RADICALISM AND THE NATIONAL CRISIS. 21 people, by the whole people. His mistakes, if there be any, should be regarded with great leniency. No man ever had a more difficult task to perform. This is no time for a factious opposition, or for a division in the ranks of loyalty. The South, in the commencement of this rebellion, based their hope of success on three grounds. The first is cotton, which has failed them; the second is foreign intervention, which has also failed them; and the third is a divided North, which has hitherto failed them, as I pray God that it may continue to do. If we divide our strength, our cause is lost. We cannot conquer this rebellion, unless we are thoroughly united in the purpose to do so; and if we are thus united, nothing can be more certain than our ultimate triumph. I exhort you, in the second place, to give your support, moral, social, and political, to those men of whatever name or party, and to those men only, whose devotion to the government in its present struggle is above all question. You now want true men—war-men—men about whose position there is no ambiguity—men who mean to carry this nation through to final victory. No other men are fit to represent the people in such a crisis. Sympathizers with rebellion,—cold and lukewarm patriots—demagogues, more anxious for office than to save their country,—those who are eloquent in denouncing the government, while they have very little to say against the treason that now threatens the life of the nation—: these, in my judgment, are not the men, whom a loyal and honest people can safely trust with official power. If there ever was a time in the history of the world when a man’s principles should be above all question, this seems to me that time. His record should be as clear as light. 1 make these remarks with no reference to any political organizations, whether Republican, Democratic, or mixed. With such organizations 1 have nothing to do in this place. My object is simply to lay down a principle, whose application must be the work of your own judgment. I extend the right hand of fellowship to any man and every man, who is entirely sincere, honest, and earnest in prosecuting this war till every vestige of treason against the federal government shall be completely sub
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=