Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-12-16
Davenport, Dec. l4th, 1861.
NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER ONE.
Destroy your foes or convert them into friends"
An enlightened humanity will never
adopt, except for self-preservation, the
general practice Of the first alternative.
Especially should this doctrine be
avoided when, as is now the case IN the
United States Of North America, hos.
tli,ics exist between people Of a demo-
cratic republic.
While it is our right and true policy
to oppose any disintegration OF this Re-
public, it is equally requisite, as soon as
peace and order are restored, that every
individual shall be secured in the pos
session Of equal rights. Also, in districts
n which the most fragrant enmity is
manifested towards the government,
this less charitable alternative must be
eschewed, in as much as the now most
infected districts, with their pretended
deadliest foes, must OF necessity, under
such form OF government, make
complementary part of the country.
To convert our foes into friends would
be consummation ardently desired
by every lover of his race. To this
end we should, in this our national
struggle. both Individually and as a peo-
lie, avoid all irritating acts, threats,
abusive language, harsh usage, punish
ment or retaliation on prisoners, as be-
ing unbecoming in strong though in
suited people.
Those who advocate, or the leaders
who seek conflicts on large or small
scale, are not conducting to the ultimate
attainment Of permanently friendly
relation, tor every mutation or loss OF
men on either side tends only to in
crease animosities. Government should
neither restrict, nor permit mob violence
to interfere with, the great principles
on which our republican Institutions
are bascd-freedom of speech and free
dom of the press. There should be no
Instructions to public meetings of the
people, but vigllant scrutiny OF all Sc
cret assembages. The people should
be appealed TO and solicited to defend
tho government, with the assurance OF
prompt monthly pay at fair rates to
those in active service-the commits
stoned officers to share the fare and re-
ccivc not more than double the pay Of
the privates.
The people by their prompt response
to the call Of the Government would
demonstrate that they were its main
support.
The burial OF all political differences
is required, and the abandonment of
sectional and national jealousies, re.
membering always, that Nationality is
to the human family what sectarianism
is to religion, what sefishness is to the
individual,- narrow minded sentiment
destructive of the unity of common
brotherhood.
With general acquiescenee in these
sentiments there would be no difficulty
in organizing Of the able-bodied male
population, from twenty to forty five
years, an army that would outnumber
the opposers of this Government ten
fold.
This mighty people thus represented
in force, might then, through its repre-
sensations. magnanimously proclaim
general amnesty after an unconditional
surrender, with the agreement that
national council should be convened to
adjust and avert any future cause of ma.
tional disagreement by providing the
means of indemnifying the slave owners,
and fol gradual emancipation of the
slaves, SO that at the no very distant re.
turn Of our national jubilee, the doc
trines OF the Declaration OF Independ-
ence may become glorious reality.
Davenport, Nov. 3Oth, 1861.
NUMBER II.