Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-01-26

told is To mark the centennial year upon
which we have now entered, we must not
forget facts nor disregard human nature and
the lessons of experience. The antecedents
ana action OF the Democratic majority in
the House OF Representatives suggest grave
reflections; and, as Presidential election
occurs this year, it is useful to look at the
general considerations which should innu-
enee the decision OF the country
Political history Is continuous in the sense
that there are no abrupt and radical changes
In political feeling. The end Of the war Of
the rebellion was no more the end of the
principles, habits OF thought, sectional and
political differences, from which it sprang
than the coronation OF William and Mary
was the end OF Jacobite faith and politics
in England. We gladly welcome every sign
OF greater harmony between the late Con
fedcrates In this country and the supporters
OF the Union. But no pleasant episodes like
those in Boston last summer and no news.
paper vocifcration that by-gones are by
cones, and that we are all loving brethren
aud he is = fool or a rascal who does not
know it, can change the fact that those
who were bred in hatred Of the Yankees and
the Union, who, as friends Of free popular
government, sustained and defended the
barbarsm OF slavery, who were essentially
aristocrats and monarchists, and who held
wholly aloof from the movement Of the age,
and the expansive, generous and progress
i've spirit OF the rest Of the country, have
not suddenly changed their natures and
convictions, and become released from all
the influences Of their training and tradi.
tions, merely because they have been con-
quered in the field. Such a result was never
known in any country, at any time, and il
certainly has not been accomplished here.
In speaking Of Mr.. Morton's national" res.
olutlons, the Mobile Register, edited by John
Forsyth, one Of the original Confederate
leaders, and the best exponent in the coun-
try Of the late Confederate sentiment, says,
frankly:
Mr. Morton wishes to force the Southern SEN
afors to say that when conquered they did not sur
render their belief In the principles OF our Gov.
eminent. What does he gain by this' A man
VINO believed in the right of secession in 1850 be-
liuves in II to day, whether whipped or not The
remedy for wrongs in the Union By peaceabe sep
araton OF the States is dead question. Every.
body kAows it is dead and buried in a million
graves. The Northern people do not expect US to
basely betray our conscienees. When the vote Is
put, we hope our Southern Senators will vote
boldly, Just exactly as they please, and let the
consequences rest with justice aud with God.
That Is to say, the late war has shown that
secession cannot at present be enforced. II
Is precisely what an English Jacobite would
have said after the failure Of l7I5
We make all allowance that can be claimed
FOR pride aud anger and folly and "cussed-
ness" But we Unionists know what we
should still have thought and felt If we had
been beaten, and we need not suppose that
our opponents are not made Of the same
clay. Now the important fact is that the
strength OF the Democratic party lies In that
part OF the country where the feelings and
opinions OF the dominant and ruling class
are expressed by such papers as the Regisfer
That class for many years before the war
determined the policy OF the Democratic
party, exposing the country To the just
scorn of the world by It's insolent slavery
propaganda, by which also 1t sought to de-
grade and debauch the national character.
1t ruled the party because 1t had positive
and definite purpose, and carefully trained
its political agents to secure 1t. The party
to-day in the other States is strongest among
the worst population Of great cities. In
New York, for instance, when il has ma
jority, 1t is in the city Of New York, and in
the least enlightened parts Of the city. In
New England, in New York and Pennsylya-
MIA, in the West and Northwest the party is
not strong. Its citadel is in the Southern
States, and the ruling class there has its own
feelings, principles and purposes. 1t Is
united, able and resolutc, Because Of this,
and because il Is absolutely essential to the
party success, it will naturally and neccs.
sarily control the party policy The Demo.
cratic party in the other States has no
common principle or purpose. ltproclaims
reform, but nowhere does IL even pretend to
attempt ~ EAttIt III LHt Etttc Oh new X,
and It's prestige there is entirely eclipscd by
the sturdy and successful reforms OF the Re
publican Secretary Brlstow. Meanwhile Il
is hopclessly divided upon the financial qucs.
| ton. The one part of the organization
which Is heartily united is that in the South.
ern States, where the strength OF the party
| lies, and where its real drift should II obtain
| power must be sought.
| Ia this the leadership TO which the Gov.
| eminent should be conilded in the ccnten-
nial year. As the political principles and
convictions o. =" the North" "a deeply rooted
and infexibie as those OF "the South, y
have after long and terrible war finally
| prevailed ~ the Constitution has beer
| amended In accordance with them; us the
| Government and the Union have been re
newed in the spirit OF the North !" Of which
the Republican party Is the political organi
| zation--is il reasonable TO suppose that
party naturally and sincerely hostile 10 thai
spirit would administer the Government
more wisely and safely than the Republicans
Great changes In consequence OF the wal
| and Of emancipation have undoubtedly
taken place, and will not cease. A more in
telligent and sincere sympathy Is springinC
| up between the long -alicnated sections
| Many Of the soldiers both Of the blue and
the gray arc full Of chivalrc feeling, and
| spurn vindictivc determinations. The folly
| Of the doctrine OF a constitutional right OF
secession is more and more evident even &c
| the most Bourbon element of " the South. v
| All this Is true, and he would be very fool
| ish who did not see and acknowledge 1t. Blu
he would he equally blind and narrow who
| supposed that because Cancellation Is mos
desirable, and /, to be patiently and persist
emily sought, it Is therefore accomplished
and that, because they have been beaten II
the field those who have always held thu
sovereignty Of the States and the rightful
ness Of slavery, who were really monarch
lists, and wholly without sympathy with thu
American idea OF equal rights before thu
| law have become the best friends OF thu
Union and OF political justice, and the safes
| guardians OF the Government Neither they
nor the party OF which they are the mar
support, whatever candidate they may nomi
late and whatever professions they maj
make, should be called TO power in prefer
| oncc 70 the RcnnhlicAn nnrty With any can