The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-09-16
An ABSURD sraTEMgSr.

inst, very etfeetnalls disposes OF an
absurd statement made by J. Hamil-
ION Lewis. Of Seattle, In the Demo
cratic convention at Ellcnsburg. when
he said.
When they tell "a that Our party caused
the war. tell them that 10 eosgress The
Democratic party advocated the Critten.
den compromise. which, II adopted. would
have saved the country ali the blood aud
treasure wasted la the war,
The official record. which is open TO
al men. fatty contradicss this state
ment The vote In the Senate on the
adoption OF the substitute for the Crit
tenden compromise stood % for Ia
~ against the substitute bare ma
jority Of one vote and while the vote
was heing taken there were present
SIX Southern Democratic Senators
who refused 10 vote. With their assist
Ance the substitute could have been
defeated and the criitenden measure
could have been passed by at least six
majority. and the oyegoaiaa is author.
ity for the statement that on a direct
vote for or against the compromise
the vote Of Colonel Baker. then sen
atOr from Oregon. would have been
cast with the majority, making the
vote 81 to -.
Thus IL il made clear that II the
adoption of that compromise would
have saved the country ali the blood.
shed and treasure wasted by the war.
those sir Democratic Senators were
directly responsible for the direiui
consequence al the failure of that
measure.
hut Il Is an Insult e. the inielli-
gence u an American audience Tor Mr.,
Lewis or any other orator To set up this
preposterous claim. Ii is amattef Of
history. and 90 many of the sur
vivors Of that period IL is a matter Of
painful, humiisating recollection. that
when the Crittenden compromise was
pending. and aftetward large pro-
portion Of the Republican representa-
ton In both branches ol congress.
and large proportion ot the Repunli
can press ard Of the rank and file. cs-
pecially In commercial circles, we're
abject In their advocacy OF eoaeiliaiory
messures. IL T. a humillatlog reool
lection that probably nothing less than
che mad attack upon samrseg woald
have safllced 10 iilt this Seciion oI the
Republican party from its attitude Of
abasemcnt, and It's r,tious plesdings
for peace al any rfice. That the
Democratic leaders. Il offered blank
sheet Of paper for The ruEpose. would
not have made any terms of eonpro-
mise, Is notorious and undesirable
II il true that stephen \. Douglas
and small following dia take bold
stand for the maintenance az the
Union. bat II is equally true that their
course was subject og execrat3oa
within their party. and thAs by par.
suing il they practically severed tho-
connection with Il.
II l. idle soliy 10 claim thai f}a.
iori,y or a considerable proportion II
the Democrats Of that pssiOj desired
any vomrfoml$e. or that Ties did sea
nvmrafhize With the movement "a
organize the soatheFn Coese,lsfscy
IL i. litsie short 81 madness il ~ aa
degree short ri gross luseli. So inn
Sr,ase that an iussillsvns Amerlosa
audience, ex,asesssas wiga ihs facts
can he imposed upon sj1h ~ssa sws&
al~. IL IL charitable to assume. Aaa
l. rrohahl. true. that fisuy peu,ss.
Gratis Who erred al that Usue aver
w,tn~xssng the terrible eefgse }seuces
nj their errur. have FsEsnied Il So.
and se the extent that "a rs 30 tas ae
cent and snsafas h.ns Soc tAssa &C. Is
- 10 confess their etror sed Avea
their repsnsancs. Ssys e'saas a.
those sci an by NJ. lns1s atl those
who agree with him. IS atsSJas, rosse~
that sAsy do nas aawss EhS.r fategal
e,ror and arr ia ne Wiss rerxntAas
Their claim Is false. TIE sueas 4ts,.s
~ il il snsssltins anil spdecvnt