Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1860-1868, 1861-12-25

= s - sssssss re- 90 Z BE- sssas t
sssssxxx ss1taaas4 fqF - - - /
s.oua couNrRx. RIGnT m wRsxa.t |
This Ii the old Dsnosratis motto, ID |
time Of war. Questions Of policy, or of |
righl Or wrong, IN diplomacy Or aasioasl
inssgooarss, are open 70 frss discussion
prior TO tina declaration Of var between |
DOR government and aay foreign power /; |
hal apon that svsas, all sueA questions,
~ between Americans, should be dropped
until the war Is over. This has always
been the mosso Of tbs Democracy, from
l7T6, when the Declaration Of Indepea-
saeaes wa~ asafssa By Tass4s 1sEszssos,
hs Ant graf spassls 81 Dsaoerasy, aOwa
- ne psesent hotr. ~
With the oppoasats Of Democracy,
however, theease Is very different. soar
Countsy, Right or Wronssa has new
er been their motto, IS abandantly
proved by theiF record from she foan.
aasioa Of the government, bus mora es-
pecialIy in the last war With Great Brit
ain and the war with Mexico. Now, that
our country il rent asander and dessolas-
ed By cspif var, as q direct Consequence
OF their fosssesng Of fanasicism and sec
slonal agitation, they have stolen this
time honored motto of the Democracy, to
soyer their guilt and, by ssiHing inquiry
into the causes Of our caianitiess 70 pre-
vent resort to the necessary and proper
remedies. They have always secuted this
MOTTO, and cried out against cur govern
mens, when engaged in war, until now,
ever sundered Union, country divided
against itsalf and at deadly war, one part
with another, they vocifsrously shout,
ssOwr coaAtrg, FigAt or 0roag," and de-
pounee US sstraitars'' all who will not alb
jectly subscribe to their peculiar views of
policy and praise the authors Of our woe.
But at length, as vas foreseeu By cool
ASAAeA A1cAiS 1As ga 40 @S@s A~ass@S ~
clouds of forsixn war upon the Eastern
horizon. To all present appearance the
sayensh rial Of wrath il about 10 be psur-
ed oas apon eur asvotea haads, aad, come
veal or woe, IL behooyes Us, rs Americans,
to meet the storm as becomes true sons OF
the sires of 'T6. Whether in our present
distracted and crippled coalition, we are
10 be wantonly preeipisated into a war
with Great Britain, backed, perhaps, by
France, Spain aud other European pow
$50, or whether this great calamity be
ayexted for the present, aud the great eris-
Is thus postponed, it is very clear that
the Democracy Of this country, eoncen-
tEaing around its organisation ali the
conservative elements of Union and lib
erty, devolves the duty and rests the only
hopes of bringing it safely out of the fiery
ordeal through which We have to pass
The F'impending erisis' is TOO fearful
and the resp 1nsibiiity involved in this Pc
sition too weighty, to justify the imputa-
ton OF al idle boast for political effect.
We repeat, that TO the Democracy alone.
with their immutabie principles Of consti-
tutional liberty and equality, can we look
to bring the country safely through this
terrible crisis and restore cur Govern
N eat to her former position OF power and
greatness among the nations of the earth.
Therefore, to pEeyent any misrepresen-
tation of our position, we declare that,
however we may disagree With or condemn
any particular measure Of policy taken By
the Administration, when the Govern
mans, upon matara. elaboration, shall
have taken definite position towards
neutral powers, whether the result be
peace or war, Va will waive ali such ques-
tions for che TINA being, so far as they
may affect the prosecution of the war,
and will heed no other but the above time
houored motto OF Democracy-"0UR
CoUSrET, right or wrong"
But, while war my yet be averted
there is duty no less imperative upon
all loyal men, bat more especially upo 4
those occupying, as pablic journalists, tbs
pnsiEion Of publia esasOrs AMI ssntinsls
to. yarn Of danger. II Is, by spsakln &
to the people and their Representatives
''the words Of truth and soberness," tc
give the country the benefit Of judicial
counsel, thus guarding against tide OF
popular exeitemens aad passion BY which
the Government may be hurried into ar
untenabIe, false and unfortunate posi-
ton. While aquestion ia yet open to dis
oussion and arhiGratioa-befoTe the con-
tingeuey for adopting the above motto
our Government ought to deliberate seri'
ously, and above all things else, max
sure that it is in ihs rtght. If al AM
time We could afford to be wrong ia wal
with any powes, he zAaast be hnad-m al
or fool whO will say that We can safsi!!
taxa sAaE hazard now. .f3ksfEf.s
We have reason to believe that the PEG,
ple aud the government Of England sin
cerely desire peace with the United States
IL ii eco be maintained but If thay ar,
not satisfied thai the act Of Capt. Wilkes
in foreibly OBTAINING and searching I
British mail steamer, sailing from on
neutral port to another, and taking there
from passengers, Though rebels to GU
govsrpmsnt) travelling under the protec
ton Of the British flag, was clearly righ
according TO the principles of information