The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-09-14
SHALL WE HAVE 4 CHANGE.

Let Us have change" says a sol
der of the late war and a Republican
4 change from what to what asks the
Inter Ocean. A change from Repubh
can administration to Democratic adj
ministration2 What does such change
mean? Surely it means not only the
elevation to power of Tilden and Hen
bricks, who were both bitterly hostile
to the war for the preservation Of the
Union, but it lifts to prominence jeff
Davis, and Ben Hill, of Georgia, aud
Tucker, OF Virginia, and Vance, of
North Carolina, and Gen. III. G. Butler,
of South Carolina, and q host of others
in whose hearts hate of the Union still
burns. Does the Republican who was
demands change SO radical? He was
asked to consent to such change in
1868, but he said no; sad it very en-
phatically. The request for change
was repeated in 1872, and then it was
coupled with an alluring bribe-the
bride of Republican candidates and
Republican platform. Still the Repub-
hcan who was soldier during the late
war said no; said no with equal empha-
sis. Does the Democratic party come
before the country III 1875 with better
record than in 1872? Are its promises
more to be relied upon now than then
What has transpired since 1872 to in
spire confidence in the Democratic
party? 1t has come partially into pow
er; it controls a branch of the legisla-
tive department of the government.
During the nine months session of Con-
gress did the Democratic majority of
the House of Representatives pass any
bill indicating a change of sentiment on
the subject of the Union as it is? No.
On the contrary, it sought by every
means at hand to amnesty the President
of the late confederacy on the ground
that Davis is entitled to all the rights of
citizenship. 1t passed bill repeating
law devised to protect colored citizens
in the exercise OF the right of suffrage,
lacking the repeal clause to an appro-
priation bill in order to force it through.
1t piled the committee rooms high with
bills for the payment of rebel claims
bills amounting to hundreds of millions
of dollars. 1t sought by perjured testi-
mony and by every artifce of slanderous
accusation to blacken the character of
General, not President, Grant, and of
scores of others of those most promi-
nent among the defenders of the Union
during the late war. 1t showed hate of
the Union conspIcuously in its removal
OF nearly three-score Union soldiers
from public station, and the appoint
ment of as many soldiers who fought
against the Union There is not only
nothing in all this record pointing to
Democratic reformation, but everything
in it points to the conclusion that the
Democratic party holds the same views
it held in 1860, 1854, 1853, and 1872.
1t acts precisely as it acted during the
period 1860 1872. Shall we accept the
promises as made in good faith when
its acts contradict its promises? But"
says the Republican who was soldier
of the Union, s'the Democratic platform
declares that reform is necessary to re-
build and establish IN the hearts of the
whole people of the Union. Is the
Democratic party just the party to be
intrusted with that delicate servieea
Whence came detection from the Union?
Not from the Republican party. 1t
fought desperately to preserve the Union.
The Union does not then require to be
ssrebuilded and etablished'' in the hearts
of Republicans, but in the hearts of
Democrats. This is the change de-
manded, that to cement the Union its