Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-19
The Polite al Outlook

We have reached a grave crisis 10 the
history Of our country. We bave also
arrived at the Supreme crisis in the his
tory of The Republican party. Tried in
its infancy by defeat, sorely tried after
ward by a great war, the party of human
right and human liberty has now come
to An ordeal more severe than either pc
litical defeat or civil war for now its enc
mics are within. Every pirate now bear
ing down upon the National Treasury
now flies the flag of Reprhlicanism. 1t
is The curse Of the possession of power
under our present civil system that ii
makes the best aud bravest party hack
for office-hoIders AM plunderers. The
>tenglh Of the party is its weakness; for
now the sharp political Contests have
come to be fought within its own lines.
The Struggle for control has not of late
been between Republican and Democrat
but between Republican aud Republican.
In the presence of such lissensions, aud
in the presence of the New Hampshire
defeat, we may not disguise the fact
that this is the most critical moment in
the history of the party. fit were mere
" the success or failure of one set of office
holders over another, we should not
greatly care. 1t does not concern us
whether republican Irshmau or demo
cratic one get the pay and perquisites of
custom house, or whether Mr.. Cramer
or some other dplomatst represent the
government ia Copenhagen. To accom>
piish the success of parry, if considered
from the office seekers standpoint, we
would not dip our pen in the ink stand.
But the nation and the human race
never needed the Republican party more
than now. We have only just come to
understand that tho war between slavery
ard barbarsm on the one hand, and
liberty aud civilization on the other, is
not yet fought out. Beaten in the open
field the rebellion still lives in the lawless
ness of southern scoundrelism. Beaten
by ballots and beaten by bullets. it shows
like other yenomous creatures, won
derful lenacitv of life. Liberty is not
yet established a; the south Freedom
of speech, freedom Of the press, freedom
of political action are hardly yet known
there. If the Democratic purity were TO
come into power Tomorrow. the whole
work Of reconstruction would be undone /;
the franchise would be taken away from
the negroes, and under some form or
other slavery or its equivalent would be
restored.
lie: US remember one thing. The lost
cause is not IN abandoned cause. When
the rebellion fl hts us again, it will be
with the arms, the forts, the ships aud
the very prestige of the government it.
SELF When we vote ut the next Paesi
Dental election, we vote face TO face and
ballot 10 ballot with the rebellion. The
battle of next year will be more decisive
than the taking CT New Orleans, or
Vicksburg and Richmond together. If
under Republican administration the
whole south is full of lawessness, what
would it be with Fernando Wood and
Sunset Cox in the Cabinet? If MAYORS
OF cities are shot, banished, and ADDICT
ed while Grant is President, what will
be done when Hoffman reigns ? If
they do these things in green tree,
what will they not do in The dry ?
The lesson of the hour is plain. Every
patriotic consideration demands that Re
publicans should stand by the party of
liberty aud human rights. No dissalis
faction with the President. or with any
other leader. can justify Iukewarnness in
the cause. And we warn the Admins
trationthat it cannot afford to divide the
party by pushing any object, however
desirable. Let San Domingo stand OIL
its merits. 1t should never have been
an Administration scheme. Aud ap
po;ntments to Office should hereafter be
made with some regard to fitness The
Republican party is of too much value
to be made pack horse. 1t cannot af
ford to carry into Presidential cam
paign a race Of doubtful Office holders.
There is perhaps no great immediate
harm done TO the countr, by the appoint
ment of relatives aud favorites, if they
are competent and honest but it is n
policy mostdes:ructive to the popularity
of n party and damaging to the good
name Of an administration.