The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-08-24
A gross Instrumentation

GT The new and fearless editors of the
Portage Sentinel who "entertain no opin.
ions upon political matters but what [they7
are willing should be made known to [their1
readers" embraced the "good opportunity Of
fered" in theirsecond issue of "cheerfully
giving their views" on the Nebraska iniqui.
ty, and in very explicit editorial declared
themselves in favor Of "going it blind" in
sustaining the administration in all its
schemes of partisan iniquity, especially that
wicked, anti-democratic scheme of slavery
extension, known as the Nebraska swindle.
"Of course these Nebraska editors could
do no less, when the Washington Union au-
thoritatively declares that support of "Mt
Nebraska bill is test of democratic orthodoxy ~
Our new neighbors on this test, are deter
mined never to be found heterodox.-Por-
tare County Democrat.() ..
We are surprised to see such an utter per-
version of what we said last week, as is con-
tanned in the article above quoted. For the
benefit of some who may not have read the
article in our second issue, we will state that
we said nothing about the administration one
way or the other-and nothing either approx
ing or disappearing the Nebraska bill. In
regard to making it test Of Democracy we
used the following language:
"We will here say, however, that whatcv-
+er may be our individual sentiments, we do
not regard the Nebraska bill as test of de-
mocracy."
Again, in the same article, we said:
"It never has been incorporated into our
creed--never has formed part of either our
State or national platform. For ourselves,
we can support any man for office in the
democratic ranks, no matter what his opin-
ions are upon this bill, 50 long as he is sound
on the leading and long established doc
trines of ihe party"
From the above extracts from our article,
1t will be seen that the statements of the
Democrat (D are utterly false in every par
aicular. We are sorry that men occupying
such responsible positions, should have so
little regard for truth, as tc publish an arti.
Gle, every word Of which they know to be
untrue. We again assert, (and we hope
yOu,@f the Portage Democrat(D will under
stand as) that we have never made, and do
not now make the Nebraska bill test OF
democracy. Neither do the Democr ats Of
the Stale or the country. 1t is matter about
which they do, and may differ. You seem
to think 1t very inconsistent, if not quite
impossible for anti-Nebraska Democrats to
cooperate with their old political friends, ant
act in harmony for the maintenance and sue
sess of the principles for which they hav,
battled together for years, if they differ upon
one single measure, but agree upon all others
and yet you can discover an admirable con.
sstency in those men acting in political con
cert who differ upon euery political measur,
except one, . measur in reference to whicl
your union and oil your efforts can effect ab
solateIy nothing. .
AZ far as the Washington Union is con
cerped, all we have to say is, that il has n,
right to make Nebraska or any other meas
urs test Of democracy, Neither has On:
other political paper 10 the country, nor an,
political leader. Conventions alone. whel
properly organized, are abls d institute test
of politieal orthodoxy, Ifthe Union attempt