Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-12-04

intoxicating self confidence that was the cause of
our earlier reverses. They had so persistently a
bused that part of the American people that liv-
ed across geographical line that they had come
at last to underrate and despise them, and Re
publican oratory summoned its hearers not TO
stern encounters, but'only to pays and pillage-
When the National flag was struck down at
Charleston. and the National capital was threat
ened by Secession, 'he North rose ike one man.
The world saw with astonishment the great up
rising of the people; Europe prejudged the issue
in our favor yet, as if smitten with blindness,
the Republican leaders seemed striving to waste
and dissipate instead of to seize and to use, the
noble material for great armies which was, with
scarcely any limit, placed at their disposal. The
soldier who offered himself for the public service
found that he must ear-wig some politician be-
fore he could be allowed the privilege to fgh: or
die for his country. Men began to say that the
war was "a Black Republican job
Politicians put at the head of troops
politicians who thought that to wear lace and to
pocket pay, was the whole duty of officer
feasting and frolicing and speechmaking took the
place of training and discipline. and while the
officer spouted and Ievelled, the rank and file
were robbed of their first right-the :ght to skill
ful guidance and instruction. The reins were
nominally put into the hands of a venerable
chieftan but every politician every able editor,
took pull at them, till they upset the coach.
| Amid shouts of .Un to Richmond the Moth
with its teeming population, found itself Outnum
bered at every point of conflict and the battle OF
Rull RIM fbat fIa Irnir had
known neither its own strength Eor the enemy's.
Where then were our legious 2 we may well
ask of it. But the Battle of Bull Run was not
without its fruits for Panic stricken selfish
ness reeking self preservation, lighted on those
who could save it. The direction of the army
passed into the hands of soldiers. a general born
here among us, restore to their due supremacy
the martial virtues thai insure success in war !;
trained and competent officers second his efforts
scores of imbeciles have been pushed out of ser
vice and this good work still progresses.
The Democratic party will sustain the men
the NFClellans, the Duponts-who have in charge
the honor of our flag on land and Let every
where the people put in office men who will not
see the war az ain become a party jrb,' Let
'he ad minstrati,n of the Government be such as
t he contest may be continued with success and
ended with honor. We way yet see the authors
Of our national troubles, those twin touentors Of
discord-the Ab olitioRsts Of the North and the
Secessonists Of the South-reduned again to the
harmless insignifcance in which Democracy long
held them. And if the event battles these hopes,
the Government that embraces the great, rich
and populous States of the North must sink to no
| humble, no degraded place among the uatIons.-
National prosperity is too nearly allied to na-
tonal dignity to suffer us to stand in the relation
| Of the vanquished TO those who can never secede
from geographical connection; with whom close
relations, warlike or amiable, must continue al
ways.
The Democratic party sought to keep peace a
mong the States with honor to them all but
while the lasts, into which the hboiitioaists
of the North AMI the 'precipitationists' of the
South kave hurried Us, let Us demand that a irI.
and wise administration of the Government = n
! evoke and honestly apply our military resources
in which the nations st famous IL q arms
have not SUPPOSED or equalled "a,
In conclusion, gentlemen, let me saJ tiI.t an,
deeply sensible of the honor of repr cuting this
pu city LOT OuC blSlfcI Is llc OtG cry our l1lil
ers knew and loved.
AS your representative l shall exercise the
right of free speech, and will strive to MAINTAIN
! for all, the cherished rights, the sui"ymeuts If
! which constitute civil liberty.
My stay here does not allow me to accept the
compliment of public dinner, to which you do
me the honor to invite me.
! To see you an other valued friends will at all
times afford the greatest pleasure TO
Respectfully and truly your ob't servant,
| CHARLES J. BIDDLE.