Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-08-15
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST IA, 1872.
General Banks.

In these days we hear a loud huzza
from the opposition when gentleman
81 prominence renounces his allegiance
To the party that has nursed him into
political life, and gives in his adhesion
TO the Democratic party. On every cor
ncr OF the street we are told Of it and it
stares us in the face in large capital let
tiers in the columns of Democratic jour
nails One would suppose from the noise
made that the last corner stone of the
Republican party had given away, and
that the noble old edifce that has main
tanned the honor of the nation on every
battlefield was tottering to its ruin.
While these men who have been so long
fed by the party are deserving it, the
honest yeomanry of the country are
standing firm-marching to the music of
the Union and freedom, and rallying
around the old flag, while these apostates
are taking up the black banner of de-
mocracy and treason-a hundred of the
honest, loyal laborers are worth more to
the cause than a regiment of these fell
lows who give the lie to their whole pO-
litical and public life, by adopting the
principles and going over body and soul
to the old party of slavery and disunion.
Among the latest of these apostates is
Gen, Nathaniel p. Banks, of Massachu-
sets. After much waiting and watch
ing, he deserts his party and goes over
to Greeley. His detection is regretted
by his old associates, while his accession
to the democracy is hailed with clamor-
Gus Joy by that faction. The Union Re
publican party can afford to part with
Banks if he can afford to abandon it.
Like the politician he is and always has
been, he waits until the last profitable
moment to change his political position.
He now takes his place and will doubt
less will be shown to front seat among
the deserters He is undoubtedly gov
erned by mercenary motives. His old
Congressional district has been changed,
and he is not certain of a reelection to
the House, but he hopes by this move to
be the candidate of the Liberal Repub-
leans and Democrats for Governor;
hoping also to obtain the nomination of
the Labor Reformers. With this start,
and relying upon the volunteer militia of
the State, with whom he is very popular
also knowing that Governor Wash
burn is very unpopular with the people
he hopes to ride into the gubernatorial
chair, from whence, by other coalitions
in the legislature, to be elevated to
the seat in the United States Sem
ate, that will be made vacant by the
election of Henry Wilson to the Vice
Presidency for even since his letter
defining his position, it is understood
among his personal friends that he has
admitted the election of Wilson. This
is the position that Gen. Banks holds be-
fore the people of Massachusetts. He
may reason correctly about his chances
for the Senate, for the old Bay State is
notable for its political coalitions. Both
Charles Sumner and Henry Wilson were
first elected to the Senate by a coalition
of elements of various political par
ties in the legislature. This explains
why Gen. Banks has taken himself over
to the Liberal Democratic party, having
waited till the proper moment come for
him to seize upon these clements for his
elevation to new and higher position.
This is but one example of the situa-
ton of the great men who have gone
over to the democracy with such flour
ish of trumpets-looking ahead for some
thing which they do not see within their
grasp in the Republican party and
'yearning after the tlesh-pots of Egypt"
march over to the Democratic ranks to
secure to themselves further promotion.
We ask all to investigate each case as it
is announced, of prominent detection
from the Republican party, and it will
be found to be similar to that of Gen.
Banks, or that the man is played out
politician or a sOrehead.