The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-07-22
SAVING THE UNION.

IT is very seldom that party perpet-
yates its power by such means as those
employed by the republicans. There Is
no hypocrisy too glaring, no assumptions
too audacious and no steps too daring for
the party to resort to. Every circnm-
stance is made to turn TO the dlsadvan-
tage of its opponents and to its own glory.
Its capacity for intrigue and manipula-
ton has preserved its supremacy long
after the people had tired Of It's abuses.
For sixteen years 1t has filled the air with
boasts of its deeds during the war. For
sixteen years it has been laboring indus
triously to deceive itself and the people
into the belief that it is still conducting
a war against the enemy who laid down
their arms al the close of the war. 1t has
worked untiriugly to keep alive those
feelings of hatred through which 1t secur-
ed power. II does not want peace be-
tween the sections, because the restora-
ton Of harmony is the death knell OF its
sway. 1t is party whose corner stone
is hostility to the south, and 1t is deter
mined to invent falsehoods and magnify
disturbances SO as to foster distrust. 1t
does not want peace; it is utterly oppos-
ed to the reconcilement of the sections.
The brazen impudence of the party in
assuming that the union was saved by its
members, is no less outrageous than It's
declaration that loyalty to the union Is
only to be found within its organization.
Every republican orator, every fepubh-
can candidate who is called upon for an
expression of opinion on governmental
affairs, turns fondly to the record of the
party and lauds it for what it has done.
1t does rot matter whether every nation
on the earth has, during the time the
republican party was advancing the III
terests Of the union, made advances, COM
mensurate with the progress OF the United
States; it does not matter how bountiful
nature has been; all the prosperity is
owing to the fact that the dominant party
in national affairs was republican. The
laborer who worked diligently and lived
economically thus adding considerably
to his savings, owes his little hoard not
to his own industry and his providence,
but TO the republican party. Question
the wisdom of this conclusion and you
encounter the standard query; Didn't We
save the union The merit of saving the
union seemingly gives them license for
all the rascality they choose to perpetrate.
Because "they saved the union" they
installed a man as president who was not
elected, Because ''they saved the union"
they feel authorized to violate the con-
stitution. They gave life to the union
and they feel that they are justified at
any time in resuming their gift. Because
the accident of politics put republicans
| into power at time when the south
seeded, they saved the union although
| the most inefficient administration backed
by the wealth and large majority of the
states could hardly tail to do otherwise.
The trouble is, the party was so delight
ed with saving the union that the play
must be kept mp. The whole machinery
of the government must be employed in
keeping the republican party in power,
which is equivalent to 'ssaving the union. "
The party saveu Tue union s>nd now the
union must reciprocrate and save the
party. The south must be kept down.
Garfield and Arthur in their letters OF
acceptance dwell long and lovingly on
the subject of the south. but on all other
affairs properly a subject of discussion in
political documents of the kind, the re-
publican candidates are either very brief
or entirely reticent. The south is the
party inspiration and ''saving the I'M
ion" its mission. While the republican
party remains in power this work of sal
walton will be perennial. Never will the
time come when the work viii be accom-
plished. 1t will be like the task of Sys-
iphus.
Is it not about time this eeaseless and
senseless prattle of preserving the union
be discontinued Does the success OF
any party compensate for the evils result
ing from embittering the sections against
sach Others Does 1t not seem that those
who psetend to be statesmen should see
something hsaso worthy their attention
than ARRIVING the north against the south!
1t Is a poor stimulation of patriotism and
should deceive no one The republican
party should be retired until 1t learns
that all that the people want from the
party in power TO Deal with living is
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