Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-07-29
Do the People Demand a Changed

Hall, having expressed his preference for
Gen. Hancock for President, who is a
soldier and nothing else, over Gen. Gar,
field, who was soldier and statesman,
remarked:
We need change. l admit there is necessity
for the TWO great parties We now have, and
would not destroy either OF them but by inter
changing the administration between them,
keep both in sound and conservative condi
ton. Despotism is nation without political
parties
We want to change | don't mean . change OF
the amendments of the constitutional hold
them sacred (applsuse) We want change. |
mean change in the administration. Ana the
whole pnrpoees may be stated IN these few
words: This government shall not be an empire
(applause): these States shall never be provinces
(applsusel; both must remain as they are under
the sovereignty OF the people (applause).
These, we presume, arc the best reasons
that MIR. Groesbeck could offer for a
change in the administration OF the gov.
eminent; and yet they must strike every
intelligent reader as decidedly feeble rea
sons-reasons, too, that are unworthy of
a gentleman of Mr.. Groesbeck's ability
ana intelligence. He is right in desiring
the maintenance of two opposing parties
in this country. These will never be
wanting in Republic; but 1t devolves
upon Mr.. Groesbeck to show why the
existing circumstances.
There are two great parties IN the coun-
Try at the present time. The conduct of
these parties is matter Of record. II Is
known to every intelligent citizen. BY
this the parties are to be judged, rather
than by what they promise Tor the future.
The Democratic party was defeated Ia
1860 In that year began the rebellion
against the government TO which the
Democratic party in It's organized Ca
pacity committed itself, by active hostill-
ties on one side OF the sectional line, and
substantial sympathy on the other. This
is tact that Mr.. Groesbeck will not dis.
pute. He, with hundreds of thousands OF
other Democrats, disapproved of
the party at that time, and
separated from it. de united with
the party OF the Union and the Con.
stltution IN aiding to overthrow the rebel
lion. But the Democratic party as an
organization, gave aid and comfort tc the
rebellion aud sought to make 1t q success
Even in 1864 near the close of the war,
the Democratic party, in national conven
ton assembled, declared the war for the
Union a failure, and demanded peace
upon the best obtsinable terms. But Tor
the support given to the rebels by the
Democratic party, the war would not have
lasted near so long as il did, and halt the
cost in blood and treasure would have
been saved. This is another fact Mr.
Groesbeck will not deny. He can not
deny il, Tor the reason that during those
dark days of the Republic he opposed
his patty and acted with the Republicans.
When the War closed the Democratic
party opposed every measure of recon
struction. 1t opposed every one of the
constitutional amendments, iacuding
that sbolishing slavery, and no one of its
recognized leaders has, up TO this day, i'd
mit;ed that the amendments were consti-
tutlonally made or legally binding. Mr.
Groesb beck, for himself says they are
sacred; but his party does not say 50. It
aCquiesces, with sundry mental reserva-
tlors, while the Southern section of that
party has and still does def1sntly disre
gard several OF them. These amendments,
therefore, which Mr.. Groesbe3k holds
sacred, are not so held by the party that
he now supports. This is another fact
that Mr.. Groesbeck cannot successfully
deny. And, since the war closed, what
has been the course OF the Democratic
party? II has not aided, but il has oppos-
ed measures looking to the resumption of
specie payments. The progress made to
ward and the complshments OF the re.
establishment. 0i honest money has been
made and secured, not with the aid OF the
Democratic party, but in spite OF it.
The Democratic party too, has sought
to nudity the laws This was the cause
of the extra session OF Congress. Having
secured the control Of Congress, it sought
10 trsmple under foot the constitution. 1t
refused 10 appropriate money to enforce
constitutional laws, and ii said to the
President Sign the bills we pass, or we
will starYe yOd into submission" Among
other things, IL sought to nullIfy the cleo
ton laws. The object and effect of these
laws IS to insure free and honest elections.
oucn laws are necessary, as experience
has abundantly proved. Does Mr.. Groes
beck desire change in order that the
euori 10 secure honest elections may be
defeated Does he believe one OF the
rights Of State is TO stu Il the boxes with
tissue ballots overawe the voters with
shotguns and Ku.Kux Kians? Does he
favor such organizations as existed here
In 1876, to corrupt the ballot box? Does
he know that the whole power OF the
Democratic party Was used TO carry the
election IN 1876, by fraud, murder and
arson? Does he not know that several of
the Southern States were carried for Til.
den " this wayf Does be not know,
furthermore, that Wade Hampton openly
promised larger majority for Hancock
In south Carolina than any other State
s.Ya1 "A -. - l.