The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-09-01

luC VI lllC Icul
issues Of the campaign have become ap
parent, The platform adopted by the
Democratic Convention declares "uncon-
stitutional, null and void," all the efforts
of the general government to reorganize
the Southern States under the Recon-
struction Acts of Congress, Gen. Frank
p. Blair was nominated as the candidate
for the Vice President for no other ap-
parent reason than because in his bid for
such nomination he virtually promised
revolution in the event Of his election
Wade Hampton and other unrepentant
rebels who helped to make the Democratic
platform 90 back south and assure their
old comrades that the spirit of secession is
not dead and that the Democratic party
now offers it an opportunity to rule the
whole instead of a part Of the United
States. This gray CLEAN of Confederate
hope is hailed by rebel yell that resounds
from the Albermarle 10 the Rio Grande
and union men white and black are offered
up as the initial sacrifice TO the aroused
demon.
There are the successive and logically
connected events, that, like so many reb-
el Columbiads, seem designed TO rouse the
nation to the necessities of the hour
They are having effect. We are begin.
ming to sec that the work Of putting
down the rebellion which was thought to
be finished when Lee surrendered TO Grant
will not be complete TILL Seymour is com
pcled TO do the same,
The rebellion was conflict for the
mastery on this Continent of two irrecon-
cilablc ideas. The dominant idea of the
North is that all men are equal before the
law, and that each one is to be protected
in enjoying the fruits Of his own labor
The idea of the South is that all men are
not equal before the law, but that a priv
LEGGED few are TO he protected in enjoying
the fruits of other mems labors. Under
the former idea is industry, thrift and res
pect for 'abor and ord r. The latter is indo-
lcncc waste, contempt for honest labor
and an appeal to the bowie knife or re-
volvcr. These two ideas are the inheri-
tancc of both raccand latitudcs from across
the Atlantic, the English or the German
ycoman being the type of the one and the
Spanish bandit of the other. They could
not both rule this continent, hence the
conflict that eliminated in the rebellion.
For lonr 'ong years the contest ragged
The Northern idea, after the sacrifice of
three hundred thous nd lives and three
thousand millions Of dollars gained n mas
terry upon the battle field and the South
crn idea acknowledged itself beaten, and
we supposed accepted the result as final.
But in this we were mistaken, for no
sooner did labor and capital seek the
South TO work the bcnclicent miracles in
that region that they had already done in
the North, than they were met by social
ostracism, violence and massacre. And
now the victory won by northern bayon-
cts must he crowned by an Overwhelming
triumph at the ballot box to give per-
manent peace and prosperity to the
nation
As might be expected, the candidates
of the two great parties in the present
campaign arc fit representatives of the two
conflicting ideas, Grant, tic tanner, and
Colfax, the printer, who represent the
Northern idea, both sprang from and are
in sympathy with the common people, -
Seymour, the Mephistophles of the cop
perheads, and Blair, the frc-aater of the
so>caled Southern chivalry, are both born
aristocrats, with no more trace of pul-
sation in common with the workers of the
nation than Attic icebcrgs.
Passing over the moral considerations
that undellic the struggle before us, there
are reasons enough for the election of
Grant and ColfaX 10 he derived from
mere business foresight. So apparent was
1t that the permanent peace and prosper.
| ity Of thus country demanded the prevail
encc of the Northern idea under moder-
ate but firm administration, that long be-
fore the Republican convention met in
Chicago, the movement for the nomina-
ton of Gen. Grant was inaugurated by
such men as A. +. Stewart, whose busiS
ness interests were at once dependent upon
the prosperity of tie whole country, and
paramount 10 any partisan ties, Elect
Seymour and Blair and the damage that
will result TO the business of the North
from the mere apprehension Of repudia-
ton will be incalculable. But great as
this will be, it will be nothing compared to
the damage that Democratic triumph
will entail upon the South. With the assur-
ed prevalence of the Northern idea that
must follow the election Of Grant and
ColGax, the peace of the whole country
will not only be secured, but the South
with lis splendid material resources will
settle down into the quiet industry, thrift
and prosperity that mark the North
The rights Of labor and capital will there
be secure and the triumph of the North
crn idea will make that sunny cline the
garden of the United States, ailording not
only market for Northern ware, but
making its own growth in population and
wealth n source Of revenue to the Nations
al Treasury that will assure prompt and
easy liquidation Of the National debt,
while it settles forever all the vexed
questions that await our immediate fi-
ture, Let every man, woman and child
then, who loves the national flag, who is