Daily gazette and comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-186?, 1860-12-21

1
We would not ask the question; but
here with but little move than three
quarter. Of a century Tor the expert
ment. the nation is bankrupt Of all
the great principles of liberation, for
besrapce and compromise; and the
very cheapest boast Of the bully and
braggadocio. is. ~ am an American
citizen" Il is folly TO attempt to har.
monte the conflicting elements--it is
madness TO attempt a union Of incom-
patibles. Red Republicanism dis
guised under the ample garments Of
Democracy has done everything pur-
posed by its leaders, except TO rend
the bond Of union, and even the con.
spiracy to this end is ripeniug. Under
the delusion that they, the people,
were ruling, they have been out
ragged; they have been taxed and re-
taxed until the tithes are demanded
in tones Of insolence; they have been
called 90 attend mass meetings and
conventious-tbey have worked as di.
rected in the Assembly, and now,
with the mask from their eyes, they
are led to the precipice. on either side
Of which, ruin seems inevitable. Now
their crafty leaders break from them.
and in naughty terms proclaim that
they shall go out Of the Union-that
the only hope is in high treason
against the only power under which
we have our being Now they ex-
claim in meaningless gibberish. "rhe
Union must be ruined TO be saved."-
Louisiana shall witbdraw-shaH re-
sumo the sacred robe Of sovereign
" ehe never had. What does this
mean, good peoplel Why that you
shall surrender your liberties to the
keeping Of handful Of men, who
claim by virtue Of holding office
TO be our mastersl Are you prepared
to protect your Gulf coast from an
outward euemyl Are you prepared
TO close up, to the commerce of the
North and ia, West the main trunk
OF the mighty river at your feet DO
not mistake your powerl If IL be
not mere chance that has fashioned
the earth upon which we are at lib
erty to play the FOOLS part-God Al.
mighty has written His will on the
mountain-top and in the valley. and
this people must be, and remain one
people. The nation is now reading
that page in her history pointed to by
Washington, in his Farewell Address,
and referred to by the illustrious pat.
riots and statesmen who followed him
from the stage. Democracy-wi,h
the same features that it wore in the
reign Of terror, Is now upon US. TIE
doors have been kept wide open, 10.
viting the turbulent, restless and con-
flicting elements Of the world to enter,
and run wild under the tree Of liber-
ty. The franchise has been cheapcned
until the vile sot in the gutter is made
20 WELD rs much power for good or
evil, "a the best citizen. All officers
are elective, and As office holders are
almost invariably gamblers, they feel
the power Of their peers in the bull
ring and the grog-shop.
Mayhap better day is before us,
and the materials Of a National Amer
lean party, not of politicians, but Of
the people, are assuming form. God
grant that it is so, and as it is geper-
ally admitted that the great Demo
cratic party is now dead, let masses
be said for the quiet Of its internal
and soulless soul. II is a subject for
National Thanksgiving, in which all
sections Of the Union may rejoice. 1t
is also the death Of the Red color of
Republicanism, more damning in It's
intluenca than ia .ahla coc,c,o;oc