The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-08-14

cherished faith that, while the action of
their political friends had been mistaken,
their motives had been good. They must
now see that the republican party is in that
condition that 1t cannot carry out peace>
ful policy, whatever its motives may be. 1t
is misfortune, not only to country but to
unchecked by any fern of opposition. 1t
has been the misfortune of the republican
party that the events of the past few years
have given 1t so much power that 1t has
been able to shackle the executive, to tram
mel the judiciary, and carry out the views
OF the most unwise and violent OF its mem
bers. W hen this state of things exists in
any party it has ever been found that the
judjment of its ablest leaders does not con
troll There is hardly an able man who mas
helped to build up the republican org aniza-
ton who has not, within the past three
years, warned it against its exresses who
has not been borne down and forced to
give up his convictions of wha. the inter
ests of the country call for Or if too pa>
triotic to do this who has not oeen driven
from its ranks 1t this has not been the
case heretofore, what will be its action with
this new infusion Of men who. without
decent respect for the views of those who
had just given them their posi- tions, begin
their Legislative career with calls tor arms,
and demands that states shall be regarded
as in condition of civil war, aud a declara-
ton that they are ready and anxious TO de-
grade the president of the United States
whenever they can persuade or force con-
gress to bring forward new articles of im>
parchment. The republican party, as we'll
as we, are interested In putting some check
upon this violence.
1t must be clear to every thinking man
that displacement of this political power
will tend to check the violence of party ac-
ton, and assure the peace and good order
of the country. The election of demo
cratic executive, and a ma jority of demo-
cratic members to the house of representa-
tives, would not give to that party
organization power to make sudden or
violent changes, but would serve TO check
those extreme measures which have been
deplOred by the best men of both organlza>
tons. The result would most certainly
lead to that peaceful restoration of the
union and the establishment of fraterna
relationship which the country desires. |
am sure tie best men of the republican
party deplore, as deeply as do, the spirit
OF violence shown by those men recently
southern states. The condition Of civil
war which they contemplate must be abhcr-
rent to every right>thinking man.
L have no mere personal wishes which
mislead my judgment in regard to the
pending election. No man who has weigh
ed and measured the duties Of the office of
the president of the United States can fail
to be impressed with the cares and trials of
him who is to meet its demands. Ii is not
merely to float with popular currents, with
out policy or purpose On the contrary
while our constitution gives Just weight to
the public will, and its distinguishing fea-
ture Is that it seeks to protect the right of
mlnorltles its grandest glory is, that il puts
restraints upon power it gives force and
form to those maxims and principles of
civil liberty for which the martyrs of free
dom have struggled through ages it
declares that the right of the people to be
secure IL their persons, houses, and papers,
against unreasonable search and seizures
that congress shall make no law respecting
the establishment of religion or the free
exercise thereof; or abrldging freedom of
speech, or OF the press or the light of the
people to petition for redress of grcv
ances. 1t secures the right of IA speedy
and public trial by an impartial jury. No
man can TIghtfully enter upon the duties of
the presidential office unless he /, NOT only
willing 10 carry out the wishes OF the peo-
pie, expressed IN constitutional way; but
Is also prepared TO stand up tor the rights
OF minorltles. He must be ready to up
hold the free exercise of religion he must
denounce measures which would wrong
personal or home rights, or the religious
conscience of the humblest citizens of the
land; he must maintain, without distipc>
ton of creed or nationality, all the priv-
lges of an American citizenship The ex-
perlence OF every public man who has been
faithful to his trust teaches him that 10
one can perform the duties of the office of
president unless he is ready not only to un-
dergo the tasehoOds and abuses of bad
men, but to suffer from the censure Of the
good who are misled by prcjudices aud mis-
representations. There are no attractions
In such positions which deceive the iudc-
ment.
When | say that great change is going
on IN the public mind that the masses of
the republican party are more thoughtful,
temperate and just than they were during
the excitement which attended the progress
and close OF the civil war; as the energy of
the democratic party springs from their de
votlon to their cause and to their candi-
dates,-l may with propriety speak of the
fact that never in the political history of
our country has the action OF any like body
been hailed with such universal and real
enthusiasm as that which has been shown
IN relation to the position of the national
democratic convention With this the can
didates had nothing to do Had any others
of those named been selected, this spirit
would have been more marked. The zeal
and energy Of the conservative masses
spring from desire to make change of
policy, and from belief that they can carry
out Their purposes in this faith. They are
strengthened by the co operation of the
great body Of those who served ia the
union army and navy during the war.
Having given nearly 10000 commissions to
the officers of that army, 1 know their
views and wishes. They demand the union
for which they fought The largest meet,
ing of these gallant soldiers ever assembled
was held in New York, and indorsed the
action of the national convention. In
words instinct with meaning, they called
on the government to stop in its policy of
hate, dlscord, and disunion, and in terms