Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-10-10

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recur often to first principles. First prin-
,iples, SO far IS they govern the human con-
duct, having been once learned are very ap-
to be laid aside or little thought Of They
bear the same relation to right thought and
right action that the alphabet does 70 all SUBJ
sequent requirements in literature. We use
it upon all occasions without thinking of it
without acknowledging our Indebtedness to
it. And we are sometimes disloyoI to it.
Whoever mis-pells word is disloyal to the
alphabet. Whoever overlooks or misapplies
a first principle is disloyal to all principles
Loyalty is due to principles; is due to the
Government; is due to justice, and is due to
all that is good.
Now these propositions will be at once ad
mitted by all, but when we come to make a
practical application of them, how many Of us
will be found to be disloyal. Loyalty, con-
sidered in reference to the Government, i'm
plies love, obedience, truth, fidelity. Do we
all love the Government? Do we all yield a
hearty and cheerful obedience to its require
ments? Are we all true to our plighted faith,
and is there no object which we allow to quail
ify our love, and to render obedience task
instead of pleasure? If all who shall be
found wanting in the particulars referred to
fail in some degree to discharge their whole
duty to their country, and are therefore
blameworthy if you please
shall be said of those who systematically hate
and malign the government which they should
love; who never render obedience, except
upon compulsion, and whose dreams and
waking hours are spent in endeavors to make
others believe that the Government is I'M
worthy of their support? Are such practices
loyal or reasonable? And are the persons
who indulge in them loyal citizens or are they
traitors? These are plain questions, and ev-
cry one can answer them for himself. If a
person adopts and pursues policy, which if
adopted and pursued by all would end in the
overthrow of the Government, is it harsh to
tell the truth of such one, and say that he
is laboring in the interest of those who are do
ing the same thing in the South Is it right
for one or dozen persons to do that which
all could not do without destroying the Gov
eminent?
| The MahonY Democrats oppose the Govern
ment in the most important measure it has
adopted since the breaking out Of the rebel
lion. They are laboring to induce others to
follow their example. Ifthey induce sufi-
cient number of the people to think and act as
they do, they will subvert the Government
If they do not succeed, it will not be their
fault sit SANDER of such persons to say
that they are trying to do the same thing that
Jeff Davis is? If they were in the pay and
under the control of Jeff Davis, (mind, we do
not say they are,) could they more effectual-
ly serve him?
"Choose ye this day whom ye will serve. "
If Abraham Lincoln represents the Govern
ment of the United States, show yourselves
loyal by serving and yielding a willing obe'
dience to the behests of that Government
If Jefferson Davis represents the Government
of the United States and your service is due
to him, be men and yield him that service
openly which you now render him secretly
and under false pretenses.
Be loyal to truth. Take a stand some
where, and let your light be so decided as te
enable your acquaintance to tell which sid.
you are on.
A Missionary of the Golden Cir
Gle.
Is it true that short time ago mission
airy of the Golden Circle came to our city
and was closeted for an hour or two with thu
Mahony candidate for Congress? Is it true
that papers were made out for his arrest
and that the only reason why he was not ar
rested was hes.' heard something drap," and
left suddenly for parts unknown? Judge
Thayer can answer these question. Majol
O'Connor made such statement, publicly
in his speech, the other night, and it was no
contradcted 1t has not been contradicted
and we don't believe it can be. Why was i
that the missionary called on Judge Thaye
alone? Why was it that they were closetet
together? Was it because they understood
each others Because they are engaged in
: the same cause9 Are they both serving tn
same master? What proposition did they
discuss? Was it the constitution, as inter
preted by the Courier and Jeff. Davis? o.
> was it the niger, as understood by the same
worthless? We want light on these subjects
The people want light on them. If we hav'
in our midst man so lost to honor, so los
to patriotism, so lost to gratitude to country
which has fostered and fed him and gave hin
all the consequence he has, as to turn round
Ehip or hour of need, and consort and com
bine with her enemies, for her destruction
that man should be Stunned as deadly
pestilence by all good citizens. Have vi
such q man? Is it the editor of the Cour
Ter? Is he candidate for Congress p
Whose candidate is he? Does he represen
the sentiments ofany appreciate number o
the citizens of Iowa? Does he represent tn
"North side'' or the "South side ~ Does h
love the things that Jeff. Davis does, or does
he love the things that Jefferson hates p
, When men love the same things, entertain
the same views, denounce the same things
and worship the same God. (slavery,) it may
well be said and proclaimed that they live fol-
the same purpose, and are looking for the
same results. Yet, how noble is the one who
acts openly, when compared with the one
who DISCUSSES himself with thin cloak Of
loyalty in order to deceived 1t is truly the
, case Of one stealing the livery of heaven to
serve the devil in. 'rs