Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-05-31
Does It Mean Revolution 2

THERE are sixty-five Confederate
Brigadiers in the present Congress.
Many of these men took their seats with
determination to practice, as matter
OF policy, wise conservatism of action
on extreme party measures. The very
circumstances of their return to public
life, the character of their constituent
cies, and their own sympathies, all COM
bine to make them, in any crisis in
which lines are sharply drawn between
the old Unionists and their opponents,
the supporters of the latter. They NAV
talk about keeping out of the fight, but
on final appeal they cannot and will not
go back on their constituencies and past
aflinities. They may at the outset con-
intrigue, but in the end they will be
made effective instruments to carry
dangerous measure to an extremity.
That they constitute positive ele-
ments of danger while the Democrats
control the House has received most
striking illustration within the last
year. With sharp eyes for the pros
perity of the States they represent, and
deprecating any political excitement
that would interfere with this pros
perity, the Southern members of Con-
gress took advantage of the concilia-
tory policy of the Administration to for
ward the material interests of their sec
ton, and sought opportunity to declare
that the South wanted more business
and less politics. They had all they
asked in the way of concession; and,
just as the country at large is feeling
the influence of returning business ac-
tiyity, and entering, apparently, on an
other era of prosperity, they become
the efficient aids of few unscrupulous
and intriguing Democrats to unsettle
all, and to replace the feeling of return
ing confidence by distrust and feverish
uncertainty, in themselves fatal to the
business interests of both the North and
the South. Self-interest, the interests
OF the people they represent, and every
feeling of common fairness would have
arrayed them against the effort of the
Iilden managers to reopen the Presi-
Dental question; but, as we have seen,
they abandoned their record, and acted
with the extremists of their party.
They may say now that they mean no
attack upon the Presidential title, and
that they will not be parties to any
measure to unseat the President But,
from the very nature of the case, the
scheme of the Democrats is revolution
airy. They cannot legally unseat the
President, and if they mean anything
at all they mean revolution. That this
is the design of those who inspired the
late action of the House, every develop
ment of the plot shows. Undoubtedly the
Southern Democrats, and many North
ern Democrats, have given countenance
to the scheme with the thought that
when there are indications of going too
far they can call halt. They may be-
lieve now that they will be able to do
this, but they will not. They will be
most susceptible, under the impulse of
revolutionary movement, to dangerous
influences, and under appeals to preju-
dice, and faced by the parade of pecul-
lar principles, will play the part of
mere adventurers under the leadership
of political tricksters.
The wise conservatism of American
citizens has determinedly and persist
emily frowned down every attempt to
Mexicanize our institutions or in any
way unsettle our political system. Pub
lie opinion met and crushed the rebell-
ion, and public opinion met and 81
fenced the threats of the Democracy
two years ago, when they boasted of re-
sistance to law and limited at anarchy.
The old spirit animates the Democratic
leaders in the present move. The dis
reputable, intriguing and irresponsible
element of the party inaugurated this
revolutionary scheme, and has found |
means to whip into line as their sup
porters the respectable and circumspect |
leaders. If they can do this much now
and carry their point, they will carry
their point when it comes to the most |
extreme measure, unless repressiye and |
corrective pressure is applied at once. |
The quickest way in which the peo-
pie can reach the case is through eff
forts to change the constitution of the |
present House of Representatives, and
through efforts TO have State Legisla-
lures reflect the strong Union senti-
mcnt of the people. If the South must
be represented by Confederate Gener-
ais let the North send equally pro-
nounced men whose love for the old
dag has never been displaced by devo-
tion to rebel ensign.
The protests from the business men
Of the country, and the outspoken fears
Of the people at large, may deter the
Democrats from extreme measures un-
lil after the fall elections, but they have
given such evidence of their spirit and
purpose that the people should feel the
great need OF administering n singing
rebuke. The record is unmistakable,
and 1t is opposed in every line TO the
spirit OF our institutions and TO the pros
perity of the country. The way 10