The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-12-22
Political Observation-Disclosures an'
Principle.

In lS43, during the canvass in which
General Taylor &as elected, we heard
an old man fenark that he had voted
for every President from the time of John
Adams, and that the Candidate whom he Vo-
ted for had al,cays been elected. This was to
him 2 matter of boast. He seemed not to
be aware of the iSscct. that such an atfirma-
tion was only evidence Of his own hckleness
or want of political integrity: tie n::"a
changed his politics with every changing ad-
ministration-his whole end and aim, had
been to be upon the popular side.
That man was a perfect type of very
many politicians fthe present day. To be
with the majority, is their supreme desire:
How many there are, who within the last
ten years have belonged to every party
known in the country. They were first
Democrats, then Whigs, then Free Soilers.
and finally Know. Nothings There is de-
sire in almost every mans heart to be pop
ular, and when you add to this, the induce
ments of public Office and honor. unless he is
governed by sterling moral princi pie, there
is danger of his swerving from the right
! An American citizen should scorn to bt
bought and sold, or bribed to a change o
doctrine. He is a MAN, and to be a man il
it's broadest and highest sense, is more thar
to be king. As citizen there is but one
> honest course; and that is straight forward
The landmarks of civil and religious free
, dom and equality which our fathers hav'
. set up, are plain. Let him be guided b.
them. Administrations may change. To
day one party may be in power, Tomorrow
another; passion, prejudice or bigotry, ma.
for time control the action of the people
7 but he whose principles are founded in jus
tice, need not be disturbed whether in tn
!, minority or majority, whether upon tn
' popular or unpopular side.
S A few years, and the passions and excite
men.s of to-day; will be forgotten, and thes
, , men who have sacrificed principle for
: temporary applause, will be forgotten wit
r them. OF all the great Statesmen ofAmer
: lea, since the time of Washington, not on
can be found who was not at some period .
\ hislife, very unpopular and in almost hope
less minority. But they looked beyond pres
eht excitement; they dared to brave tn
bitter prejudice of to-day, and their rewar
is, an enviable and undying fame. Gen
Jackson is an instance. There was tint
many of our citizens can remember it we'll
when this hero, was dehorhced as traito
and tyrant, and every censure which Bit
ter animosity could invent was hurled agains
;. him. 1t was deemed disgrace for men t
vote for him, and required no ordinar
= amount OF courage in some localities, t
: stand up and declare in his favor. BIZ
t Jackson was right: He was conscious G
3 his purity of purpose; his iron will con
trolled the storm Of political excitement tha
!. swept over the land, and noD when that e2
=, citement has gone down, and the light of tn
old mans eye is quenched, his name stand
out upon our history, as one of the grea
landmarks to mankind. There is rot
0 Democrat in the whole land, if he was
: citizen at that time, but is proud to say h
voted for Jackson.