Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-06-16
HumOr in Politics.

THE opinions of Mr.. Vallandigham are
only important as being those of the most
malignant of copperheads during the war,
who would gladly have seen the govern
ment overtbrown and the supremacy of
slavery assured. Six years having elapsed
since the surrender at Appomattax, Mr.
Vallandigham' has ascertained that the
Union has been maintain d and slavery
abolished, and he suspects that the coun-
try has no present intention of undoing the
work of the war as embodied in the settle
ments. He has, therefore, issued mani
festo, which his friends of the Mobile Req
lister, and others of the same sympathy,
will ruefully ponder. 1t is an exceedingly
lively and discuIsive document, which
might be summarized in this manner
WHEREAS, Tho Democratic party is composed of
those who during the late war were active or pas
sive supporters Of the rebeliOn; and whereas 1t is
reasonable to assume that the opinions of these
persons are unchanged; and whereas a rational
federation does not require that any body should
not continue to hold those opnions-therefore
resolved. that being OF opinion that the war was
wicked and unconstitutional assault upon consti-
tutional rights, and the settlement tyrannical
usurpation we cordially invite all Republicans to
unite with ne In accepting the amendments as
valid, and In restoring us to power.
MIR. Vallandigham proceeds to resolve
that the late amendments have enlarged
the powers of the National Government
and to pledge the Democratic party to
"the enforcement of the Constitution as it
now is, so as to secure equal rights to all
persons without distinction of race, color
and condition" and then protests against
the legislation of Congress to secure those
rights-a protest which, from Mr.. Vallan-
digham, is like the resolutions of his
friends during the rebellion. which ap
proved the war and denounced all meas
ures for carrying it on. Finally, he re-
solves that the Republican party is no
longer the Republican party nor the Union
party, but merely an administration party
But he happily refrains from resolving
that the Democratic is really the Repub
lican party, leaving that great truth to the
imagination of the reader.
The manifesto of Mr. Vallandigham is a
"feeler." The utter absurdity and hope
lessness of the Democratic position are
apparent even TO him, and he therefore
proposes this humorous acknowledgment
of the facts of the situation. But he does
not save himself, nor can he save his
party. For the case is very simple. The
country will maintain the settlements,
The Southern wing of the Democratic
party denounces them. The Northern
wing agrees that they are unlawful and
abomiuable, but begs the Southern
Drolners 10 keep qulet 10 Iue over Ine
election. The Republican party, which
made the settlements, is a unit in their
maintenance. Why, then, should the
county choose the party which contains
all the elements of hostility to the amend
ments, and which either declares it or
keeps silence merely to obtain powerY
The question of the campaign of 1879
will be, which is the greater risk for the
countryside re-opening of the issues of re-
construction, or the continued ascendency
of the Republican party? For, even if
the Democratic Convention should declare
its acquiescence, the country knows ex-
actly the elements of the party, and that
four years ago its Convention pronounced
the settlements unconstitutional, revolu-
tionary and void.-Harper's Weekly.