Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-12-23
Watertolum RepubIifau,
WEDNESDAY,, DEC. %. 1865.
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION.

pehter's election to the United State Sen.
ate aeem peculiarly sensitive to any and
all criticism of their candidate, and
promptly resent the least intimation that
he is not in all respects the m, st suitable
person named for the office. Mr.. Car
penter's great abilities, and his services to
the Republican party during the years be
has been associated with it, are most
cheerfully and universally conceded, but
ne do not see Why he should claim exemp-
ton from that criticism TO which all poll
cal aspirants have to submit. The STRIFE
tnres passed upon him, wa consider to
have been in no case instigated by an I'M
friendly spirit, but rather as being simply
free expression of opinion which Meth
er he nor any other man in his position
can expes any consideration, not even
that of party services, to repress As for
ourselves we have objected to Mr. Carpen-
ter, not because we fear that he will VII
fully betray US, but because We are not
fully satisfied that he will, as an honest
man and true to his convictions-and we
certainly do not want him if he is not
represent US as trul y four years hence as
he does now His having been Demo
cat is no objection in itself, as mary of
our best and most trustworthy leaders are
from the Democratic party, but in every
case they Joined us from the evident con
viction that the principles and measures
Of our party we're preferable to those of
their own. But how vas it with Mr.. Carper
ter? The opening of the war found him an
ardent Democrat and a strenuous opposer
Of the principles of the Republican party
, During the wa: he acted with that party,
but why Simply because all questions
Of mere party politics had sunk into utter
insigni6cance beside the great issues fore
ed upon the country by the war, and, as
a patriot who earnestly desired the sal
walton Of the ua:ion, he found the war
policy Of the Republican party TO best &C
cord with his views. Three years later
he refused TO act az member Of the Re
publican State Committee, and the next
year declined the nomination 70 Congress
at the hands of that party, alleging as a !
reason that the issues dependent upon the
war would soon be decided, and that he
did not know but that thereafter the
Democratic party would represent him
better than the Republican. Had Paine.
RubIee, Howe Or other leading men OF
the party been asked at that time which
party would best represent them three or
four years thereafter, their answer would
have without doubt. the Republi-
can party" And Why? for the simple
and all sufficient reason that they were in
intimate sympathy with the principles
and spirit which controlled that party, and
that upon all questions Of public policy
which should arise for years to come, they
would undoubtedly stand with the party,
But Mr., Carpenter gave the answer he
did, because he felt none Of that sympa-
thy with the party as party e had
acted with it not because it was the Re
publican party, but because he had re
cognized it as representing the Union
element Of the nation, and as being the
war party Of the country. But that cen
sideration no longer exists, and there is
now nothing stronger left 10 bind him to
US than love of our principles for their
own sake-those same principles which
eight years ago he eLdeavored with all
his power to overthrow. If it were pos
Sible for the questions of that time to
arise again, the Republican party would
at once assume its old position in regard
to them but what would Mr.. Carpenter
do? Doubtless it will be said that
sense of propriety, and of his obligations
to the party would bind him to it--that
may be true, but even Matt. Carpenter
With no heart for the work is not to be
preferred to a man Of less brilliant quail
ties but thoroughly imbued with It's spir-
it. 1t may ais be said that his course
the last three years indicates tn he is con-
frmed in the faith Of the party but 1t
should be remembered that the decision
OF the questions before the country in 81
did not come as soon as he, and in fact we
all, expected. The iaal settlement of
tho:e issues which should kave been
made at Appomattax was postponed
through various causes over three years
Ih2 snake scotched in April 1'65 was not
killed till November 68. MIR. Carpenter
as consistent man has continued to act
with our party but now the issues for the
first time began to lose their national i'm
poriauee, aud to assume more the char
!