Year: 1868




lican party has passed requires, at our hands,
careful examination. As it Is organized
and led now, it is not only very different
party from the Republican party Of 1866,
1851, and during the earlier years Of the
war, but it differs widely from the organisa.
ton Of 1865 and 1867. It Is to-day, under
the acknowledged leadership Of Butler, Ste-
vens, Logan Sohenck and the military poll
ticians Of the Grand Army Of the Republic
Clubs, an svowed partisan body Of men,
which teaches that Fidelity to party" is
the highest duty, not only Of tho people,
but Of the representatives to whom the peo-
pie have delegated the administration Of the
government. It is very harsh thing to say,
that the Republican party and its represen-
tative men hold obligations to the whole
people Of the country, subservient to the
claims Of q fraction Of the community, but
1t is true, and it should be said. The infa-
nous teaching Of Thaddeus Stevens has
brought the party to that condition Of mind
when its members "have thro,on conscience
to the devi1, and stand BY the party" He
failed to effect this sad result in the Buck.
shot War, but, now, the most fearful excess
crowns his efforts.


We must now look upon the Republican
party as purely partizan body, which will
be bound by no constitutions, and which will
respect no laws. The welfare of the coun-
try, in the embittered minds Of the zealots
Of this party, is to be found only through
the successful application of mere party
measures, and oil opposed to their plans,
schemes or principles so-called, will be look.
ed upon by them as enemies Of the country.
Treason, to their minds, will consist ia op-
position to the Republican party, not in en-.
nifty to the country, and all men will be con.
sidered as Rebels who do not bow in obedi.
ence to the commands Of this body. The
kind Of argument which has always been
held by intollerants in religion and politics,
can easily prove to their diseased minds that
mere opinion is an act-that words ore acts
and that merely negative position is men
scing offence. So We shall bo told that be.
ing Democrat, or anything othr than Re.
publican, in opinion is to be seditious trail
tor to the people, and that the attempt to
put Democrats in Office will be an endcavor
to subvert the government


Are We making this argument stronger
than the condition Of things will justify p
Let us see. First. The Senators of the
United States sitting in Court Of Impeach-
ment, under a judicial oath, have been told
that they must vote according to party die
tation, and not in conformity to their sworn
duty. Second. The leading minds Of the
Republican party-Trumbull Fessenden,
Henderson, Grimes, Chase and like men, in
the most insulting manner, have been de-
nounced by great numbers ofthe party press
and party convention, for the simple reason
that they refused to listen to party dictation
and Third We see Stevens, Butler and
Logan, to whom the Republicans would not
listen few months since in direct control
of the organization. Their political and
personal character il we'll known, and can
make but one impression, and that is that
they will manage the party and the country
in the most unscroupulous manner to get
and to keep the party in power. Are all
the Republicans prepared to follow them, or
have the old leaders the power to carry .
large body Of the party with them ? Must We
be compelled to admit that nearly one half
Of the American people are false to Consti-
tutional government and that they cannot
90 far govern themselves, that the vile par
tisanship af the mind cannot be put aside
when the existence ofthe State is in danger?
Not one Republican in ten:will undertake in
argument to sustain the course his party is
taking, and yet but few have, as yet, been
brave enough to come out Of 1t, or bold
enough to oppose the Radicals who are now
directing its action. Perhaps we may see
some more satisfactory condition in their
minds when the impeachers have shown their
position more plainly.


But in default Of ordinary patriotism on
the part of the Republicans what must the
Democrats doP Must they not rally to pre-.
serve the Constitution and the country?-
Will they not see that everything must be
put aside which will draw them of from the
stern duty of preserving the liberties Of the
peoplei We feel that they will do all that
should be done, and that in that great effort
will the country be preserved and the vile
spirit Of party faction be struck down. Let
every man, for himself, look the condition
Of affairs fully in the face, and let his mind
receive the most decided impression Of the
dangers, which threaten our liberties, that
be may determine to do his duty to pro.
tect the country form utter political destruc.
ton. The struggle is on us in which We
must fight to preserve democratic institu.
tions and We can successfully fight ifwc use
the energies which We possess; but five lag
In our efforts we shall surley 20 down, and
the Republic will be no moro. .-Lals~ne
Union.


The working People.
M N.w Vail ro;nfnra ranork that tho