Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-01-17
What do the People Expect !
by HON. HENRY WILSON.

THE recent Presidential canvass and
election afford lessons that should be
needed by both press and politicians.
For never were the teachings of the one
and the voices of the other so impotent,
as never was the will of the people so po.
tential. Journals of immense circulation
and believed to be of commanding influ-
ence with the masses, public men of long
and large experience and of hitherto un-
questioned influence, were never more
sharply rebuked or more signally defeat
ed. Nor was the great victory achieved
by the personal influence of Individual
loves or hates. 1t was the fat of the peo-
lple's voice, the result of popular determi-
nation and purpose, in the interests of a
patriotic endeayor to serve and save the
| country.
| Whatever may be the personal aspira-
tions and purposes of public men, in ma
tional elections the people think but of
the country, and labor only, or mainly,
at least, for its advancement and safety
| In the election of 1860 their great purpose
was to resist the further extension of
slavery in the Territories, and to put 1t in
process of ultimate extinction in the States
themselves, through moral and political
Influences; to overthrow the continued
domination of the Slave Power; and to
place men in Office who believed in the
Declaration OF Independence and in the
doctrines of human rights. Before, how
ever, such action could be taken the Re-
bellion arose. Not only was the exten-
sion of slavery arrested, but its very ex.
istence was denied and its destruction
decreed by the Proclamation of Emanci-
patton and by the Thirteenth Amend
ment. The Slave Power, too, was de-
throned, and the throne itself went down
in the fire and blood of civil war.
| In the election of 1864 the popular pur-
pose in the reelection of Mr.. Lincoln was
the suppression of the Rebellion and the
completion of the work of Emancipation.
That purpose was accomplished, the Re-
bellion was suppressed, the work of re-
construction was commenced, and that of
enfranchisement begun.
In 1868 the purpose was greatly en-
larged. To complete the work of re-
construction on the basis of the largest
liberty, to define and guard the rights of
citizenship, to extend suffrage, vindicate
and establish civil rights, honestly col
lect the revenues, reduce the national
debt, and appreciate the value of cur
rency-these were the great objects had
in view and persistently pursued. By the
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments
civil rights and suffrage were secured
the revenues were more honestly collect
ed, the current expenses of the Govern
ment we're reduced, the nationol debt
was largely diminished, and the currency
greatly appreciated. All this has been
accomplished in the space of twelve
years, in obedience to the popular de-
mand, sustained by the popular support,
and in spite of the vacillation and weak
ness often exhibited by leading presses
and public men.
But what were the desires, purposes,
and hopes of the people in the election of
1879? They were told by presses they
were accustomed to trust, by public men
they were wont to follow, that the Re-
publican party had accomplished its
work, fulfilled its mission, and that it
should now retire from the field on which
its great results had been secured and its
grand victories had been achieved, to
make room for a new organization, with
wiser aims, broader and better considered
purposes, and purer men. They were
told that their old antagonists had taken
new departure, had experienced a
change of heart, had resolved to pursue
"a passive policy" whatever that may
mean, and that it was safer to trust them
than those to whom they had confided
and to whom they still proposed to con-
fide the government of the country. But,
Notwithstanding that these clamors and
claims filled the air, and were dinned into
the popular ear by press and speech,
from the forum and the stump, the great
body who had stood by the organization
for twelve years remained firm in their
integrity to the party that had achieved
so much. Not that the arguments of its
assailants made no impression, not that
they were altogether satisfied and saw nc
defects; but, with clearer vision than
that of these leaders, blinded by passion,
ambition, wounded vanity, or self-inter
est, hundreds of thousands of pure, patri
otto, and progressive men saw that it was
neither wise nor safe to forsake a party
with such record for one in whose ranE
and file so many had been traitorous, or
, at best, unpatriotic, and whose leaders, il
} honest themselves, had no authority tC
vouch for the honesty of their followers
With some-many perhaps-it was but 6
J choice of evils; but they did not dare tC
forsake the Republican flag. By so doing
and with such motives, they aided in Sc
curing the greatest political triumph re
corded in American history.
But they who have been thus sustained
must not commit the grave mistake tina
this is a personal victory, or that, be
cause they are continued in power, they
are more loved and honored than others
, They must seek for the reason that they
, are still entrusted with the administra
tion of the Government for another foul
years in those popular aspirations anC
purposes which regard principles, no
men, and which prefer the honor anC
welfare of the country to any man, how
ever revered, to any names, however i'm
posing. They must recognize the fact
! much as has been done during the pas
four years, that there are hundreds o
, thousands who are not fully satisfie ever
! with what has been so signally and glo
riously achieved but who feel that mucl
, remains to be accomplished before tn
great work entrusted to the party by tn
needs of the country and the providence
of God can be regarded as complete. 4
grand beginning has been made but tn
t end is not yet reached. There are ten
: of thousands who, though not altogethe
: satisfied with the party and its manage
ment, have resisted all appeals to leav
? it, and are looking for a marked i'm
9 provement during the next four years
Nor will their disappointment ant
Q chagrin be small if these years be no
a marked by publication and reform, b,
Y errors corrected and by wrongs re
Q dressed, by the elevation of good an,
l competent men TO Office, and by the gen
eral Improvement of the public service
= Both the Constitution and the Republical
y platform are in harmony with tn
!, Declaration of Independence and witt
the great doctrines of human rights. TIL
! "star-spangled banner" no longer
/, "faunting lie," waves now in truth
: "o'er the land Of the free and the home Of tn
= brave"
After the terrible struggle, these grea
|, truths have been vindicated, and the ma
tion has in this election placed the sea
, of its emphatic endorsement upon them
The work now in hand is mainly admin
istrative, and what Is wanted is an ad
} ministration and administrators in haI
, mony with these principles and worthy t
stand upon, this elevated platform. An,
7 this is what the people expect.
I They to whom power has been entrust
q | ad nv ouah iunnpnaQ Tnai0ritipa have uOy