Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-10-15
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING, OCT. Is, 1870
ContemptibIe Craftsmanship.


The following extract from public add
dress of Schuyler Colfax, is going the
rounds of the baser class CT Radical papers
9, something worthy Of communication:
"Whatever may be the future Of our two
rival parties, their triumphs or revcrSes, two
striking facts in regard to their past record are
already engraved on the adamant OF history,
never to be obiterated. The first is that no
Renublican signed an ordinance Of secession in
1861 none fred on our flag, nor aimed his
rifle at its defenders eusry State that seeded
did so under the appeal and aided by the exec
utive power of a Democratic governor; crery
cabinet and administrative officer OF the Con-
federacy was Democrat; erery leading gen
eral, when he drew his sword against his coun-
try. was also Democrat; trery man in the
North who gave aid and comfort to the rebel
lion by dcnouncing coercion as demonstrations
nj. who predicted its triumph, who mourned
over its defeats, and whose eye frightened at
its Success was also a Democrat in word,
if there had been then no party in existence but
the Republican, there would have been no
war, no bloodshed, and no doubt, while, If
there had been no party in power in the North
or in Congress but the Democratic, there
would have been no coercion, no resistance OF
force by force, aud consequently, no nation
to-day.
1t would hardly be possible to find in
the meanest specimen of party pettifogg'ng,
q more fragrant exhibition of low dema-
goguism and partisan special pleading. 1t
is false in fact, false in logic, and sophis.
teal appeal to the ignorant prejudices of
the most narrow and bigoted class Of COM
muuity; such manifesto as would have
consigned to infamy any statesman of for
mcr times. and such as no leading party
editor of the present day would risk his
reputation for intelligence or honesty in
making,
"No Republican signed an ordinance of
secession in 1861" Why not? Because
the Republican party was exclusively Sec
tional, founded in hostility to the seeded
States. and secession was but the remedy
sought from its openly avowed enmity and
threatened aggressions. Mr.. Colfax and
over sixty of his colleagues in Congress !;
the National Executive Committee, and
nearly every State Committee of the Re-
publican party, together with nearly all its
newspapers and public speakers. endorsed
and used as campaign document, Hell
per's Impending Crisis" which avowcd
doctrines and purposes which, if carried
out, would leave the Southern States no
alternative but resistance or degradation.
"Nonc fred on our flag, nor aimed his
rife at its defenders" Not then, perhaps,
but how was it before that time? In wba,
portion of the Northern States was not the
National flag insulted and outraged; and
in how many instances were its defender:
armed with the authority of the United
States, assailed by mobs and murdered
while attempting to enforce Federal law
The Republican party passed no secession
ordinance, but did what was more treason
able to the Government, passed nulli6ca
ton acts in thirteen States, making it pc
nal offence to attempt to enforce the Con
stitution and laws of the United States.
every State that seeded, did so unde
the appeal and aided by the Executiv
power Of Democratic Governor" Sece
sion was not party measure, in any n
spect The votes for Bell and Douglas j
the Southern States amounted, in the as
grcgate, to 100000 more than the vote
for Breckenridge, and the thousands VIII
never voted Democratic ticket in thei
lives, joined as ardently in secession as tn
most confirmed Democrats. Stephens
Mallory. Benjamin, and other members {
4hs Administration always acted again'
the Democratic party until after the fo
nation Of the Republican party on SCI
tiopal basis they then sought safety