Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1856-10-16
OF tIIC ItN IIfUIINUH
TIE PRESIDEyIiL EiECTIGy.


The present state Of political excite
IN ent throughout the country arising from
the approaching election OF an incumbent
! for the Presidential Chair, furnishes mat
ter for interesting and even painful re-
1ection. To us, who are unconnected
with any of the parties, and stand with
out the suck of the political whirlpool.
the question is perfectly natural what
is there in the present realitiec, or the
future probabilities that produces this
widespread social paroxysm. A cause
adequate to the effect must exist some
where; for men do not voluntarily be-
come insane. 1t is easy to be seen that
to certain classes the election Of a Presi
dent is a matter o: private and selfish
interest. The country is filled with Of
! fee seekers; men who seem TO think the
ship Of State is sure 10 be wrecked. un-
less they have something to do with its
helm or its rigging; some of these IRE in
ofiice-far moro of them are out; but the
outs want TO be in, and the ins want TO
stay in. To hear these men talk a person
might suppose that they were the pures,
patriots on earth, wishing TO serve their
country for their coun,ry's good. They
have no personal interest in the matter
mot they: If left 10 their own choice.
they would prefer to retire from public
life; but as matters are they are willing
to sacrifice ease and fortune OH the altar
of their country. OF this kind are the
speakers at ratification meetings, pole
raisings, and other gatherings Of the diff
! ierent parties.
Now 1t is not strange that there are
men who have the ef1ron,ery 10 put for.
ward ther personal claims. backed by the
plea of the public good. for the country
abou1 with men who do my thing TINT
will inure to their own advantage; but it
is strange that steady. sober. sane people
cannot only listen 10 such prc,ensions.
but even catch the excitement, ard enter
into the cause of these pretonders with
oil the nrdor of enthusiasm. This is
strapge-passing strange.
1t is indeed true tina. in the present
political campaign there are certain is
sues, which. skillfully managed, must ex
ert powerful influence over the public
mind; we are willing TO confess that we
feel this ourselves. withou. giving credit
for honesty to brawling politicians; but
making up our judgments from we'll
known facts, we must admit that the
country has reached crisi; through
which il will require no ordinary skill TO
guide it in safety. And it must be ad .
mitted also, that those who have the man.
segment OF its affairs manifest an utter
unii,ness for the places they occupy. IL
ever a country was cursed with incom
peient rulers. ours is 81 cursed. We
can view the present administration in
no other light than as judgment that
God has sent on our land for its sins.
The question tina, is now brought before
the country for its decision is: Shall
slavery be restricted or extended--shsIl
it remain where il is, or shall ii spread
itself into the new territories. This 10
the naked issue, and il is easy 10 SEQ that
with neither party can consistent anti
slavery men identify. 1t is true there is
, bad and a worse. The bad however, is
too bad to be touched, and that is to en-.
goge TO pro,ec; slavery whero il is. The
question is not respecting the evil of
slavery in general. i, regards merely the
evil Of it in certain localities. The Re.
publican party say, in effect. slavery is a
very good thing where it is; bu, you must
coniine it there. we will agree to guard
and defend il in its present limits. but
we insist that il shall not 90 beyond
them. While, however, we speak Of the
parties in this contest, we still have our
preference between them, and we can
have this wilhou, yielding any of our
principles. Wo can have choice be-
between Two moral evils. il we are not
to be actively engaged in producing Ell
iher. IL the question was presented to
the country, whether Mormonism with