Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-06
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The rebelhon could not have lasted
two years had the Democratic party
continued in that patriotic purpose
which Douglas for a season inspired.
But Douglas died, and so DID THAI
purpose.
With a sacacity, steadfastuess.
and clearness of vision which, if
employed in good cause, would be of
inestimabe value, the Democratic
party found that covert, narrow. aud
devious way which lay between loyal
ty and treason, and they pursued that
way from the middle Of the year le62
to the end OF the war. always avoiding
the rebuke of their country laws alid
also the repEoach OF their country's
foes.
But even for this stinted measure of
loyalty there may have been some ex-
cuse. 1t may have sprung from lack
Of faith and not from want o. love.
They proiessed to believe the rebellion
inyineible, and, if they really believed
50, they could hardly be expected to
display much zeal in a struggle they
believed to be hopeless. The spirits
are rare and very choice who lead a
torlorn hope with anything like gayety.
But those vino lead real hope, no
matter how tOrlorn. and do not merely
follow a dread, are not apt to look so
dismal as these Democrats did when
the rebellion was finally crushed.
Possibly, however, even that singu-
lar detection was but the effect of mor-
titication at their own misjudgment
and want of provision. But when the
rebellion was crushed and they were
invited 20 aid in removing It's ause, as
well as cause for future rebelions,
by aboiishing slavery, they refused to
do that How can that refusal be ex-
cused or forgiven? The great act of
emancipation, while it is the grandest
in history, is also the least expensive
1t cost nothing but a vote, yet even
this they refused to give By simply
writing yes" upon their ballots, in
stead of no. they knew they could
give freedom to four millions Of human
beings. They were sure of victory if
they said yes" they could only hope
for victory if they said "no" and yet
| they said enc" 1t was mere ques-
ton Of volition. The question was
! squarely put to them after they had
been led shuddering clear through the
Red sea and stood dry on tie other
shore stood, TOO, in that marvellous
blaze which irradiates the nineteenth
century as it sinks into the twentieth
they were plainly asked care you
willing the bond should be free ?' and
they said mo" When is that genera
tlon coming, aud whence Is it coming,
that Shall excuse or forgive that I'M
piOus refusal!
And when, in spite Of Democratic
resistance the bond had been made free
and secured against a return to slavery
by an amendment to the Federal Goa
stltution. this same opposition was
asked once more, May the freedmen
become citizens and be admitted to
civil rights Z" And again the answer
was "no
And when, in spite Of that resist
anc", the freedmen had been made
citizens the Democracy was asked,
May these citizens, though they be
black, have the protection of the bal
lot which the law benignly grants to
all citizens, however humble, Of every
other color Z" And again the answer
was "no.
And when the Kuklux, armed with
brand and bludgeon, hunted the new
made citizen by night, hunted him
through swamps aud pursued him to
death when the local authorities stood
powerless in the presence Of organized
murder and arson, and this opposition
was appealed to to lend the protection
Of the national tribunals to the victims
of such incarnate hate, they still
mOcked at such calamities and refused
all relief.
1t is often fippantly said that ali
these crimes and horrors are past, and
it is absurd TO attempt TO maintain a
political party on the memory of them.
Perhaps so. But would it not be in
sane to trust a political party that
could so readily forget them? 1t is
not magnanimous, it is indeed hardly
manly, to persecute men for sins Of
which they have really repented.
But that is not repentance, it is hy-
procrisy, which Processes to repent Of
sins and does not forsake them, but
embraces worse ones. Such is the
anomalous repentance displayed by the
Democratic party. 1t never ceases to
denounce the Republican party for
what it has done or is trying to do,
but it straightway thunders with
fercer deuunciations Of what the party
has not done aud Is determined shall
not be done. The moment Democrats
forget to decry Republican policies
they begin to belle Republican motives.
For twenty years they deemed it suffi-
ciently Opprobrious to call Republicans
Radicals - now they claim 10 be
radicals themselves and denounce Re-
publicans as rascaLs.
TO BE CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.
Bishop Hall said i: Il would rath-
er suffer thousand wrongs than offer