The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-10-29
t-fosfuR Words.

To our weekly readers, who comprise the
greater proportion Of our audience, this is
the last opportunity We have of addressing
ourselves previous to the election. And this
opportunity We desire to improve, not by
any frantic appeals, not by any plausible
persuasion, not by any fraudulent subter-
fuges, but by presenting the subject Of most
importance to US all in as plain and compre-
hensible way as possible.
And, after oil that has been said during
the progress of this campaign, BY way of
calculation and argument, ii does not seem
as IL rery much remained to be said now
We need only, il would seem, to impress,
with perhaps little more force, upon the
minds OF the people the great Importance of
the leading issue in this campaign, and the
high obligation of exerting every possible
personal influence over It's settlement.
The great idea and leading purpose in the
foundation Of this government, was TO es-
tahlish Popular Rule and to secure the
free enjoyment Of imprescriptible Human
Rights, two things in the minds of our po-
litical fathers inseparabiy connected and
forming one object This is our glary.l 1t
is our Mast. II il this which has giyeD'us
peculiar position among nations, both an
eient and modern. Ii is for the clearness
and the emphasis IN the enunciation Of this
idea as primary principle, that We are re-
gardea with so much interest by the friends
and thp enemies Of Human Rights ana Pc
litieal Liberty throughout the world. Aside
from that We are OF no political significance
10 the present or the future, except as u mere
physical, commercial, material power. This
statement is true and unequvoea. We all
Il were not true we should have nothing to
glory in, for our mere material greatness
IS bat a fruit Of that idea upon which our
system is based without it would have had
no existence, and would perish If it were
DESTROYED.
And yet, IN view Of this plain fact, which
rs clear to every mans mind, and is as dear
a il undeniable, j; is equally plain to eve
rs unprejuiiced and discerning mind that
this very idea, this elementary principle, this
eaief political purpose of ours. with all that
II involves If human hope and happiness, is
the one thing which is put in peril in this
canvass. Stripped Of all partizan preiu-
dices, Of al partizan ehicanery, of all per-
sonal and sectional interests. Of all fortui-
tous circumstances, Of all disguise and all
sophistry, this is the honest, naked fact.
Another principle, and another interest based
upon il. has grown up in our midst, prin-
cipte directly antagonistical TO the primar,
principle Of our governmental svstem,-th,
principle that nigh, is the measure Of right
that an a-istoeFatical tyranny is not ineom
ps'ibie with the genius Of our government
ba. Is IN fact lts corner stoner and sheet
anchor the principle which Gads its expires
sson in the system OF Haman Bondag
Plainly, boldly, undeniably, this principle /.
brought III open conflict in the political field
Silently, gradually, 10 the general mind un
consciously, this principle has been growing
M beside It's competitor, until no. It chal.
lenges our decision Which OF the ,we
seal r. s1rrc.-,,ee i was - s...I st..l.. :,
Incredible. that good portion u our reopI
ean even ye, hardly realize the plain truth
Ba: Il y The truta. /; demands, and il i
able to coeree, decision. The odioas eie
inent occupies higt position. Through TIA
power u combined ana absorbing interest
aat The acts ~ INSCRIPTIONS aad ambitiou
aenag9gues, great party is lis exponen
and agent. Let no man, ~ he loves hi
country, with aii tia. has made Ii great an,
powerful ard honorable, no III IN who love
Its free institutions ard ~ glorious prinei
plss, slut his eye- 10 the nature and im
porsanee 81 this crisis. Slavery claims a,
sseqaaiisy, aud II an equality, then su
premacy, ~ tne national territory for i
Slavery gaes there, them Freedom j. 4sei.a
def. for the law 81 lifc to one IL the law j