were true that the States in the
thraldom of reconstruction are as disturbed
as our opponents assert, for their own pur-
poses, the reproach is at their own doors.
The natural tendencies of civilized man are
to social order and political unity. a dis
contented people means bad administra-
ton of government More than this, the
American, North and South, is self-gov-
erning man, by his traditions, his heredi-
tary training and habitude which united
with these has acquired the force OF an
instinct-an instinct which you cannot root
out by any statutes of Reconstruction or
otherwise, based on whatever false theories
of government or of humanitarian philan-
thropy. The farther you force him in vio-
lation of this instinct of self-government,
the more disaffected you make HIM to what
ever form OF government you impose upon
him against his will. This is as true Of the
| man IF Maosa oh II aatta q il ia Oe the man of