Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-03-19
All the People of all tho Loyal States
Stand or Fall Together.

/ IN community where there are party
divisions Of long standing, men frequently
come to feel that their interests arc the same
as those of the party with which they are
connected and thus whatever promotes its
success, or depressss its rival, is necessarily
and for that reason, personal benefit to
themselves. 1t their party were always
right, and the opposing one always
wrong, there might be some ground for
such notion. But this state of things we
must suppose to be Of very rare occurrence
And even If it were ever to exist, it would
be better for man to consider that, how
ever pure may be the motives of his party,
and however wise its plans, the real object
to be secured is still not the ascendency Of
that party, but the good of the whole coun-
try; embracing tho opponents of his own
political associations as well as its members
1t is exceedingly important that this truth
should not be lost sight Of Forgetfuness
of it has been one of the main evils to which
we have been exposed through the pre-
valencc of party conflicts among us. We
arc well aware that the mischief has not
been without its compensations. Nor have
we much expectation that these strifes ever
cease for any considerable time, while we
continue to be free people. And since
party connections Of some sort are likely to
be existing in more or less of power, it is
binding upon every citizen to keep it in
mind what their purpose is, or ought to be.
A party is not an end, but means. 1t is
not something to be served, but it is some-
thing to serve with. 1t is not in being for
its own sake, but fol the sake of the whole
country. In just so far as this is forgotten
or slighted, it becomes a perversion. 1t
loses its power for good and works nothing
but mischief.
There never was time when the Ameri-
eau people needed to understand this matter
more than now. We could have wished,
and did wish, that party lines might be for
the time swept away in the general move.
ments Of all good citizens to uphold and
maintain the Government itself. We have
no comment now to offer on the counsels
that have caused it to be different. But it
is to be said that our political discussions
must be conducted in different spirit from
that by which they have often been marked
in-the past, or We are ruined nation If
we are to have two great parties, with only
blind and reckless hostility between them,
it will not lie in the power of either to
carry us safely through the perils that are
upon US.
The temper in which we talk politics has
come thus to be of consequence 1t ought
to be done with an evident regard for the
good, not Of any party, but of the entire
country, and with manifest wish to know
what are really tho proper measures to be
taken, and with readiness to accept every
valuable suggestion, from whatever quarter
it may come. There are men no doubt to
met with who ought to be talked 10 severe
ly, aud not otherwise-men whose loud
mouthed folly should be sienced, or whose
malignant treachery should be denounced
with as much Of energy and of terror as
there is in speech. But the most of our
people are not of these classes. They are
neither tIaitorous, nor conceited beyond all
reason. They are open ts argument, and
ready to be convinced. Or if they are not,
it is because Of this very spirit of party that
we wish to rebuke. And if any would try
to persuade them he must not show that he
has the same bad disposition himself.
1t is time for broad views, and for gen.
erous words among citizens. Our interests
are identical, whatever our opinions may be-.
We cannot think of it too often. We are
IN one ship together; and part of us can
not escape if the rest go down. If the
course which our neighbor would take is
the best one, it will be the best for us as we'll
as for him. If ours appears to be the best,
he ought also to make the like reflection
This is all so plain that 1t would seem as if
it need not be said, yet there is occasion
enough to repeat it. When an important
measure is adopted by the General Govern
ment, one man is glad and another is angry,
When the news OF an election comes, one
hurrahs and another is sullen. But in
either case, there Is the same cause alike
for both, OF satisfaction or regret. The
business has not gone we'll for one and badly
for the other. Neither the misfortunes nor
the prosperity of the coming time will dis
tiuguish between them. In ordinary seasons
Of political contest, indeed, there may be
some ground for difference. The mere sue
cess Of ones party alone may bring him
some advantages, and there may be no great
effect produced upon the interests that are
common to us all 1t is not so now. More
weighty issues are upon u.s. Partisan pre-
ferinent will not hold man up from such
disasters IS are to be apprehended. Poiitic.
al defeat will not depress him in the midst
Of . triumph so great as may be hoped for
and achieved. If the building stands ut its
hight, it will open It's s'shelter for us all. IL
1t falls, the tumbling stones will not choose
among US. If there are burdensome taxes,
the collector will not ask for our politics. If