The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-10-01
THss POLITICAL PROSPECTS.

|S \:S "Pe'I
u Wei are Est Est Of those; who separate re.
ligio4s!: fff6h Politics. The, only use to
which religion, developed by theologio
study aannd cultivated by worship, can
e put in this world is, SO to apply it,
prinoeiEples TO-. politics, business, amuse-
ments,' art, literature; society, and all
Yther forms Of human activity as to
fende4s them, means of honoring God
and Of eleyating and saving;men. When
we remember that civil government,
IKE the family and the church, is d.
vine, institution representative Of the
divine government and Of the eternal
idea of justice when we call to
mind tho bearing which we have upon
aa human interests; and tie obstacle to
progress in good in any direction, which
its corruption creates, we are compelled
|, 70 hold:-tbat a citizen has, political
duty; ais clearly moral in character, as
that y which rests upon the head Of
family, .or@the member Of a church. To
tie conscientious discharge of that du-
ty his personal piety should be an i'm.
pelling power, and the sentiment of the
Christian church should be a potent
auxiliary - :>.';'} g..
=, If to these general il, conclusions be
added those which belong; to. our own
land, il il it its peculiar history and insti,
tutioanlsl,, and in its il ! present critical con.
ditioni after tie: &c: recent terrible struggle
for l'Ee, il IS difficult to see how a good
man can view with indifference the fast
approaching Presidential election. The
very iact that the result appears doubt
full to some, should make the heart Of
every patriot tremble with solicitude as
be tries to imagine the food Of evils
Shich would follow the success of the
"Democratic" candidates. We arc no
party men, ready to approve cf all acts
or neglects Of the "Republican" party,
and to condemn in like sweeping man
ner the: ideas aud measures of their
pponents.n.iW We have often criticised
in these columns, during the past year,
the aims and methods of leading Re.
publicans, and the action Of the major
ity of Congress. It would be easy to
specify a formidable list Of political er:
rors and sins for which the party in
tpover should be held responsible. Blu,
this admitted, i still remains true, that
the Republicans represent the princi.
pies at issue in the recent military
struggle, and the hopes of future peace
and order in the distracted South. No
observer say b. blind, to the steady in
crease Of bitter words and violent deeds
IN the'states o'lately in rebellion, nor
pan doubt that they are due to exp'eo-
tation!Sf taf$I;>Yd 4 ! y the open and secret
lkRlkedgges Of tho Democratic party. The
platform Of that party is in m,schievous
iins!tent long enough and broad enough
to afford standing room to the entire
South ofganized FOR new rebellion,
Of revolutionary eoap d'e.at. 1t pro.
oseseto 're-opsdf alt that has been set
| tied by Che reconstruction acts :; which
f,Sbimply to overthrow civil government
at the South, and to bring on another
collision between the nation and it's iu-
ternal foes ;:;in, WHICH case we trust ana
heliesartthat' there. would b. little
more. hanging: done at the close than at
the endSof tkt late REBELLION. We are
not left ip7 Tie dark in this matter for
however reticent Or deceittul the pol;t-
1'i1al leaders may be at the North, their
allies: choose or are compelled to: be per-
tecdy JFank ut, the South Thus Gen.
bWaae Hampton' Of South Carolina, on
his return from the Democratic Con-
vention 1t Nov York, thus explained
A&o.a meeting ;ins charleston the origin
Of one .99fi the most significant, as it is
one! Of oefs,t tho most malignant, declarations
pin it's platform ,;su.,:... a,,e; ~,.&.
| As it was my good, fortune to be on
the; Comaittaes,wkich framed: the in
3lHume1a.tt, il i ,pay be Interesting to, you
perhaps, 70 learn the details BY which
17twas pcffeStea, and the views ct those
who madsaia. "hy You arc aware, the
Committeeeon Resolutions consisted Of
one member, from each; State. On as.
sem5ling it was found Tint very great
difference of opinion, existed. Among
other resolutions: offered were some de.
Z 1ehring that the right, Of suffrage be-
longed to the States, and this Vas an
nounecd us good Democratic doctrine
l agreed to the propositions, but at til,
} same time said that it seemed to N,
that they had omitted ~one very vita
! fPbint; Awh1ch0 vas to odeclare to wha
States the ldocaine spplisd.nHI though
fEk v&anason~,y a. ~ and E.>>sA 4 L.