The Placer herald., 1872-09-14
EFFECT OF BANKS LETTER.

The following, from the Boston Post
shows the effect General Banks letter is
likely to have in Massachusetts. 1udeed
the effect it has already had makes the
GRANTEES tremble for their fate in size old
Bay State. The Post says:
The letter of General Banks rings like
rifle shot. Ii has sent shiver through the
whole frame of the party in the State and
Union. TIE excitement in his district and
the city was unparalleled among purely po-
litical occurrences, showing in what respect
his judgement as public man is held by his
fellow-cilzens. Few men enjoy higher
reputation for political sagacity, and for the
reason, too, his decision between Grant and
Greeley was awaited with the profoundest
interest. What he says, therefore, carries
great weight with the members of his party.
He has in the present instance not only given
his judgement frankly upon the tendencies Of
this evil Administration, but he has likewise
pointed in the direction in which the great
popular current is moving. None see il more
clearly than he, whose long contact with
men and familiarity with the currents Of pop
ular opinion give him peculiar qualifications
for reporting Alright on great public move
ments at their inception. This announce
ment by so justly prominent member of
the Republican party comes Ike an earth
quake shock to those who were satisfied to
follow blindly after the Grant Administration.
Taken with Senator Summers letter, it can
hardly fail to be decisive of the fortunes Of
the Grant party of Massachusetts,.
Let us publicly rejoice that there is another
man of true independence and courage, who
is not afraid of being called traitor to Grant.
Let us be grateful that there is one mole who,
when warned not to waver in support of
personal dynasty like that at Washington,
was brave enough ut once to speak out con-
cerning it as it deserves. Unless honest and
direct words, have entirely lost their force,
the letter of Gen. Banks will not be long in
showing the effect it has produced on the
party. When such man declares in all
deliberateness that "the perpetuation Of the
present policy of the Government is not for
the advantage of the country" his party
may well pause and consider the extent and
depth of lis meaning. When he says fur
ther that it is only by "the uniting of the
masses of the people of all parties, sections
and races, " is it possible to secure the estab-
lishment of the recognized results of the war,
they may conclude that to follow this Admin
istraion any farther is to throw away the
lives and treasure for which the contest was
waged, and divert the noblest exertions of
unselfsh patriotism into channels conducting
only to selfish ends. Why ought any Re
publican fear the name of "taritor" for judy
ing such an Administration on its deserts
Why should he not first of all refuse to be
driven into silent submission by the applica
ton of party terrorism? The example of
General Banks will enevitably be followed by
thousands more of the Republican party, who
require but to see the real tendency of the
Grant rule to repudate it with equal manli-
ness and patriotism. Tney cannot reject,
any more than he, the union proiiered in good
faith ON the basis of the results of the war,
and accompanied with fervcnt hopes of per-
manent peace and reconciliation.