Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-01-13
MODERATE REpUBLCANs.

What are termed moderate politicians
are the heaviest drag and the greatest curse
to whatever party they may belong. AL
ways uneasy, always wavering; fearful of
this and terrified at that never satisfied
and ever complaining, that party is best
off which has The iewest of them in its
ranks-and still better off when it shakes
Itself loose from all of them. We find in
the editorial column of the Lebanon Courier
some sound remarks on the subject of
Moderate Republicans which we take
the liberty of using, as conveying substan-
TALLY our own sentiments. The Courier
says: Men who desIe to be moderate in
their attachments or their convictions are
generally half hearted class who totally
fail in usefulness in times OF emergencies.
1t is the thorough-goinS of a man, who be-
lieves fully in what he takes hold OF, that
achieves desirable results and pushes the
world on in its great mOvments of progress.
Moderate men, in the sense many latter
themselves with that term, never yet bore
alolt Il great cause, or adhered martyr-likc,
to a great principle until it wore the laurel
wreaths of victory. The moderate kind
move along in doubt and weakness, ever
ready to complain and find fault and de-
spair of ultimate success, while he OF con-
scieutious and fiery devotion is filed all
through Nlll MS CluSc anu ItC'8lllZCS III
his conflict no such word as fail" In our
late struggle for the life of the nation, what
a weight on the men of full loyal convic-
tions were the moderate and doubtful Kind
whose snveling complaints hung like an
incubus on the effort of those who felt that
the conflict involved continued Union, or
death to the nation and to liberty
And to-day the only danger to the prin-
cipes that triumphed in that deadly con-
hict flows from men who like to style them
selves ''modciatcs," who strangely seem
to take pride in being neither fish nor
flesh, hanging suspended like Mohammed's 5
collin between heaven and earth, not know
ing exactly whether they may drop into
the lap On Republic1nism or Democracy.
How long would Republican aseondancy
be maintained with the spirit OF these mo
dcruteS prevailing in the party? Indeed,
they are not in the conflict for the main
tenance of the party ascendency. Instead
of being brave and determined soldiers in
the cause, with armor on and convictions
so earnest as to make them heroes, they
are more like the dcspised camp-foliowers
who are willing to hang on the rear OF
either army and to participate in the spoils
of victory with the side that wins. In
nearly all communities this class is found,
but wherever found they are like NJ Clelan
at the head of the loyal army, afraid to
move lest he should hurt the enemy.
Some of these "mOderates" do not know
now where they will be found in the COM
ing Presidential contest. M'Cleland-likc,
they are waiting for something to turn up
to shape their course. instead of having for
their North star the ligh. which has direct
ed the Republican party in its amazing
strides of progress. They seem to be open
for negotiations with the defeated and bat-
icd Democracy, not being abe TO see much
difference in the character of the parties
one OF which abctted treason in is schemes
to destroy our nationality and liberty tol
the world, while the other bore aloft. above
preiudice of aristOcTaciCs and hostility o.
cdSteS, the banner of the free To the estab
lishmcnt of freedom on his continent and
the progress of liberty throughout the
world. The moral obquity of him who
is So moderate as to see no difference be-
tween these two radically different orsani
zatious shows blindness as deep aud darl
rs naturalists describe III the fish of Nam
moth Cave, where Il ray OF ligEt has never
reached.
In preparing, them for the coming civi,
battle, earnest, believing men must 90 t
the front, and with that liberty and pro
gress for which the Republican party ha
done so much, inscribed on their banners
and engraved on their hearts, keep the ole
llag flying and the old principles which
have struggled with Wrong since the worlC
began the ascendant in the direction GU
national Government.