Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-17
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There is a great deal of affected patriotism
nowadays. Men who have been lifelong parti-
sans and recipients of party favors have suddenly
become very much concerned as to the necessity
of sustaining the Government. away with
party creeds, away with party conventions" say
these now Jealous no-party patriots, 1--WE will 60
into no purity convention until we have coun-
try" Such expressions are regarded just now by
jealous Republicans as the quintessence of pa
triotism. The principles and policy which give
value to a, or the, Government must no longerbe
discussed, say these fppant patriots, until we
know whether we have ga country" This class
appear to be concerned solely about securing or
continuing a Government with little or no regard
as to its character. England, Ireland and Scot
land have a Government; so have France Spain,
Austria and Turkey, but they are Governments
Of oppression to the producing classes 1t has
been the freedom from public burdens, a cheap
Government and the consequent increased COM
pensation to industry over that of the nations we
have alluded to, that has attracted emigration
from them to our own. The Irishman and the
German have left their fatherland and made
reason that they could better their social condition
by securing larger compensation for their labor
This is the consideration that has attracted
to our shores the great body OF our adopted cite
zens. When this attraction ceases, immigration
will STOP tor men viii not leave the land Of their
birth, the homes Of their fathers unless to better
their own condition and that of their children.
We have country and we have Government
We say let us maintain and preserve them upon
the principles under which We have prospered and
progressed in an unparalleled degree. We are
not struggling merely for Government, for that
we have beyond question. We have Presi
dent, Cabinet. Congress in session. vast
navy, an army of six hundred thousand men in
the field. and bastiles where men are confined for
opinions sake upon the mere ipse Dirt of those
in power, and yet we hear the cant. away with
party ereeds, and party platforms, and party
prejudices, until we have a country" A little
more than year ago a statesman stood up in the
Senate and uttered whitening rebuke to the
demagogues who, under such pleas, were affect
ing patriotic devotion to their country beyond
the men who we're striving to preserve the Union
as it was, with all the blessings it had conferred.
Never were uttered truer or more eloquent SEN
timents, and we reproduce them now as equally
applicable to the present condition of affairs as
when they were spoken:
But we are told and we hear it repeated every
where, that we must find out whether we have
got government Have we a government
Is the question; and are told we must test that
question by using the military power to put down
all disconnected spirits Sir, this question, Have
government has been propounded BY every
tyrant who has tried to keep his feeton the necks
OF the people since the world began. When the
Barons demanded Magma Charta from King John
at Runnymede he exclaimed, Have we a Gov
ernmentY' and called for his army to put down
the Disconnected Barons When Charles | at
tempted to collect the ship money in violation Of
the Constitution Of England, and in disregard OF
the rights of the people. and resisted by
them, he exclaimed, Have we government
We cannot treat with rebels; put down the trai
tors; We must show that we have government
When James III was driven from the throne of
England for trampling ON the rights of the people,
he called for his army, and exclaimed, LET us
show that we haves a Government When
George III called upon his army to put down the
rehellion in America, Lord North cried Justify,
"No compromise with traitors; let US demon
strate that We have Government" When in
1913 the people rose upon their tyrants all over
Europe and demanded guarantees for their rights.
every crowned head exclaimed, Have we a Gov.
ernment7" and appealed to the army to vindicate
their authority ard to enforce the law.
Sir. the history of the world does not fail TO
condemn the folly. weakness and wickedness Of
that Government which drew its sword upon It's
own people when they demanded guarantees for
their rights. This cry, that we must have a Gov
eminent, il merely following the example Of the
besotted Bourbon, who never learned anything
by misfortune, never forgave an injury, never for
got affront-