The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-10-31
Stanton and the Democracy.
From the St. Louis Republican.

FROM the Of LOUIS hepuDllChus
We had occasion, few days ago, to
notice the comments of the Chicago IrI6
atpe upon the Stanton Buchanan CORES
pondence. We did not, however, suppose
that even pronounced organ of Grant
and the bloody shirt would iendeavor to
manufacture political capital out of these
disgraceful revelations concerning one
whom the Republican party once delighted
TO honor. But the partisan zeal OF the
Tribune was underestimated, as the fol-
lowing extracts from an editorial OF the
25th will show:
In the evident desire of Stanton to
witness the fall of the government of the
nation before the onslaught of the armies
of rebellion, the treason of the entire con-
trolling element of the Democratic party
is plainly discernible. 1t is not for
moment to be presumed that, 10 predict
ing tie capture of Washington by the
armies of the confederacy, Stanton uttered
his own sentiments merely. As member
OF the late cabinet of Buchanan, remain
ing at Washington after the inauguration
of Mr.. Lincoln, Stanton, a Democratic
leader, was undoubtedly in fdaily consulta-
ton with other Democratic leaders. In
communicating with the late president. he
naturally gave utterance to the sentiments
OF the coterie of Democrats in which be
was a prominent figure. These
startling propositions. involving the abso-
lutte destruction of the government, laid
down without the shadow of apparent
teelingor regret. warrant the belief that
the wish was father TO the thought, not
only In the mind of the man who uttered
them. but in the minds of his associates,
the Democratic leaders gathered at the
capital, with whom he must be presumed
LArx ha4r -,
This from paper published in ethe city
where Douglas died, defending the Union
and the constitution with the latest breath
and commencing them to the allegiance of
his sons. The foremost figure at WASH
ington during those gloomy days was not
Seward or Lincoln, or any other Republi>
can, koue Douglas, as true Ia patriot as
either Lincoln or Seward, and q much
greater man. The leadership of the North
ern Democracy was concentrated in him,
aud when he gave his prompt support to
the administration the final success of the
Union cause was assured. Had he with
held his support that cause would, 40 all
human appearance, have been lost He
never hesitated au instant what course to
pursue, From the day he held Lincolns
hat at the inauguration to the day he died
10 Chicago, every energy of body and
mind was devoted to the work of national
salvation. His voice rallied the Demo
cracy OF Illinois. and the Northwest, and
filled the federal armies with Democratic
soldiers. In the midst of more pressing
duties he found time to convert the Irib-
une's friend, John Logan, from the heresy
of secession and send him into the field
with the Lincoln collar" about his neck |
stanton never was Democratic leader. |
he was, we believe. claim agent in Wash |
ington when Buchanan gave him seat 10
the cabinet, and had hardly been heard of as |
a conspicuous Democrat, much less recog-
nized as chief. He belonged to the Lo-
gan school, and was bought as Logan was
bought. though he was worth and obtained
a larger price. He would have been just
as ready to accept place in JEFF Davis
had it established itself in
w ashlnRton. as he was to become Lincoln's
of war. He was ION the make"
aud jumped at the first opportunity 10
olu-iD paying capacity-,he strongest
side. The Tribune puts il in this way:
Later Mr.. Stanton clearly saw his own
great error. and became not only the war
but the devoted a6mirer and
md warm friend of Lincoln, tor whom in
u these unfortunate letters he expressed
title less than contempt. For Stanton,
Vho retraced all his false steps and became
J tower of strength to the Union cause,
here is ample forgiveness"
There was no great or little error
t was simply bargain and sale, and when
he sale was effected Stanton endeavored
o give value received. He is entitled to
III the ample forgiveness" the Repabli
an party chooses to bestow, but he is al
eady pilloried in history, and is likely to
e pelted by the decent portion of all future
:enerations. Meanwhile we suggest that the
Tribune mix with its electioneering mater
al few grains of truth. or at any rate
lress its falsehood in reasonably respect
sble clothing.