The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1861-09-19
For the Democratic Press.
Loyalty to the Government.

uaue ny Chose VINO nave seen prop !
er to fuse into what is denomina-
ted the Union party, that loyalty
to the Government consists only in
such fusion. Is this so? Has our
Government really come to that
crisis, that only one line of policy
can be pursued in order to secure
the permanency Of the Union, and
that line forbids a calm and free
discussion? If it has, then, indeed
is it at an end already; for if its
strength and vigor lie in the toler-
alton of the divided sentiments of
the people, and the recognition of
the right of free and full discussion
of all questions of policy, then,
whenever such liberation becomes
dangerous to the pcrpetuity of the
government, the government GER
tainly has proved a failure. 1t is
not a necessary and logical Sc
quence that, because one individual
is in favor of prosecuting the war
on the one hand, and Offering terms
Of peace and fraternal amity on the
other, that he is disloyal to the
Union. If it is, I have simply
misunderstood the whole theory Of
the government, and must beg of
those from whom 1 differ on the
war policy, to be charitable and
magnanimous enough to instruct
me right; for if 1 know myself, l
sincerely desire in my heart to see
this noble Union preserved, and
perpetuated to the remotest period
of time. 1 fall behind no man in
an earnest desire to maintain it
against all enemies, whether alien
or domestic. |, too, love my coun-
try. |, too, admire it as the noblcst
and grandest of time. I, too, hal
low the names. and honor the men,
ories Of those who built it up. L,
too, abhor all who would over
throw it. In short, whatever of
culogism or panegyric Republicans
have to pronounce upon it, l fully,
heartily, and sincerely endorse.
Pardon me for saying Republicans,
I am told tits hcresy to mention
parties. Since when? If all party
names are to be obliterated and
forgotten, may 1 be allowed to ask
what is to be done with party prin-
ciples? Well may our Republican
friends afford to lay aside their
name, when they can push their
policy to its utmost limits, with the
assistance of the great body of the
Democratic party, at the point of
the bayonet. If parties are, and
ought to be ignored, would it not
be as well to let the substance 90
with the shadow? The ass may
have its ears cropped, and its skin
painted, but still it is an ass. In
vain would I tell you that it was a
horse, because I had changed its
color and external appearance to
that of the horse, and named it
"John" instead of "Jack." l might
go further, and muzzle its mouth
to keep it from braying, but yet
you would refuse to take it for a
horse. Our Republican friends are
exceedingly warm in their profess
sions of devotion to the Union.
They tell us we must ignore all par
ties-that the man who will not do
so is traitor to his country; but
all this while they are careful to
preserve intact every particle of
the elements Of their policy. Must
Douglas Democrats abjure Popular
Sovereignty for the good of the
country, and Breckenridge Demo
Gratis do the same, while the Re-
publicans keep the whole of their
|, policy intact? Is this fair? Is this
true devotion to the Union? Abo-
litionists are allowed to urge upon
the government their hellish
schemes of insurrection among the
slaves of the South, and not word
of censure falls from the lips Of my
Republican friends. They, Ghe
Abolitionists) even go SO far as to
declare that the war shall never
end until that is accomplished, thus
menacing the government with