Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1857-05-22

constituents, with the proud thought that
he fought on the side of the Union!
He should feel, when engaged in such
a contest, as did the heroic Sir Charles
Napier, when he wrote SO beautifully and
touchingly to lady on the eve of his
great victory at Meamee, saying: eff |
survive, I shall soon be with those I love;
if I shall fall, shall soon be with those [
loyed.'' 1t is this feeling which gives to
political parties their true position, and
which 1naKeSa man a true patriot.
What could be more pleasant to a brave
man than to be with those he loves and
esteems after having aided in achieving
national victory. Or what could be more
CALLING to the feelings of politician, than
the reflection that there is no honor due to
hin-that he did not do his duty, and was
not found where danger threatened and
honor called-how could he meet his con-
stituents, to whom he was indebted for all
the honors that had been conferred upon
him, and these thoughts ranking in his
bosom!
This sense Of shame, which every proud
man feels at the thought of being over
come, and this shrinking from the gaze of
our friends and supporters when we return
to them without laurels and without the
consolation of having acted so as to deserve
them, was we'll understood by the Duke of
Wellington. During the battle of Water
loo he frequently said to those around him,
eve must not be beaten; what will they
say in England!" No doubt this kept
many man at his post.
The same spirit glowed in the bosom Of
that celebrated warrior, should animate
every political leader in the Union; and
aid him in allaying and arresting the poll
tical evils, which now distract and disturb
the peace OF the country, and give to
parties . position at which the European
aristocrat could not point the finger Of
scorn. It Is only such men as these who
make good <s1ltriets,z The man who has no
character to loose-who cares nothing for
the nationality of his party-who leaves no
one behind, for whose opinions he is will
ing to hazard much, seldom makes sound,
conservative representative.
In the hour Of danger, when death and
defeatmeance--when victory can be snatch
ed from determined foe only by almost
super-human exertions then it is that men
who are battling for conservative principles
and the 6 Union of the States, who wish
to be honored at home and respected
abroad, show themselves patriots. It is
| then distinction can be drawn between
| the mere political adventurer, fighting for
pay, and the man who is identified with
the interests of his country, and whose
proudest triumph would be to hold out a
victorious hand to be grasped by his sup
porters at home.
The man without anything to loose or
gain by the result Of political contest,
provided he simply obeys orders may make
a 0assibe politician; but it is the man
who feels he would lose in the estimation
of his friends-that he would come in for
large share of the disgrace, should his
country's flag trail in the dust, who makes
the pure patriot, when he simply intends
to be patriot, and to preserve his own
good name in the annals of the country.
He never surrenders-he may be defeated
but never conquered. It is this that makes
the position OF the Democratic party in
| vincible.
While this-is the case with the Demo
cratic party, we find others occupying an
entirely different position. Look at the
history of the old whig party; and mark
the change that had suddenly come over
the "spirit of the dreams . of the leaders
of that party. Look at its position, when
it numbered among its champions the
s dauntless spirits of Clay and Webster; the
scintillations of whose intellects still burns
and blazes all arounds us, and compare
with the position of the party which has
arisen up on its ruins. No sooner hae
those great lights ceased to shine, wheI
the nationality of the whig party vanished
like vapor; and the remaining few, IN
able to sustain themselves, sought refug'
J. in the caverns of the earth, and with darl
4 lanterns for their guides and solemn oath
for their principles, they final came fortl
as the great e Know Nothing party (alsa
American Wing party and for anomen
swept everything before them. Defeat, q
length overlook them, and that disting g,lish
ed parsonage, (sam) who had wandere'
through several States by the name Q
!. 6 l,auiaci5ze, = was suddenly cut down, no
Z L 10