Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-04-20
THURLOW WEEDS VIEWS.
a Very Interesting and Suggestive Letter from
the Political Veteran on the state of the
Country and OF Politics.

was duly received Although from
protracted i'll health / have beer
long withdrawn from active politica
duties and associations, | am by nc
means insensible or Indifferent to the
general welfare. Indeed, at No
period in my life have | been SO
anxious for good government, for ia
no period of our history has reform in
this respect been 50 much needed
| 1T the close Of the Revolutionary
war, as at the close OF the war oil
1912, enlightened and patriotic states.
men in the National Government sci
themselves diligently to work inaugu-
rating policies and enactiug laws
designed and calculated, by reviying
commerce, establishing manufactures
and promoting agriculture, to restore
public prosperity; while slmnltane-
ously the national credit was placed
upon firm footing, by policy which
insured the payment of the public
debt Aud all these benehcent OBJ.
jects were accomplished. All the
great productive interests of the
country, each acting advantageously
upon the other, were soon seen in
successful and harmonious operation.
We came out of the war with Eng
land, ia 1915, honorable. but crippled
and impoverished Except that the
Generalization was less fearful, we
were as badly off then as when the
war Of the rebellion terminated. But
in three years, with wise and good
men at the helm and on the lookout,
the Ship Of State, with full and flow
ing canvas, had taken a new depart
ure on a long ana prosperous voyage.
4 protective tariff, with an econom-
zeal and honest administration of the
Government under James Madison,
James Monroe and John Quincy
Adams, brought palmy days, with
increasing health to the people and
strength to the country. Ultimately,
by an illomened union between Dem
ocracy and slavery, these measures
and policies were repudiated. Then
ensued twenty years Of misrule, Gull
minating finally in rebellion which
wiped out both Democracy and sla-
very. The great result, however,
cost much more than the blood and
treasure shed and expended in its &C
complishment. The complete tri-
umph over rebellion did not tram
mel up its consequences" We are
suffering from wounds no less en-
durable than those inflicted during
tie war, while we are threatened
with others in the form of "claims"
from .rebeIious States, which will,
if recognized, bring the Government
to inevitable bankruptcy. In the
hope of forcing these reasonable
"claimsn through Congress, rebellion
affiliates with Democracy. And thus
the issue for approaching Presiden-
tial canvass is made up.
The elections of 1874 resulted in
the return Of Northern Democrats
and Southern rebels enough to consti-
tute a majority i'll the House of Rep
resentatives. These elements frater.
nized and the use they made of their
power in casting its shadow before"
teaches a lesson not likely to be for
gotten. A prominent and Jealous
traitor, whose hatred to the Union
prompted him to give the name of
Dir. Lincoln's assassin to his sou, was
appointed Secretary of the standing
Committee of w and Means,
while, simultaneously, twelve manned
Union soldiers were removed to
make places for as many rebel politi-
cIans. With such beginning, sup
pIemcnted by the speeches of rebel
Generals Gordon and Hill, it is evil
dent that the followers of Jefferson
Davis expect to recover, by political
strategy, what they lost by resort to
arms
sForew armed, therefore, of the char
acter and intentions of their adyer-
sary, the friends of the Union ought,
and, | doubt not, will, forearm them
selves for the contest. In view of the
importance of the contest, and OF the
intensity Of feeling and effort which it
will awaken, it behooves the Repub-
lean party, shaking off all incum-
brauces. to seek and occupy its highest
vantage ground. 1t cannot be denied,
nor can we afford to conceal the fact,
that the Administration has failed TO
Justify the expectations of the people,
or even to realize the hopes of It's
best friends. Il was easy TO perceive,
at the close Of the rebellion, that a
grateful people would reward with
the Presidency the military cheftain
who had won victories for the
Union at forts Donaldson, Vicksburg
and Richmond.
was among the first to say, per-
sonally, to General Grant that the
popular sense of obligation to him
would manifest itself in his nominal
ton aud election; that it was a spon4
taneous movement, which required no
aid and which would not be restrain
ed; that nobody was entitled to
credit for being in his favor, and that
he would become our Chief Magis-
trate, free to administer the Govern
ment with an eye single to the well
fare of the people and to the honor of
his country. IB that interview | mar
rated to General Grant the incidents
connected with the nomination of the
lamented General Taylor, whose Ad-
ministration, but for the bereavement
which prematurely deprive the coun-
try of his services, would have been
eminently distinguished for its purity,
patriotism and wisdom. | left General
Grant with a confident belief and
hope that, like General Taylor, his
natural good sense, fortified by milf
tary education, would enable him to
display executive ability and distin-
guish his Administration by high
sense of official integrity and honor.
aud by an earnest devotion to the
public welfare.
There were difficulties, however, in
General Grants way which no
amount of wisdom could avoid. The
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