Year: 1867




The Main Issue-What 10 Its Yauo


The Springfield Republican, in discussing
this question with its usual ability,-and with
its usual coldness and hauteur, as well,-vely
justly concludes that the main issue Is equal
suffrage. With this We cordially agree, as
well as with its strongly expressed preference
for constitutional amendment instead OF
Congressional legislation for the accomplish
ment Of the desired end. Its remarks upon
this subject we quote: ...s s48ss -.r.t..3a,. I'd
By all means let us adhere to the vital issue
until that is settled, and let us understand what
it is Briefly, it is equal suffrage. 1t includes
the congressional plan of reconstruction, but
that is valuable mainly because it provides for
in the state constitutions to be framed for the
South AS matter of consistency the party
must also endeayOr to establish the same prin-
ciple in the constitutions of all the states, and
any attempt to evade this duty will necessarily
dishonor and weaken the party. And it is
| bound to place it in the constitution of the
United States, but that is yet to be proposed
in Congress, and is now an issue before the
people. The Washington Chronicle would
have Congress establish equal suffrage by
right to do this is denied by many of the best
authorities, and is so generally doubted by the
people, and would so certainly provoke bitter
hostility against the party in the closely con-
tested states, that it cannot well be made an
issue. If it could be shown that it may const-
tutionally done, it is not the best way to do it.
If the people are for equal suffrage it can be
established by state action or by an amend
ment to the constitution of the United States.
If they are not for it no party can attempt to
We can carry equal suffrage by the free con-
victions of the people. We had better not
attempt it against.


issue. 1t is the strongest possible one. Every
man admits that it is just in itself and that
there can be no pure republican government
without it. Let this issue be kept before the
people. The congressional scheme of recon
struction, with all its admitted defects, must
be adhered to and pushed to completion, be-
cause it is based upon equal suffrage. The re-
publican party must be maintained in power
until this principle is fully realized through
out the nation. Here our strength lies. Com
pretending it and honestly adhering to 1T, the
republican party will maintain its supremacy
till its work is fully accomplished. 70 IN.
So far the sentiments of the Republican
are entirely satisfactory; but it is clearly ap-
parent that the leading paper of Western
Massachusetts hates Thoroughbred Radi-
cal as heartily as Tommy Moore loved lord.
The feeling is ever cropping out in its very
forcible editorials. Accordingly we find it
treating as matters altogether foreign to the
main question things that are inseparably
connected with it and indistinguishable from
it. The Washington Chronicle declares that
''the main issue is, in its conception, whether
Andrew johnson shall be allowed to succeed
in plot to get rid Of Congress, and establish
himself as supreme dictator upon the ruins
Of republican government" In this the Re
publican discems naught but Forney's person
al spite against Andrew johnson for having
usurped the powers of an academic corpora
ton, and conferred upon him an insulting
and derisive DID,, on the 22d of February
1866. 1t declares that "if the Republican
party has no more real and vital issue to
contend for than this, it Is destined to suffer
more from general apathy elsewhere, than it
did in Maine" Impeachment, too, is styled
Gan outside ISSUE" 2 .ea ~ et.


But because opposition to johnson, and his
impeachment are not the ultimate ends which
the Republican party is to attain, it does not
by any means follow that they are outside is
sues. The main purpose now seems impossi-
BILE of attainment without the previous accom-
plishment of these secondary ones. Subordi-
nate issues, by their priority in point of time,
may become for the present the vital ones
We want eYuaf eufft as5o. Laws haSo Icen
passed establishing it in ten States; but there
is power that constantly strives to nulify
those laws and prevent their execution. So
far as possible the President gives postum
nous life to his vetoes, after they have been
buried under the fatal twO-thirds vote of Con-
gress. Shall we pass more laws? He will
nullify them as unhesitatingly as he does
those already in existence. He is the obstruc-
ton in the way Of the very consummation
which the Republican acknowledges to be of
paramount Importance Nothing more can
be done to effect the desired reform in respect
to the elective franchise without struggle
with the President at every step. 1t necessa
rily follows that, though hostility to single
individual would ordinarily be very unsatis
factory bond of union between members of !;
great party, yet in view of all the circumstan.
ces -ofthe case, present and prospective, it ma.
be legitimate one. The main issue for tn,
year is equal suffrage, but for to-day it is im
peGchment.