Year: 1869

The Boston Journal takes the same
views as have been expressed in The
American in relation to the duty of the
Administration to give its sympathy and
support to the regular Republican organi-
zation in the States in which elections are
about to be hold. The Journal very cor
rectly says that the very request that the
Administration will pledge itself to neu-
trality carries with it the idea that the
Conservative platform and ticket will not
be such as The Administration can endorse
and support, and it would certainly be
great mistake for the President to pledge
himself to such policy as has been sug-
gested to him. The President as we'll as
the Republican party, desires the success
of the party at the South as well as at the
North, and the sympathy of the Admin
istration will very properly and justly be
given to that party in Mississippi and else
where. He desires the ratification Of the
Fifteenth Amendment, the carrying out of
the Reconstruction acts in good faith, and
the adoption of such local measures as
Will give protection and security to life
and property, and in political contest
in which these matters are to be the vital
issues it will be impossible for him to pre-
serve neutrality. 1t is not the Office or
province of any Administration to try and
over-awe and subvert the will of the peo-
pie, and in this respect there is nothing to
fear from the present Administration. On
the general duties of the Administration
in this respect, The Journal observes:


"When two parties are striving for sue
cess, the one party giving cordial and
earnest support to the National Admins
tration and its measures, and the other
giving them only a formal and measured
support, it is neither reasonable nor right
that the Administration should not be al
lowed to sympathize with its supporters.
And this is precisely what the situation
promises to be in Mississippi. The Re
publicans will plant themselves upon the
platform of the Republican party, and the
Conservatives will so select their candi-
dates and adjust their platform as to Of
fer inducements for the entire Democratic
vote. The Democratic party has certain
ly no desire or purpose to strengthen the
hands of the Grant Administration, and it
is obvious enough that, in order to secure
their support, concessions must be made
to them. If they were anxious to endorse
the Administration and its policy, the
easiest way to manifest their endorsement
would be by voting for the Republican
candidates. The simple fact that the
Conservatives depend for the large majori
ty of their votes upon the men who arc
the open and pronounced enemies of Re
publicanism, and who are striving for poll
teal power in order to undo what Repub-
licanism has effected, shows that they have
no right to expect from the Republican
party anything but determined opposition.
The progress of the campaign in Tennes-
see has shown the danger of bidding for
Democratic support. The Scnter party
there started as Republican party, on a
liberal Republican platform, but as the
excitement of the contest has increased 50
many concessions have been made to the
Democrats and former Rebels, for the pur-
pose of securing their support, that the
election of Senter will give the Democrats
a hold upon the State which they could
not have obtained in score of years by
nominating and supporting their own
ticket. Let those men in Mississippi who
wish to support Republicanism and aid the
Republican Administration in its work of
reconstruction vote the Republican ticket,
and let those who wish to assist the Demo-
Gratis to power do so openly and fairly, and
not insult the President by asking him to
look as disinterestcd spectator upon a
contest between his friends and foes. 80


PctytiJnOrs american