Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-08-07
What is the Issue?

Two great parties confront each other
both struggling for the future control of the
nation. Each claims to be DESTROYS of pre-
serving our territorial and financial integ
rity, each processes to be the champion OF
constitutional liberty, each asserts its indy
ing fidelity to the well defined principles OF
constitutional laws, each claims to be the on
ly party which can secure prosperity to the
country, and each proposes to convince
enough voters of the validity ofits claim to
public confidence to place it firmly into the
seat of power. The only way the people
can decide which ought to prevail is to ex-
anime the record and the proposed action
of each. Democracy proposes, if we may
credit its Western opponents, to pay the
public debt in paper, no matter what the
Courts may decide as lawful money for
bondholders, and no matter what that
money may be worth at the time of pay
ment 1t proposes, also to dispense the
State Governments which have had all ques-
tons of their validity settled by the admis-
sion of their Representatives to the floors OF
Congress. II furthermore proposes to re-
store all the rebels who attempted to de-
stroy the Government of the United States
to power, on the ground that political
offences should not be followed by the
natural consequences ofpolitical recre ancy.
In short, the Northern Democracy propo-
ses, as the South failed to get out of the
Union, to 60 into partnership with it, in
getting hold of the offices in the Union. AS
the World recently said at matters not up
onIwhat platform or with whatcandidate..the
Democracy succeeds. Numerical success
at the polls is all it wants." The under
standing in regard to what is to be done
then is perfect, and, as there is honor
among thieves,it will be carried out, in case
of victory.
Now,,we ask sensible men, of either party,
if they want the rebels to again rule in this
nation; if they want the public debt prac-
tically repudiated if they want to dishon-
or the flag that waves in triumph over
every lately rebellious State; if they want
to make the rebel soldiers equal on the
National Roll of Honor to the Union SOL
diers if they want to make every widows
and every orphans legacy of dead hus-
bands or fathers fame On heirloom of in
fanny; if they want to stamp in history
the cause of slavery as of equal merit
with the cause of freedom, and if,in a word,
they want to yield voluntarily what the ma
ton fought five years to retain? If SO,
then let them vote for Seymour and Blair
The issue is just the same as it was when
the Star of the West was fired upon, and
when Fort Sumter was bombarded. 1t is
the issue Of War and Peace. Choose, we
men of the Northwest. If your voice is for
war to restore JEFF. Davis, Judah P. Ben
iamin, James M. Mason, John Slidell, Rob
ert Toombs, Alez. HI. Stephens, John G.
Breckenridge, r. M. 7. Hunter, Jacob
Thompson, R. Barnwell Rhett, G. L. Val
landigham, Daniel Voorhees,, Fernando
Wood. Horatio Seymour, and the rest of
the pro-slavery Democrats who have caus-
ed us so much trouble, to power, to domi-
neer over and insult the brave men who
fought to make them as Infamous as their
cause was infamous, then say so, and give
y our money, your time, and your votes for
the Tammany Hall candidates, whose nom-
nations were procured by treachery and
bribery, as Pomeroy ind other democratic
leaders have time and again averred. But
if you want to reward patriotism, to pre-
serve public credit, to keep unsullied the
national honor, to protect the nations
wards, to condemn treason as a moral
crime, and TON the language of the Re-
publican platform - declare sympathy
with all the oppressed people who are
struggling for their rights" then shout,
SPEND your money, and vote for Grant and
Colfax. These are plain, blunt words, but
they are true Chicago Post.