Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-02-28
From the Western Presage.
EnnCTT

i In looking over the specimens in the cabinet @
an amateur Geclogst, we CHANGED upon q fossil
of pre- 'adamite reptile to which science has Civ
en- the name of trilobje. It was smoothly polish
ed By rough usage from the different elements
and was indeed II very pretty specimen Of tn,
! former residence of defunct wcrm. But the vi
tai beautifying element was gone, and after all
nothing but smooth bit of stone--a tossizeG
she'll.
The thought Immediately occurred to US, that
there were fossils outside Of Geology; that there
were potrfed specimens among us, of dcfunct
opinions and positions, representatives from the
different strata Of bygone political struggles.
In the great drift" of political lille, we find
many fossils: not of pure minded noble patriots,
for the vital element with them burns with war
mer and brighter glow. Their l:fe and vigor are
recuperated and intensified in proportion to the
wants and dar gers of distracted country.
But min lied with life we find DEATH There are
among us, in all parties, fossil politicians smooth
ard slippery from many tcrnings and tumblings
in the different strata of domagogueism, whose
life is extinct, and who ought long since to have
been collected into political cabinet and labeled
FOSSILS of the progressive class"
There is in the Republican party, tho beginning
of such collection. This collection, though not
scientifically named, has still name that has at
traced public attention its mastery inactivity;
and public contempt has already followed public
attention. But the fossils are not all collected in
tnlS cabinet. lbcfe are more IN lHe heDuUnC0n
party and their weighty inactivity delay shinders,
its progress. And there some, only haif FOSSIL
ized, who are, if possible, doing still more damage
to the Republican What little life they have
left. is that of personal ambition. Ard this ambi-
ton has to some extent, proved petrifying agent
of their former moral activity. Their love of the
principles that are the life of the Republican cause
has been poriied by the hope Of personal success,
and this hope-this personal ambition-which is
all the Republicanism they possess-has led
them to attempt compromises, in which principle
is ignored and of which individual Advancement
is the only considerations. During The present
session Of the llegalbodytyling itself the"Legsla
ture," has such compromise been attempted
For the purpose Of placing one OF their number
in that politico geological cabneth Senate Of the
United States they have endeavored to sacrifice
principle for the sake of Illegal and dsgracefu
elevation But the old liners have by their daring
disregard of law principle or any other obligation,
risen aBore compromise, and rejected their over
lures, and their petriiaction is nor complete
And a worthless set of "dorncs" they are not fit
for a cabinet collection, and all that remains for
the Republicans to do is to pitch them aside.
If the Republican party would succeed they
must rid themselves of these fossil leaders, who
have ago without experience, gray hairs without
their accompanying wisdom, and who combine
those two essentials Of certain deleat-the percep'
ton and shrewdness of childhood with inactivity.