Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-02-19

cases about the significance Of calling ones
self Republican" Some well-meaning
men in the South observe that "there is moth
ing in name" and that we may as well
join one Northern political party as another.
They clearly perceive the advantage of join
ing the Republican party. That would lead
to peace. Receive that brand, and the per-
secution is at tan end. All ofthe Reconstruct
ton acts-negro snffrage-the test oath---
the constitutional amendment the civil rights
bill---the act vacating the Offices in Virginia
in thirty days-the military rule.--all mean
'join the Republican party" Repent and
be baptized if not, you shall be perse-
cuted. well" says weary Confederate,
'the Democratic party is dead-there is no
party but the Republican party-and SO, If
you choose, call me Republican"
He may proceed to ask, what public ques-
tons are there now to divide the sections?
Slavery is dead-secession is dead-let US
recognize the accomplished facts, and take
new departure. M
The case cannot be stated any stronger
than this. And we admit it is plausible. It
has doubtless deluded some. The train of
thought is perhaps infusing its poison into
the minds Of others. >s
Now to reply; in the first place, high
minded man will be nothing on compulsion.
And, except on compulsion, except as driv-
en- before the lash, We all know that none of
us Except the plunde, -seekers) would be
Republicans. Plenty would not become Dem.
ocrats; but all would refuse to entertain for
moment the idea Of buckling on the Re
publican ar,nor, and shouting their war-cries.
To SO no farther then, man must feel hui
miliated-must experience in his heart
pang of shame-when he becomes Repub-
lican. Nature will have her say, however,
noisily Logic may refine. Instinct will 20
to the mark, however cunningly Reason may
point the arrows at the shadow. i,'.'
But farther: when I call myself "Re-
publican" either mean to act in good faith
or in bad faith. Ifin bad faith, / am hyp-
ocrite and liar; if in good faith, must
mean something. What do I mean Do I
not mean to take up the party banners =? Do
| I not mean to march to the Radical music
Do not mean to point the Republican guns?
Do [ not mean to shout when they shout,
and to fly when they fly Do / not mean,
down with the gray, and up with the blue !?
Do not mean, strew with flowers the graves
of the Union soldiers-and raise no marble
over the dead Of the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia Do not mean ! endorse the Chi
cago platform? Do I not mean am in ac-
cord with the Fortieth Congress Do not
mean to hob-nob Qike slave below the SALTY
with Forney, and Butler, and Wells, and
Underwood? Do not mean, take the glow
ing iron and brand into my soul 'REpUBL1-
CAMP? .,-.e.tt - .ir
What else do mean ? Certainly, if I am
not going to lead a false life, I mean much.
if not all, of these things. Indeed, mean
more: I tacitly endorse the victorious ca
reer of the Republican party; tacitly con-
denim secession [ tacitly condemn the Con-.
federate government; 1 tacitly condemn
Sumter and Manassas, and Fredericksburg,
and the glory of Jackson, and the chivalry
of Ashby and Stuart and all the dead pala-
dins that erode at Roncesvalles; set my
seal to the act Of emancipation to the ter
ritorializing of these States to the dismem-
berent of this Commonwealth to the setting
up and the pulling down Of the Peirpoint
government to the edict of negro suffrage
| to the disfranchisement of our citizens; to
struction acts; to the rule Of strangers and
adventures in this State to the law just
passed sweeping out at blow from all Of the
offices in the State the present incumbents.
I join the invading army with the torch in
its hand laying in ashes all that remains Of
our institutions and traditions Conquered
by the levies that came armed with physical
force, join that second column that comes
armed with the civil power to level our con-
situations and convictions, as the soldiery
struck down our banners and overran our
soil.
It is not contumacy that prevents South
ern man joining the Republicans. The mo-
tives to do so are the strongest that can ap-
peal to human infrmity. In the nature Of
things (until we are debauched) it is impos-
sible that Northern sectional party can be
joined at the South It is solecism to talk
Of such thing; and when it is demanded
as part ofthe conquest, we simply reply
that our love and our hate are not within the
jurisdiction Of arms, and that they can no
more be compelled than the ravisher can
wiring from his victim the heart and its af-
fections.
| When the Christians wrested from the
Sarscens the Holy Sepulchre, did they re-
quire the Moslem to minglein the Gregorian
chants or to heed the yesper bell, or to wear
upon their breasts the fiery cross ? 1t was
enough that they had achieved physical
conquest, and none but barbarians and fana-
tics have ever sought to propagate their faith
by the sword.
Some-doubtless Nottoway -Aatter them
selves they can hover on the outskirts pro-
tected by the shadow of the Republican flag:
VIC tell them to remember Kentucky and Mr.
Crittenden this fierce party admits no tenn
porizers, no hesitating converts. They re-
quire full duty Of every recruit, and like the
Order Of Jesus, they exact unlimited and
universal obedience. Every tie must be re-
nounced-every sympathy must he stifed
you must take up negro suffrage-and
follow Schuyler Colfax.
/ GEN. CUsH1NG's Mission treaty
made by General Cushing with the govern
meat Of Colombia comedies to the United
States the exclusive right to contract an in
teroceanic canal across the Isthmus of Dari-
en-. at any point which may be selected by the
United States. The Colombian government
cedes six miles of land on each side Of the
canal, one half for its own benefit and the
other for that Of the party undertaking the
construction of the work The Colombian
government il to receive ten per cent. Of
the net income for the first ten years, and
after the canal is paid for, twenty five per
cent. Of the net profits. The treaty is to
be ratified by the United States within ten
months and the surveys are to be made
within two years after the ratification.