The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1860-09-20
The wide Awakes."


Perhaps some of our friends will
hardly be willing to tolerate a Be-
rious notice of this seeming silly
and puerile association, but Amer
ican parrots cannot feel too jealous
ofthe first insidious encroachments
of organized factions. We will not
stop to enquire whether such an as
sociation, with its stud;ous and ID
borious efforts to manufacture ex-
element and exhibit artificial en-
thusiasm, should enjoy civil respect
of earnest, logical, thinking MEN
orfit be a worthy instrument of
party, whose influence should be ex.
erted upon the sovereign will of.
thepeople, through the understands.
ing enlightened and convinced
But we would enquire of every lov-
er of his country, if there be no
cause for solicitude when in every
town in the North, almost stimuli
taneously, society is organized in
one party, bearing one name, receiY-
ing the same rules and bylaws from
headquarters, wearing one and the
same uniform-more suggestive Of
the camp and field, and not less
distinguishing than the Jacobin
"bonnet" of revolving memories
an association which sometimes
with, but not unfrequently without
the emblem of incendiarism is drill
ed, at dead of night, in military
positions" steps," revolutions"
"marches," and "counter-marches,"
by men who have long "enjoyed
their ease" either "with" or with
out dignity, under the titles of
General, Captain, Colonel, &c.
when this is done, not in one town
, alone, but in almost every town in
the North, and by companies that
already combine with the ease Of
the U. S. Militia? .....-
Citizens of free and happy Amer
lea, in all honesty and sincerity Of
heart, we ask you; to what dc
these things look? We ask you,
seriously, do the developments Ct
, the last few months throw any
light on those dark threats of ap-
pealing to some other law than the
constitution, of meeting political is-
: sues 'speaceably if we can. .sc,zl :,
g if we must. i" And those vague IN
timations of some "impending cri-
: sis" some "irrepressible conflict
s which come, ever and anon, Kissing
from the lips of mad leaders of fac
d ton and fanaticism, which honest
men have not appreciated and per-
haps not sufficiently needed? We
y do not ask, are all those who have
= innocently, perhaps, enthusiastical-
Y ly joined this association forewarn-
i ed of any unpleasant tasks, perhaps
ultimately to be assumed by them
selves. From the nature of the
case, we consider this most improb-
e able. But we do ask, was such an
/ instrument, so we'll suited to the
use of disappointed minority, i'm
patient of restraint, merely discov-
e cred by chance to be used at ram
l. dom? Influenced by the contin.
e gencies Of certain courts, leading
e. Republicans have declared they
~ will "let the Union slide," and
i should these leaders be brought in
to unpleasant antagonism with the
n Federal authority, is it probable
l. they would make no use Of the ar
! my they had enlisted beforehand,
+ +, and, fired with a politico-religiou
l. enthusiasm only akin to that Of the
tie Crusades under Peter, the Her
o nit?
9 A secret political association ia
justly feared under every form OF
government. To be provincial or
geographical in organization, fur
nishes another element of distrust,
- But when to this is added military
E. principles, practices or predictions,
n we can conceive of no organization
more potent for evil, less capable
of good-of no organization in a
i, free country more to be deprecated
a. a. by every lover of free institutions.
Je --~~~-~--~~~----
in rm-The nomination of Judge
d. IL A. l.