Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-12-25

petitor for the Senatorship Is Hon. MATT.
II. CARPENrER. We have no desire TO
undcrrate the ability or impugn the in
tegrity of Mr.. CARPENTER, but by be-
coming a candidate for this exalted place,
he invites a scrutiny of his record and
estimate of his claims for the place.
Tho destinations of Mr.. CARPENTER's
speech has thrown glamour over the
minds of some Republicans, until they
seem to think the party will be bank
rupt in influence unless it avsis itself of
his surprising ab ility. We would re-
mind such persons that for some years
the Republican party in this State pros
pered very well, not only without Mr..
CARPENTERS valuable aid, but in spite
of bis determined opposition. Under
the leadership OF such men as Gen.
WAsHBURN, the Republican party wrest
eli the State from the grasp Of that Dem
ocratic party of which Mr.. CARPENTER
was an ardent simirer and a0le advocate.
Even if he should not be now elected
Senator, We think thesparty would sur
vive, and continue to DO as well in the
future as it has done in the past.
But what is Mr.. CARPESTER's record?
In ls6o, he strongly opposed the cleo
ton of Mr.. lincoln. He was violent in
denunciatiou Of Republican if@::aaticism,
chasing Republican and Secession lead
ers as nearly equally guilty in disturbing
tho peace of the country. When war
broke out be was in favor Of suppressing
the rebellion, but did not claim to be
anything but a democrat. As late as
1868, Ia a carefully written letter to r.
R. REED, he spoke of President LIN
COLIN as having no "other qualification
than honest iaeapaeity;" ard in the same
letter, speaking of the slavery question,
he says
This i no question Of philant h~opy with me.
am no sbOhtiOni>t. II we have right TO eHslaye
orr salvation re luircs IL. 20 >et them free DO
not support the proclamation because il may eman-
cfa'e slaves. but becsuse IL may withdraw slave
LABOR from furnishing supplies for the rebellion
Ii may be part Of the preju-
dice which many years of reading AID speaking up
this subject have granted vet do not believe il
II Al act of kindness - emancIpzte them
The sentiment here expressed 10 utter
ly repugnant to that moral sentiment
which gave the Republican psrty its pow
er with the people.
Further on, in the same letter, we
read
And vet the great Democratic partv. although 1T
present 1889 in q false position. blind with race.
aRd led By blind guides madden STILL is the last and
only hope Of The country. The
party once more erect its face 10 the foe right
minded nsn could fail 70 choose correctly between
IhE kEPU BIICAN PARTY BORN or SEC
IfoNAL HATE, REIGNING ONLY WITH CIVIL
tntion its brow adorned With the trophies of peace
and covered Ill over with martial glory.
We confess that we would prefer a
Republican Senator, who had not been
such an sdmirer Ct the Democracy
We would prefer not to marry a woman
who had ever been so desperately in love
with another very different kind of a
man.
10 the fall of 1868, Mr. CARPENTER
declined to serve on the State Union
Committee, and in 1866, he very honor
ably declined to be Republican candi-
date for Congress for the express reason
that his action might not be satisfactory
TO that party. If he could not youch for
himself for two wears then, we may be
allowed to doubt whether it is best to
take him for six wears now. In 1867,
Mr.. CARPENTER first joined the party
born OF sectional hate" but we missed
his aid in the close contest Of that year.
1t is noticeable that Mr.. CARPESTER first
began serious active work for the Re
publican party, il the list canvass, when
he was a declared candidate for Senator,
and it IS equally noticeable, that in
his own Cong'l Dist the lst. which was
the battle ground of the State, the Re
publican candidate, Gen. PAINE, received
but little aid from Mr.. CARPENTER's SUR
passing elOquence. Mr.. CARPENTER has
a perfet right to be elected Senator if he
can. He is entitled to fair treatment ut
the hands of the Republican party, but
we do not believe it is good policy for
that party to offer its most desirable and
responsible positions as bounty to new
recruits.
Republicans. is it not wise to c0nfide
in fidelity which has been proven, and
trrst to ore whose record gives assurance
that he will gravitaUe right on new ques-
tons, and whose political convictions are
rooted in the soil Of many years.
Grand Army Reunion.
There WAS grand gathering Of the