Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-02-16
The Duty Of the Hour.

THE action of the allies of the Democ-
racy-known as the Missouri Liberal Re.
publicans-defines more clearly the duty
of the Republicans of the country to the
cause they have under their care.
A most important advantage has been
gained. We now understand the real and
ultimate purposes of the so-called Liberal
Republican movement. 1t tisneither more
nor less than to draw off from the organi-
Zation of the friends of justice and free
dom, on one pretext or another, suffl-
cient number to put the Democratic party
again in power. The few Republicans
who lead in this matter act with reference
to the prominence and leadership in the
new combination they must have in order
that this movement may succeed. The
Democracy is to be rewarded by admis-
sion to the offices from which they have
been so long debaTed The Democracy,
hopelessly defeated in the war it has
waged for slavery and secession, now
turns to save what il may from the wreck,
by a combination with what It supposes
to be faction of considerable strength,
in order to overthrow the party which has
ruled sofaithfully and fearlessly in the in
terests of humanity and freedom.
The programme to be marked out is
this: The Liberal Republicans, so-called,
are to hold National Convention in May,
to adopt platform and nominate candi-
dates. The Democrats will not hold q
National Convention until late in the
summer, if at all, when it is expected
they will decline to put candidates into
the field and agree to support the candi-
dates of the Cincinnati Convention.
Something may turn up to spoil this
scheme, but that is the order to be pur-
sued so far as pre.arTangement can pro-
vide for any thing in the future.
This organization, or attempt at one,
will mark an era of triumph for the Re
publican party 1t is the monument of
our triumph over slavery. secession and
caete in politics. 1t is more complete
and significant triumph than the Demo-
cratic party of 1912 achieved over the
Federalists. 1t is a confession of an
utter defeat in all that the Democratic
party has chosen to contend for during
the last quarter of century. The friends
of the Southern oligarchy, the advocates
of slavery eXtention, the believers in the
States Rights heresy, and the haters of the
negro do not thus confess defeat without Il
struggle, or without mortifying sense of
failure. The leaders well know, however,
no longer against the settled convictions
of the great majority of the American
people. They are now going to make
martyrs of themselves, so far as office is
concerned, to satisfy the prejudices of the
negro hating masses they have heretofore
been Obliged to defer to. They have been
in that barren and hopeless service long
enough.
The movement which proposed to call
itself Liberal Republican, " is one which
only represents few disappointed, am
bilious men who never can be satisfied
with any movement in which they are
not the chiefs Many of them have no
higher motive in joining this movement
than to revenge some political slight or
| injury they have received, or think they
have received, from the Administration
or the party. But these men will find
| themselves mistaken in one particular.
| The people take very little interest in per-
| sOnal matters among politicians. They
| will not follow in the lead of men who
war for the purposes of revenge. Re
| taliation or revenge is not paying bust.
ness for anybody, and least of all for poll.
| iticians.
Many politician has found this out to
! his sorrow when too late to recover from
/ the disasters he has invoked. The peo
pie never have taken kindly or warmly to
personal parties and few men have suffi
cient attractive power to gather such
parties about them. Hence these leaders
will find that they have altogether over
estimated their power over the minds OF
the people.
The Liberals and the Democrats com
bined have no principle with which t"
excite enthusiasm. 1t will be a sour
sore.headed, splenetic combination, which
has fault.tnding exclusively for its stoch
in trade. 1t will have nothing of posi-
tive, earnest principle to call the people
to its banner All that their creed will
embrace worth contending for the Ad
ministration has not only professed but
acted upon. The Administration has
record of ability and fidelity on which i
may go to the battle with entire assuranc,
/ of success.
The duty of the hour is to keep ou
/ pickets well out and to maintain harmony
and strength in our organization. Thi
new combination will be stronger on,
than the Democratic party, pure and sim
pie. This fact will infuse greater energy
and activity into the contest than woul(
I otherwise have been called forth. Th
The greatest danger we had to dread wa
overconfidence. We now know that w
must work for the party and for tn
future well being of the country. Ii
being prepared for this at an early day w
have an assurance of victory as the resul