Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-08-15
aNistellaneous.

ATHENS, PENN.

4 ne ONO state oOdrndI makes great
professions of loyalty and love for the
American Union. 1t is not only full of
patriotic professions with respect to itself,
but it has no hesitation in imputing
diSloyalty and treason to those who have,
and who are now, the most steadlast
friends of the American Union. The
impudence of that concern in this respect.
is without parallel, and its deceit and
hypocrisy is extraordinary. In view Of
the conduct of this paper, and the TACT
that it has never on any occasion, since
it uttered the most ultra disunion scnti
ments, made any explanation or apology
for its course, we deem it proper to oc-
casionally ventilate one of its leaders, in
opposition to the American Union, in
which it asked its readers, "Why should
free men deplore the loss of the Union?"
The authenticity of the article is not dis
puted, and more than that no Republican
editor or politician in Ohio rebukeG it at
the time, or at any time since, for its
reasonable doctrines. The article below
will be found conspicuously inserted in
the editorial column of the Ohio State
Journal, the central organ of the Republi-
can party, of the 9th of March, 1861,
at the time that Lincoln had decided to
abandon Fort Sumter to the rebels
Union men may rely upon it that the
article is genuine, and it may be found in
that paper Of the date referred to. Here
it is:
The UNioN-NoT REPUBLICAN INsT1TU-
TIoNs-oN TRIAL.
The erroneous impressions of many of
our own people that Republican or Demo
cratic institutions are on trial, and that
the fall Of the American Union carries
down with it, not only these institutions,
but the hopes of freedom everywhere, has
been generally accepted by the outside
world, and we now find curious spectators
in Europe looking intensely on what they
suppose to be the force struggle of De-
mocracy for life. Especial interested
are our English Cousins in this matter;
and the London Times has deemed it ex-
pedient to send one of its crack letter
writers to report the proceedings Of the
trial. Mr.. Russell, so superior in mere
objective writing; brilliant in description
of striking scenery and the horrid realities
of war, will, wo are convinced, find but
little material for his florid pen in the
annals of American dissolution. 1t
would be as practicable to trace the min
ute details of the progress of disease in
the human frame, and eventual death, as
to write vivid description of our national
troubles and their prospective termination
in permanent disunion. Articles can be
written on the various questions growing
ont of our troubles, but mere description
of these troubles, never. l.r... .T
We started ont by saying the impress
sion that Democratic institutions are on
trial in this country is erroneous. SO it
is. 1t is heterogeneous Union which has
which, failing to further subserve the
ends Of its creation, is about to be cast
aside like the body, which some immort-
al soul has worn out and thrown off, to
seek new and more lasting tenement.-
The Democratic idea in America has out
lived the American Union. That is all.
The life, vitality, soul of this idea is
duOul 10 DUISI llUln ltS CHINSullS lDl
investing some more effective vehicle of
action--wil run that career of power in
civilizing and refining crude world,
which we believe is its destiny under
Heaven. Politicians and dotards may
gable and weep tears of imbeciity over
the breaking up of an unnatural compact,
but reason, justice and humanity will ac-
cept it as one Of those cheering evidences
that Providence is working good to the
creatures of earth through the progress OF
events.
A rigid analysis of American patriot
ism discovers but little gold. The en-
thusiasm of the masses for the Union i
more or less Fictitious. The Union ha
been apothesized by politicians for tbei
own selfish aggrandizement 1t has beer
made their rallying cry, uutil the unthink
ing had become to invest it with certain
degree of sacredness. But truth ha
reached the popular heat, and intelligenc,
the popular mind, and the masses see tina
the natural giant strength of physica
America and the measure of freedom en-
joyed by our people under the Constitu
tion, properly directed. have made II
what we are in spite of the Union. 1t il
free labor and free thought that hav