Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-11-26
David WiImot on Defeat

| he Erie COnStftuttOR puOilSneS the
following letter from Judge Wilmot to it>
editor, who remarks that it was not writ
ten for the public eye:
TowANDA. Oct, 81, 1857.
DEAR SR:-The battle is lost, as men
ordinarily estimate results. 1t will discour-
age the weak and doubling; the vena! will
seek shelter in the camp of the enemy
The men of courage and faith will stand
firm, with confidence unshaken in the final
triumph of the right. Courage and perse-
verance are qualities essential in conflict
with error and wrong; these, with untirng
activity, are the clements Of success in all
great revolutions.
| look to the future with mistaken con
fdence. Liberty cannot be crushed out in
this age and country Oppression has no
charter from God. The tyrant that ex-
ults in power, and defiantly assails not the
constitutional rights of American citizen
ship, but the God-given rights of man, shall
soon fall a lifeless and loathsome corpse,
under the perseyering and courageous as
saults of truth.
The mere politician believes in the po-
tency of great interests. He SCOTS at the
idea that any other than selfish motives in
fiuence the action of men. This is an in
suit, both to God and man. Truth and
Justice are mightier than Selfshness and
Wrong. The heroes and martyrs of our
race attest the nobleness of humanity. Men
are capable of the highest motives and the
most loyal steadfastness TO principle
Truth is never silent, but pleads ever, with
irresistible persuasiveness and power
There is a strength in noble self-sacrifc-
ing diSinterestedness, battling in a just
cause, that cannot be overcome. All the
great moral forces of Nature are working
increasingly on the side Of the right. In
the struggle of life we require strength in
overcoming obstacles that beset our path.
Disasters test the constancy and courage of
parties as of men, In the nature of things
reverscs must come, but if we are true to
the cause of Freedom and Humanity, our
triumph is certain; nor will the day be
long postponed. Oppression, injustice and
wrong cannot stand against righteousness
and truih-if so, Omnipotence is dethron-
ed-then is the earth a province of the
Evil One, and man the helpless victim of
his malignity.
In the hour of disaster and defeat, we
must preserve an abiding faith in rectitude,
and in the living energies of the Truth
We must never despond, nor weary in the
performance Of our high duties. There is
nothing in the result Of the late election
that should for moment dishearten our
hopes or relax our efforts. 1t has not
made the wrong right this is beyond the
power of a moiority. Majorities can make
the rulers of to-day, but they cannot make
oppression just, nor eradicate from the
hearts of men hatred of the oppressor-
They may uphold for time violence and
fraud by the strong arm Of military power,
but they cannot lawfully take from man the
rights with which his Maker has invested
him. Not stone in the citadel Of our
strength has been thrown down; We still
stand on the impregnable rock of Truth
The tyranny, outrage and wrong against
which we protest, is in no degree extenuat-
ed by a majority given against US. Op-
preston has gained a new lease of power,
but not an iota of sanction for its cruelty
and injustice. Let US renew our VOWS to
Freedom, and gain strength for future con-
flicts, by divesting ourselves of every selfish
and ignoble desire.