The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-09-10
nenlOCraCN.
From the Kssomi Democrat.

volume. It's last cnaptet Is now ucluS rap
idly enacted A few more months, weeks,
or perhaps days, will number it eternally
with things of the past 1t has become
fact settled beyond contradiction that treas
on exists i'm the North--in the very heart of
the loya portion of the nation-and that it
is crouching and sheltered in the relic of
that party. Just as the bauished brigand flies
to the cover of some old ruin for obscurity
and projections Just as those lOathsOme
things which feed upon corruption, frequent
organizations which are in the last stages OF
decay. The discovery, in the midst OF the
loyal States. of that latest, lowest and vllest
form which treason has assumed-the Sc
cret order of the Knights of the Golden Cir
cle--must speedily call for the crushing
hand of the Government, and its identifica-
ton with the Democratic party necessarily
involves it in destruction.
| The student of republican institutions
will find in the history of that party an in
valuable study. Lessons arc here furnished
which ought to secure government, which
| has learned them from hard experience, as
ours has, from the repetition of such disas.
\ ters as we are now laboring under, for cen
tures to come. The fact that the hcresy of
secession had its origin during Democrat
| ic administration and in branch of the
| Democratic party, that it was nurtured and
grew under the protection of influences
which that party tolerated, if it did not en-
courage, for thirty long years, and that it
eliminated in open rebellion and disorgani-
zatiou in the last days Of that party's pow
er, must fix without so much as question,
the verdict which the future will pronounce
upon its character and its memory.
! By these remarks it must not he under.
stood that we deny to the Democratic patty,
i'm any Of its stages, the possession of many
virtues Far from it. Its origin was uu-
uuestiouahly pure and full of promise--its
| early and much of its subsequent career will
fill many of the brightest pages of orr ma
tional rccord-tacts to which alone can be
attributed the unwonted tenure of its pow
er. Even to late period it mustered in its
ranks many honorable and worthy names.
Nor need we he surprised at this, when We
recolcct theIprestigo of its former glo.-
ry and the many brilliant associations which
its name had clustered about it.
An enumeration of the distinguished indi-
vduals who. from time to time, have aban-
doned its connection, would be full of inter
est. First in order. we have such men as
Sias Wright and Thomas II. Benton, men
who had fought the hard battles of the par
ty in the earlier and better days, until its
principles had become so thoroughly fixed
in their hearts that even cherished associa-
tions and political hopes were surrendered
in preference. When they saw the party
had begun 10 abandon its first principles
they abandoned it. Next IN order we have
Lyman Trumbull, Preston King, Nice-Presi
dent IIamin, and q host of others of equal
influence, who, mt a later period deserted
the party on account of still more tlagrant
abandonment principle. Last OF all, when
the rebellion broke out ard the Cuion de.
mandcd the undivided allegiance of all true
men, many persons of honest purpose, hui
of unusually strong party attachments, who
had clung to it until that hour--of whom
we might mention Major General Benjamin
+. Butler and Daniel s. Dickcusom, as distin
guished examples, turned their backs upon
it forever Since that time the organization
has been in the hands of men of the Noilar
dgham, Bright and Melary school, who, il
mot actual traitors, prize party, and the po
sitions il affords, above country. Ever
Douglas, that strong and chiyalrous partiznl
gladiator. before his DEATH was Virtually
driven from its ranks, having lost the sup
port of its controlling minds.
One important coincidence will not es
cane the observation of the student of the
history of that party; namely, that the poin
at which its visible decline began,s the poin
at which the organization of the first polit
ical anti-slavery party was effected. From
that period the fall of the one correspondeC
10 the rise of the other. Nor is this at al
10 be wondered at, when the cause of th'
downfall of the former is understood.
The Democratic party, in the day of III
ipride. became the victim of misplaced con
tidcnce. 1t extended its supportto to slavery
which proved a parasite twining itself a
bout it as the vine twines round the tree
While growing in its shadow and strength
ened by it's support, it continued gradual.
to infuse the poison Of its views into all o.
its parts. until its very life currents were
infected. From that hour its doom wa
sealed. Branch after branch fell OF, unit
, now it stands broken, tottering trunk
shorn of its glory. The principle OF its vi
talty is gone. The worm is at its heart.
There have undoubtedly been many per
sons who. until very recent date, have fond
| " hoped for the regeneration OF the ole
Democratic organization and its restoration
to mower. All such, since the disclosure o
the connection of many Of its acknowledged
leadera with treasonahIe aSsO Citations, sucI
as have recently been made in Illinois au'
several other Northern States. must forcve
rclinquish any such dream-even il il coul'
be ceansed of active traitors. confidence il
the party would be lost with the masses O
} loyal men. Suspicion has attached to II
q which in politics is as damuing rs convic
, ton. It's record has been spoiled.
q That the same will be retained and the OF
gani2atiom attempted to he carried on fo
a period longer is possihle--cven probable
. That such should be the case IS pcrhGn
+ even desirable since under present auspice
: aud management, there will he no liahlit
. of misunderstanding its purpose and the ma
terial of which il will be composed, and
NAV serve as q useful means of distinguish
ing the true men of the country on the on
, side. from the traitors. open and secret, an
) those who are passive and neutral, on tn
other. Made up of the disat1ected and tn
: disapponted. it may drag on II precariou
tenure for time, until finally borne down b
the ascumulating weight of public odium
Whether this period comes sooner or late
/ is probably of very little consequence t
the country. since the party as such is hence
, forth virtually divested of al power, elthe
for usefulness or mischief. \ knowlcdg
of its purpose neutraliZcs its sting.
After all there is little to be mourned l
the death of any mere party. In itself it
.nothing. The principles it embodies al
Icyerything. Wien these depart II Is bette
dead than alive Parties are the mcr
waves upon the surface, principles are tl
enduring depths beneath. Two remarEabl
dclusions have prevailed TO give the Den
ocratic organization much of its strength
latter times One was that, as a mere part.
il possessed principle Of inherent strenSt
the other, that il could embody discordar
and ant,gonistic principles, and yet pr
serve its unity. Both of these views bi
fair to be speedily dispeled. The test
loyalty dissipates all such ideas Whe
taeason enters, every virtue flies.
HOrace GreeIcy's Response T.
the President.
From the Tribune of Tuesday,
DEAR Sir: Although l did not anticipate nc
Gnrnnar laItar nnlel