Year: 1867

Under this head, our contemporary over


the way, in its leader of last week, charges
that the Democratic party sin the coming
political contest in the State, seek to make
Prohibitory Laws part of the issues to
be decided at the polls in November next, =
and denies that the Republican party or its
leaders seek any Infringement upon the
rights and liberties of the people by the
enactment of what is termed Prehibitory
Laws IF this denial were consistent with
the facts in the past or present history Of
this party, there certainly could be no dis
agreement between the Republican and
Democratic parties of the State, and no
such issue could be-made up "to lie decided
at the polls in November next" and our
contemporary would have no occasion for
alarm lest the German element which
enters into the composition of the hybrid
party should become disaffected towards
the American hypocritical-church element,


to an extent to produce dissolution.


While the German element in the Re-
publican party may be sufficiently strong
to ensure the success of the party at the


November election in this State, it certainly
will find itself Impotent to defeat the
enactment by that party, when once dccreed
BY its leaders, of those very Prohibitory
Laws of which our cotemporary speaks
and it is for them to say whether they will
risk surrender of their individual rights
and liberty of action by adhering to the
Republican organization, or whether they
will secure certainty Of freedom of action
by uniting with the Democratic party


The Democratic party has ever been con-
sistent and determined in its opposition to
the enactment of sumptuary laws and laws
for the enforcement of religious observances,
and when a war breaks out in the Republi-
can party, as is the case in this as we'll as
in other States, in which the dominant or
ruling portion of that party seeks to force
upon minority through whose aid! it
gained political asccndency the support of
or submission to liquor prohibition and ccr


tain religious observances as parts and par
GELS of the Republican creed, it is but natu-
raj and proper that the Democratic party


should stand by its own principles and seek
to prevent great wrong to the people by
offering to co operate with that minority in
the only way that resistance to such con-
tenplated wrong can be made effectual !;
and if that minority shall discover that
danger to their individual rights and 'liber
ties threatcus from their lonscr alhc,onuo


to their present party affiliations, they will
be apt to secure their only sure and certain
protection by the acceptance of that offer.


Upon the subject of this war; now
raging in the Republican party and its con-
sequences to that party if not squelchesl, the
Chicago Tribune (which the milk and water
concern over the way, in its alarm, says els
not very well posted in Wisconsin politics" J
holds the following language:


% The war of liquor prohibition and Sunday
observance has broken out with considerable
earnestness in Wisconsin. We look upon it
as altogether unfortunate that this quar-
rel could not be postponed until after the oues-
tons growing out of slavery and the rebellion
shall be settled on right principles. II is cer-
tain that the German element Of the Rcpubli-


can party, and considerable portion of the


native born members, will separate themselves


from any political organization which makes
] liquor prohibition portion of its creed, or
f which sets up . religious test. There will he


time enough and ways enough to shiver the


party in atoms (if that must be done, after it
shall have completed the great work with which
. it is Specially charged-that of making all
men equal before the law ta Joy EH
7 9 1t is useless to sneer at people who look
upon liquor prohibition an infringement OF


pers nal liberty and who resist it as such. 1t
is equally foolish to shut our eyes to the Gus
toms, the early training, the convictions, OF
Y those who look upon the first day of the week


rs being more adapted to recreation. but not


hoicr than any other day. 1t is the appropri.
ate duty of our churches to convert, not Co
) ere these people. Nore souls will he saved


by the former process than by the latter"


. The Republican party is here advised to
: postpone this war of liquor prohibition


and Sunday observance until the great
work with which the party is specially


charged-that of making all men equa


before the law-shall be completed. We
: had supposed this great work had been
fully completed as claimed by the Republi'


can party, and we have thought that it had
been a little over.donc Slavery has GER
tainly been abolished throughout the
5 country, and State governments have beer
r abolished in the entire South, and military
D despotisms erected over their ruins for the
: purpose Of retaining political power in the
e hands of the Republican party through the
: enforced ballot of the ignorant blacks
There is nothing more to be done in thi.
; line of making all men equal before th'
; law" unless it be to take step backward
: and bring the intelligent and educate,
s whites of the South up to politica
e equality with the ignorant and debase'
y American citizens Of African descent!


/ Yes, the great work Of enfranchising tn
' blacks and securing to them more thai
Is political equality at the South has bee


4 Il