Year: 1870

THE PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION.


In to-dsy's issue We give the proclamation
of neutrality which deserves the appreciation
of all good citizens and especially the
democracy. AS we said few days ago
when the announcement occurred it would
put to shame that party of which the presi-
dent is leader, we can now say that 1t re-
Dukes the efforts of repu bican politicians to
take sides in this war for the purpose OF
making political capital. Nothing is palmer
than if it is the duty of the government to
be neutral, it is also the duty of every loyal
citizen to take the same position. This is
finally illustrated by circumstance which
occurred during Washington's administra-
tion. NJ. Genet undertook to appeal from
the proper authorities to the people and
gain their support in spite to the neural
position of the administration. Jefferson
then Secretary of State opposed the move
mens in the following conclusive argument:
"h one citizen he said, has . right to 60
to war of his own authority, every citizen
has the same. Hevery citizen has that right,
then the nation (which is composed of all
its citizensl has a right to go to war by the
authority of its individual citizens. But
this is not true either on the general princi
pies of society, or by our constitution, which
gives that power to congress alone, and not
to the citizens individually. Then the first
position was not true; and no citizen has
right to 60 10 war on his own authority; and
tor what he does withou. right he ought to
be punished. Indeed, nothing can be more
obviously absurd than to say that all the
citizens may be at war, aud yet the nation
at peace" Gen. Grant not only points to
the attitude which the government should
assume, but he also warns the people to OBJ.
serve impartial neutrality. OF course he does
n ot think it possible tha. it could be other
wise with portion of our citizens, than that
they should sympashize with their friends in
this great struggle. But this is far different
from carrying that feeling to such an extent
as to commit the government to either of
the beliigerents. To support our govern
ment IN its attitude of neutrality is the only
right mode of action; in the face of this
fact it hardly becomes republicans to oppose
the measures announced by their own
president. The proclamation shows to
every German how delusive are the attempts
OF republican demagogues to win votes By
manifesting their sympashies for the Prus-
SLAMS. The republican party can render no
aid to those whom they claim to support for
the very reason that by so doing they would
be going in direct antagonism to president
Grants administration. This war should
have nothing to do with our party politics
There should be nothing accorded to Prus-
STA which ia withheld from France, and rice
rers1.


President Grant proelaims that all cis-
zens and all foreign residents whether nat
ursIized or not should maintain the strictes,
neutrality, and abstain from everything
likely to compromise the friendship of this
country with either party at war.


Stranger things have already happened
than that for the party which now SO
strongly favors Prussis to change its tone at
no very distant period. German arms will
undoubtedly triumph in the present strue-
gle in consequences of this, Napoleon will
either lose his position entirely or will have
his powers very much limited. This will be
the end of personal rule in France, and the
government will be reorganized on more
natural than for the republican party with
its boasted perfection to turn its sympathies
to France as the nursery of republican
ideas on the European continent