Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14

tain. The difference is not reconclable
But my friend on the other side breaks in
ana says: y, do give us rest from this
never ending din about the war; and by
way OF change on his side gives us this
beautifully rounded sentiment. and pathet-
ically begs us to BURY the melancholy
memories of the past;'' asks rs if we
mean to go on waving the " bloody shirt "
until we can stir up another war? Saws
that is evidently what we are aiming at,
and that if we continue on our present
course that will be the result. DENY both
the premises and the conclusions in toto.
don't want another war. l didn't like
the first one. didn't 60 there for fun,
and l didn't see any fun after got there ;
but unless l was then confirmed idiot
there was n purpose in my going, and
am seeking to have that purpose known
and understood If it was not to preserve
our national government in its purity, its
unity and its entirety, then it was for
nothing.
But to return to my friends pathetic
and touching request, | answer: We re-
publicans and ex-Union soldiers of the
north are ready to BURY the melancholy
memories of the past" whenever the south
shall have buried forever that spirit of
injustice, intolerance and disregard of
personal and constitutional rights which
gave those terrible memories their birth,
life. growth and proportions.
If it is right that, through fraud and
every species of injustice the control of
the national government should be sur
rendered to its sworn enemies, then
submit that this lasting disgrace should
have been consummated in 1861. Then it
would have been humiliating-now it
would be Infamous. But stop, they say
You are counseling and predicting another
war. am not, but am trying by rational
means TO prevent its possibility. Now
they give me up in despair as lunatic.
You, they say, are taking all this trouble
for nothing. This government is not
going to perdition Just yet. All right; |
don't think it is; but it has been mighty
near there once within my personal recol-
lection; and in my opinion its Prov is
turned in the same direction again, and it
is my belief that the result will depend
entirely upon whether the same pilots are
permitted at the helm who were there
twenty years ago.
Now am no alarmist, and his direful
result will not happen. and it will be pre-
vented by that powerful underlying, com
mon sense love of absolute Justice and
devoted patriotism that finds Il fitting
resting place in the mind and heart of the
average American citizen. To this won
derful saving sense pin my abiding faith
in the future of our nation, and believe
it will be triumphant for generations yet
to come. But further believe this senti
ment has too great a tendency to sleep
only asserting itself in times of supreme
peril. 1t needs to be stirred up occasion
ally, and it must be-not in fireworks and
bombast, for the purpose of electing some
third-rate politician to some petty oilice,-
but as n fit subject of intelligent thought
and consideration. In fact, every citizen
from the highest to the lowest, may make
the subject of good government life
study with profit.
One excellent class of men went 10 the
war from pure and patriotic motives, ant
served their country well came home with
the proud satisfaction of having done theil
duty well in the hour of the nations trial
and-and-and then went quietly to seer
and have been asleep ever since. They
| httNC liClpCd W oetNO tllCll COuutll UuCG
and that is enough for them; and if il
can't take care of itself now-let it 60 tc
the ID. In such hands it would &C
there soon enough.
If those principles of government to
maintain which cost the country foul
years bloody civil strife are worth the
price. they are worth preserving by the
most watchful care, and the saying is nc
unmeaning one that "by eternal vigilance
alone can national liberty be maintained =
Our duty, then, is 10 watch.
But l am asked what am going TO do
must not the majority ruleP Certainly
And in the first place would see 10 it by
all lawful means that the majority in con
gress is not placed there by the actua
minority of votes, rs is assuredly the case
with the forty-siXth congress.
Well, then, why is it better the republi
can party should be in the majority?
reply, That party has directed and con
trolled the government for eighteen years
Its errors of omission and commission
have been many and serious, and the
country is now paying the penalty fol
them. No political party ever escapes
mistakes. But it must be remembered
that the republican party has carried tn,
country through period such rs no re
publican government ever passed throngt
before, and we are to-day-as a govern
ment-a united people Chat the Union is
forced one US respects the south is thei
fault alone), our national honor and in
tegrity untarnshed, a national credit tina
can borrow its millions at the very mini
mum of interest, sound currency, ant
legislation (Which only lacks enforcement
in the south) guaranteeing to every citizen
white or black, absolute freedom, cqua
rights, and due protection under the Law
in the exercise of all the privileges o
freemen. Further than these most vita
points we need not go in this direction
But tell me to what extent these result
are due to the voices and votes of ou
} present democratic majority in congress
} There is no favoring answer. Our nation
al unity, our national honor, our nationa
credit, our national freedom of the ballot
are all in spite of them and not by them.
We don't need many pictures from tn
other side, but will commence with tn
southern craze of national rag money an,
the wholesale Reputation of state an,
national obligations. Who to-day ar
endeavoring by every means in thei
power to tear down and destroy the las
, and only protection vouchsafed to tn
} purity Of the ballot, a protection whc
should guarantee to every voter for rep
resentative in congress the right to freel
7 cast his vote according to the dictates O
his own conscience, and the assuranc
that his vote will be counted MS cast? T
| what purpose this herculean effort to re
r peal the federal election lawp They cannc
I show that by its enforcement one lega
, voter has ever been deprived of his right
/ full voice in any election. Do they offe
+ anything as substitute for the better pre-
lection of freemen in their constitutions
. rightsp Let democrats answer | kno,
their answer. | have often heard it. {
r bosh with your nonsense! You republ
cans make out your side to be all saint
. and the other side all sinners. Not SC
| Political parties are absolutely indispensf
S BILE to republican government, but ther
l never was and there never will be IL part
f that has not within its lines men who fo
t their own personal gain will be recrear
tn thnt ns,1ln