The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-08-07
The Two COntending Parties in Amer
ica Briefly Reviewed

a ML.nH 49, "M. #NH.aHML. NL III
It cannot be successfully denied,
or legitimatcly demonstrated, that
the once great, united, and pros
porous States Of America, are not
now in the tlroes of CONFUSION,
and far advanced on the road to
ruin. We have 80 often, and, as
we think. im!.partially and clearly
shown, In the columns of the Press,
the originating cause of the present
and deplorable American war, as
to preclude the necessity of our
saying a word on that par. of our
editorial, this week. Some men
of intelligence and worth, assert
that neither the North nor the
South, is the real cause of this
greatest of modern wars, but that
it is the result Of a physical and
political tester or sore, which has
grown in the shape of slavery, in
and with the growth of the Fed.
eral States, from the day they be-
came Independent of Great Britain.
until now. And the gentlemen
who take this view of the cause Of
the war, declare that they do not
blame either Abraham Lincoln or
Jefferson Davis for our present
trials, so much as the institution
of domestic slavery. Now it must
be self-evident to every rejecting
mind, that the institution of sla-
very in the United States has fol-
thirty-three years been a source OF
contention in the Senate House in
Washington, as well as in churches
and private families.
The proposition may be stated
thus Slavery has existed fol
many years in the United States
the Southern portion of these
States have defended the institution
of slavery; the antl-slavery o.
Abolition portion of the Northern
States have contended that SLAYER,
is a sin, a great crime, and conse
quently, an otfense to God, and
violation of the moral law. Thi
state of things has continued eve
since the days of Washington.
is our honestly formed opinlor
that the great and illustriou
Washington, and his noble ban
of associates, did not look upo
slavery in the same light in whic
, it is looked upon at the presen
day !; still, we do not say that the.
were the advocates of slavery
neither did they dictate to an.
State, as to whether slavery shoul'
or should not be abolished. TIL
thing was left to its fate-to groN
or decay, as future circumstance
might order or decree. 1t is deepl
to be regretted, that Washingto
did not pronounce, unequivocalI
and distinctly, his own opinion {
slavery in all the States; but h
had enough to do. He was til
Joshua Of his age, and wrougl
wonders IN lis day. He opened u
} a Canaan for the oppressed CT o
I lands, and we bless his memuT,
7 and assert that "the memory of IL
righteous shall be held in everlas
ing remembrance" We earnest
and most feelingly regret thai v
cannot add, that greater than Il
immortal George Washington
now in the Presidential chair b,
a~las-alas, for America, and for IL
civilized world, we have not
Washington, a Jackson, or the i
IS comparable Stephen A. Douglf
to guide us through the Jord,
re which we must ford, or to lead
lie to reduce the Jericho which stan
re as a wall of BRASS before us. v
s, have Abraham Lincoln, a mi
h managed war, and a terrible n
tional debt, for our comfort.
10 There never was q nation befo
k. on this earth, in such a horrit
y. predicament as America is plac
~ in at this ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS