The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-03-16
aye, even until within few brief

in Louisiana On the first day of the ses-
sion was a rude shock to sensitive nerves
and Ex-Speaker Blaine made sharp
point of it against the Confederate par
ty. 1t was true that the organization of
the House was rather Oh the Confeder-
ste order and in disregard to Union SEN
timent. 1t was true that Confederate
soldiers In good part took places which
Union soldiers vacated. It was true that
the ex-rebel soldiers and their Northern
allies did not hasten 10 offer any olive
branch to the Republicans, or to confirm
the principal Of equal civil and political
rights to all. Yet there were many even
then who did not despair in the belief
that the happy day of the reunited
country was at hand, and who thought
that Mr.. Blaine from the outset had
us give the vanquisled and repentant
brethren time to collect their ideas, it
was said, and then peaceful words and
fraternal acts would flow from them
y,
to revive the dropping foliage of the
Union But we may reflect with thanks
that there were men who saw through
! the gossamer which to the too confiding
eyes concealed the serpent. They did
not believe that the cry of 'peace J"
.speace % from the ex-Confederate offic-
| in,
tional. They did believe that it meant
peace only as the old cry of freedom in
| the South used to mean freedom in all
respects except when it involved oppo-
sition to peculiar local views. "Peace"
is conceded by the ex-Confederates pro-
yided that the North asks forgiveness
for having conquered the Confederacy
and abolished slavery. "Peace" they
would grant conditioned upon abject
submission on the part of Union people.
To shrewd political observers this con-
dition could not be concealed and they
would not believe that the finances, the
revenue measures, the question Of State
right, Or the abstract notion about Gre
form" would drive the main idea of the
Republican partY-the preservation OF
the Union, with equal rights for all its
citizens-ont of the next political con-
test. Mr.. Blaine was among those who
early noticed and regretted the error
which had charmed the Republicans into
q sleep threatening to be fatal. General
| Garfield saw it also; and when Mr..
Blaine, watching his opportunity, drew
forth the latent poison Of the exConfed
crate reptile, he followed up the attack
with speech that left no room for doubt
that the ex-Speaker had d strong back
ing in his views OF the main issue. Mr..
Blaine struck the keynote OF the cam
paign, or rather, it would be more cor
rect to say, he forced the rebels to de-
clare the issue so clearly that the drow-
siest and most conservative Republican
became alarmed at the prospect. The
history of the amnesty contest in the
House viii be long memorable, and re-
fer to it now simply to note the change
which has come over the face of politi-
cal affairs throughout the country as a
result of it. When Mr.. Blaine made his
first move in opposition to the general
amnesty bill, there were many Republi-
cans i'll the House-his friends who had
n strong feeling in his behalf as candi-
date for President-who counselled him
to abandon the contest even at the
threshold. Many of them threatened
not to support him, fearing that their
| ~
them. And repeatedly thereafter, as
mir. Blaine advanced stage by stage,
those conservatives besought him to
halt, and having exposed the iniquity of
the rebel prison management, let the
amnesty bill pass. The same men are
now thankful that their advice was not
needed. Even before the debate was
over, they came up to the support of
their leader as cordially as the people
have. The poorly concealed venom of
the Southern fire eater, negro hater, and
Unborn rebel, has been let loose, and now
the Republican party once more is mar
shaling to turn back the Confederates
upon fields that shall be no less decisive
of principle than were Gettysburg and
Appomattox. This contest conveys a
lesson beyond the question directly in
volved. II shows that pluck and stead
fastness are grand aud vital elements in
parties, and that to compromise and
serve the occasional exigencies-to trim
for the sake of catching every temporary
breeze, and to the sacrifice of the real
life and foundation Of the party-is to
weaken and discourage the people who
have lived by it and supported it from
the cradle. The Republican party has
had several experiences Of this kind :;
each time fortunately it has turned away
the tempter and come up stronger than
before. The conservative departure of
| Andrew Johnson and his friends was a
sore trial the ''liberal' overtures and
threats in 1872 were almost too much for
Resistance the "tidal wave" of 1874
nearly overwhelmed the Republicans.
But from all these dangers the party
has escaped by returning to It's original
| anchorage, and it has row put on its
strength of 1S60-64, thanks to the cour-
age of Mr.. Blaine and other radicals"
in the Confederate House of Represen-
tatives.
The Republican party was going to
sleep, confiding in the promises of the
| Democratic Confederate leaders but it
has walked from its dream CT peace, and
the very radicalism that was terror to
the tirnid has Strengthened the more PHI
| ant 1iechS ana St1I1Snett he weaker backs
so that there is no break in the line of
Republicanism.
The danger to the country, which was
| threatened by the ex-rebels through
their chiefs ii Congress, has passed, for
the main issue in the coming campaign
is now declared to be. equal rights and
the supremacy OF the loyal people. From
| all parts of tue country We receive news
of the hearty co operation even of con-
sentative and liberal Republicans in this
| rehabilitation of the Ren1lhlican nart-