The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-03-04
LOVE FOR THE UNION.

| in 1861 in which he took the position
that it Yves better to allow the South to
peaceably seoede than have the country
engage in fratricidal war has been un-
earthed, and of course this brings his
presidential aspirations to close. But
while Bsyard must bear great deal of
abloquy now for the speech then made,
his whole record as a public man shines
bright by contrast with that of many who
think his utterances in 1861 should de-
bar him from the confidence of the peo-
pie. There are many with whom pat
riotism is mere idle sentiment to be
paraded when safety allows, to be aban
doned when danger impends. The lip
loyalty of politicians Is the curse with
which America is at present afflicted.
Ambitious men to further their own
designs keep the country in state of
patriotic ferment without any adequate
cause. What is there in the purposes Of
any portion of the people of the United
States to warrant the ranting of such
men as Blsine2 The amity which should
exist between the different sections must
be discarded that such men as he may
act the hero in dramatic way. This
warrior in pantomime and soldier in
peace is patriot because of his noisy
obtestations. Bayard, who has given
his attention to wholesome legislation,
and not to idle yaunts, is traitor.
Judging the present state of the union
by republican opinion what greater dis
aster could the nation suffer than the
return to the government from which
they had seeded by the southern states.
Republican statesmen are prevented from
attending to the duty of legislators by
the constant efforts of the southern states
to do by legislation what they failed to
do in the open field. What, according
to republican authority, have we gained
by having forced the south to return to
their allegiance2 The treasury of the
United States is in constant danger; the
peace of the country is daily menaced;
the constitution must be violated and the
will of the people annulled in order to
prevent the confederacy from attaining a
dangerous degree of power; northern
people are kept in state of exhausting
vigilance in order to check the disloyal
designs of the rebels; we have brought
to our fire sides vicious an ignorant
lawless set of people; we have brought
into the national councils men who are
working to destroy the union; we have
made fellow citizens of people with whom
we cannot live in concord. Surely ''the
blood of the slain and the voice of weep
ing Nature says, IT'S time to part"
Was not Bayard wise in insisting that
the south should be allowed to go, until
wisdom would teach her to return? The
war was success but republican admin,
istration has made its fruits turn to ashes
on the lips. Is there any American who
loves his country, who foreseeing the
sectional descord, the partisan hatred,
which has succeeded the return of the
southern states to the union, and which
IS fomented and cherished by the repub-
lican party, who would not willingly in
1901 ha,u sssId to tie southern states,
Go in peace? Northern republicans have
been taught to hate and distrust the
southern people. Their representatives
have been tainted by ambitious Office
seekers in the hopes of stirring up strife
which would further infame the passions
of the north. We have as result of the
war for the preservation of the union a
house divided against itself.
Whether the advice of Bayard and
Greeley in 1861 to let the southern states
secede peacefully was wise under the then
circumstances is questionable. In the
light OF late events the adoption of the
policy of noninterference was the wisest
counsel ever offered by far seeing
statesman. The lives of thousands were
sacrificed, the resources of the country,
in money and men, were taxed to the
utmost that the union should live, and
this was followed by a policy which
convinces every one that the sacrifice
was vain. Sixteen years after the war
the passions to which it gave birth are
as strong as ever, fed by the conscious
ness that an tissue" is needed in cleo.
tons.