The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-09-14
For the Union and Journal
Republicanism vs.. Slaveocracy.

At the dawn Of Creation God said "Lef
there be light" and tho sacred Historian has
recorded this as the first Decree Of Ais power.
Hc not only commanded tho light, but when
II shonc, pronounced 1t good, and to this day
both the command and approval, stand un-
repealed.
In tho struggle now going on, not only
here but everywherc-bctwccn tho advocates
of freedom on the ono hand and those of des-
potism on tho other, the former repeat and
urge, this first and glorious command of
Jehovah, "Ict there be light" while the
latter universally echo the cry Of tho Prince
of Evil .'Let there DO Darkness"
In our own favored country, Republican
ism asks Of Slavery "Let there be light" and
the Sham Democracy, speaking for the dumb
institution replies "Lst there be darkness"
and wherever the influence Of that party, or
of the institution, which It has taken to Its
bosom to cherish and protect, bears indispu-
table sway-cvcry effort is made to the end
that darkness shall prevail, admitting, nay
even declaring, that the system of Human
bondage cannot exist, much less thrive, cx'
ccpt in the dark.
Therefore the mails Of the United States
shall bc searched and robbed, lest through
them some ray Of Republican light should
penetrate slavery's dark domain; citizens of
such portions Of our common country, ns
rejoice in the priceless gift Of freedom of
thought and utterance, shall be placed under
close surveillance lest through them some
light should dawn upon the minds ofthc mas
scs-publications Of every description, calcu-
lated in the least degree to cnlighten the
public mind upon the great principles OF
Human Liberty, 50 grandly pronounced and
nobly yindicated by the founders of the Re
public, and which arc now revived by the
Republican party-shall be suppressed, pen.
and tongue, and press shall DO dumb, upon
this greatest of political qucstionsnow agita.
ting the country-and darkness shall pre-
vail.
In the coming election tho thinking, ra-
tional and intelligent voters Of the Free States
arc to choose between the two lines Of policy
this marked out and adopted by Republican
ism and Democracy, (for in this respect there
Is little or no difference between the two
Democratic factions), they are to choose
whether they will support by their votes and
their influence, that policy and party, which
claims for the Territories, light, liberty and
law, and the boundlcs prosperity which
flows from digni6ed free labor, or that party
and policy which would doom them to slave
ry and darkness, and that dircful advcrsity
which lows from degraded slave labor.
To influence such choice and guide 1t to
tho wisest conclusion, It Is only necessary to
open the whole question fairly and fully to
the minds Of the masses, and the bluntest
understanding ustcomprshcnd the strength
Of the Republican position.
To this end Let the Wide Awake clubs 500
to Il that no new votes arc cast in ignorance,
let the success which attends tho efforts Of
Democratic leaders to resist tho inshining oi
Republican light be confined 70 tho Slave
Shics-and speakers cannO. DO procured as
must unayoidably BE- tho case in many places,
lot readers bo substituted, for thcro is not
probably in the whole State Of Maine. (and
let slavery tale special note Of this) town,
village or hamlet but has at least one school
house in which to assemble tho people, and