Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1868-09-30

And you may be sure, Mr.. Editor.
that if entertained to-day the slight
est doubt of being in full accord with
the Republican party upon all ques-
tions whatsoever, / should do now what
| did then, decline to be candidate
The melancholy situation of one la
mented Senator of Wisconsin would
: greatly increase my anxiety not to
fall into like condemnation
In 1864, we were In the midst OF
war. No political issue was under
discussion. The great question of
the hour related to the life of the ma
ton. The Democratic party had gone
sadly estray. had dishonored its his
tory and disgraced its founders, by its
opposition to the war. Neverthe-
less, | then thought it not impossI-
Bile that when the war should be end
ed and slavery abolished, that party
might accept the situation ; return to
the practice Of it's own principles; be-
come once more, what it had formerly
been, the progressive party of the
country; espouse universal suffrage :;
become the champion of the rights of
all without regard TO national birth
place race or color; and thus by be-
ing what it was designed to be, out
strip the Republicans in the race of
radicallsm. | believed, too, that the
IRISH element, which is the old
guard of that party, would insist
upon this course as the best means of
exhibiting to the world an example
OF universal liberty, and equal rights
before the law, which might shine
across the ocean to illumine the dark
ness of trodden Ireland. Up to
this time, though | was wholly sepa-
rated from the Democratic party l
had not called myself a Republican.
Indeed, while we were all exhorting
Democrats to support the Govern
ment without regard to party ties, it
would not have been in exceeding
good taste to have announced myself
as Republican. There was great
force IN counseling the people to
throw off all party ties and be neither
Democrats nor Republicans. but pat
riots until the war should end There
was great force in an appeal to Dem
ocrats to desert their party and act
independently in the support of the
Government until peace should re-
vlve again the necessity for parties :;
this exhortation | employed all
through the war; and [ do not think
1t would have been strengthened, nor
its oenefcent effects increased, if |
had accompanied it with the announce
ment that | had left the Democratic
party and joined the Republican par
ty.
| waited long Il" for the consolation
of Israel" but it came not and after
! the Chicago Times made it's earnest
and gallant appeal to the party to
plant itself upon the time honored
principles it had professed; to adopt
negro suffrage, and by putting itself
once more in sympathy with true
! Democracy, to retrieve the blunders
| of the past; and after the party had
not only rejected but spurned this
wise counsel, and even the Times, un-
der the lash of Brick Pomeroy, had
/ shrunk back from its suggestions Of
! truth and wisdom, and returned to
iti . wallowIngs," it became perfect
]
/ cluded, that the Democratic party of
Jefferson and Madison had ceased to
| exist. was dead, buried beneath the
/ rubbish of the past; and henceforth
/ there was to be no opportunity for
supporting the great principles | had
at heart, except in the Republican
/ party.
The nomination which | declined
/ to be candidate for was conferred
upon my distinguished friend. General
| Halbert r.. Paine, and | took the
stump for HIM and did everything in
my vower to ensure his election
Indeed l have cordially supported ev-
! cry measure and every candidate of
! the Republican party, state and ma
/ tional, since 1861. And If a man is
to be classed in politics by what he
does, not by what he calls himself, if
! the servant who said he would not go
! but went, is to be approved rather
/ than the one who said he would 90
but went not, then | might rea,ona,
/ bly, claim 10 have been a Republican
since 1861 in erything except the
name. And if calling oneself is con
/ elusive of the fact, then Mr.. Doolt.le
is the best Republican in the state to-
/ day; indeed, he says he is the only
enc, the party having left him stand
ing alone upon its platform.
The issues that will divide the
country for the next twenty-five years
( have resulted from the war, and the
position Of both parties is now firmly
and finally taken. Those who sup
ported the war viii support the meas
ures the war rendered necessary, and
these measures will be opposed by
those who opposed the war. So that,
however vou NAV regret it. | have
10 doubt | shall be compelled by a
sense of duty to remain in the Re-
publican party 70 the end of my life.
If YOU were to read out of the party
all who were Democrats before the
war You would exclude Grant, Stan
ton, Holt Sickles. Logan. and many
Others, whom it seems desirable TO re-
/ tain. The Republican party, by ban
ishinC from It's ranks all who have ev-
er been Democrats, would be so far
reduced in numb hers as To secure en-