The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-01-25
Public Opinion and the Irrerressible
Conflict.

1t is well, at times like the present, when
without star or compass, the people of one sec
ton of the Confederacy seem bent upon rush
ing upon the rocks and quicksands of disunion
to bring upon Us, as ? nation, an 'irrepressible
conflict Of opinion which must, if not speedily
| checked, result in a complete separation Of
these States-we say it is well, at the present
time, to look about rs to seek a remedy for the
impending evil, and apply, if possible, a pre-
ventlye. no
Every movement Of any Importance made
by any class of our citizens depends for sue
cess mainly upon Public Opinion. That is
the lever which ~elevates principles, measures,
or men. to a position to make them dangerous
or formidable for good. 1t is the handspring
which controls the action of men, and, when
rightly directed, leads to good results-but if
diseased, foul and false, no one can calculate
the evils it may force upon a State or a COM
munity. Such, at the present moment, are the
conflicting ideas which rend and tear the very
fbres of the body polite of the North, and
carry dismay and terror to the heart of the
people of the South. The 'irrepressible con-
fict,' nsw going on, it not alone between
North and South, but mainly between sections
of the people of North as to the course and
policy to be pursued toward the South.
The struggle among US is, on the one side,
to create a public opinion hostile to the inter
ests and rights of the South; on the other, to
check or to correct such false views and create
a public sentiment, net alone favorable to the
South, but favorable to union, to the harmony of
all sections, and to the rights-the guaranteed
rights-of every State, whether North or South.
For the latter the great National Democratic
party are struggling; for the former the Aboli-
ton Republicans are applying their every effort
and means. On which side shall the people
stand? Will they succumb to the seemingly
overpowering force of the Republicans, and
the false and dangerous tenents they are
preaching from pulpit and press? Will they
sit idly by and see the fell spirit of anarchy,
of discomfort, of hate and malice hurled against
one section of the Union, and not strive to
stem this torrent of hellish treason? We be-
lieye not. The great heart of the people Of
the North is sound and true. But too many
of our people have been led into false positions,
through false and dangerous teachings, by the
appliances and efforts of itinerant
preachers: orators, pretended states
men and a corrupt press. They have been
taught to accept of bold propositions as truths,
and have iDculcated ideas and sentiments
which will require time and reflection to eradi-
cate, and the constant efforts of the good, the
and the patriotic to correct. And this is
duty of the Democracy-the great. the no.
BILE, the hoy duty Of the Democratic press of
the North.
We want NJ. compromises, however. We want
no unions of sntagonistic interests that some
local or State success may be secur-
ed. We must be open hearted, bold, manly
fearless-declare our principles without
stint or measured words-show to the people
the dangers which are surely to fall upon us if
the Republicans finally prevail; point out the
way to shun these dangers, and in this way
give direction and tone to the minds of the
masses, which win finally turn the tide of pub
lie opinion in a direction which alone will lead
to present peace and positive security for the
6rture.-H tr6in Co.. Democrat.