The mountain Democrat., 1863-08-08
Frssdoa the Property of all Parties.

MocauIey relate8 OF DAmueI johnson, q
sturdy minister Of the established church
in the reign Of the Second james, that
when brought before an Ecclesiastical
Court to be degraded from the priesthood,
for bis manly defense Of the church from
kingIy innovations, he exclaimed: "yOu
are taking away my gown, because have
fried to keep your gowns upon your
backs"
Do those who habitually denounce the
holders Of political opinions adverse to
their own, and who threaten violence and
destruction to the person and property Of
opponents whom they cannot answer, ever
seriously refectI Do they forget when
they indulge their indignation BY the ut
teranee Of denuneiatiOns and threats, that
they are attacking . right and custom
which insures equally to their benefit and
that of their opponents; that the rights Of
freemen, the right to criticiSe any and all
acts Of the public servants, sheSld be Is
dear to them as to any other citizen that
they have as much interest in its preser.
vation-if they really intend to preserve
our Republican institutiOns-as those who
are by circumstances now made the SOL
diers Of the cause? Do they remember
that Democrats now ask nothing for them
selves, WHICH does not equally inure to
them! That it is to save them from evil
consequences Of Odious, unnecessary and
dangerous laws, as much as to themselves,
for which they protest and dlaborF Do they
reflect that the thousands who haEe been
torn from their homes and suffered long
months ofagonies because they chose to
exercise q right, which, for hundreds Of
years, has not been denied to any Of his
race, that they we're martyrs for him and
bis cause that they suffered for right in
which any Republican is as much interest
ed as any Democrat? That they were
the victims of violation Of American liber-
ty and not merely Of Democratic liberty :
Partisanship in the flush of power may
scorn and do them little reverence. Even
so did the rabble in the presence Of Him
who died to save them. And as there
came resurrection to Him, SO the time
will come, through much tribulation per-
haps, when Republicans will recall the
memories Of these heroes Of a hurried year
with very different feelings from those Of
the present. Such has been the history
of all the martyrs Of the people. And a
day will come when Republicans, in their
agony perhaps, will call upon Democrats
for aid to regain for them the freedom
which they willfully lost in endeayoring to
enslave their party opponents. Such has
been the history of all parties, who have
allowed passion to usurp the place ofrca-
son. Do they ever reflect what the mu-
tations OF a few years may produce? Do
they remember that ten years ago the
Demecratic party was as strong, and seem
ed to have as long lease Of life before It,
as the most sanguine can now hope for the
party in powerI Can they reasonably ex
pect Of the future more than the present
has given the Democracy Can they not
see that day will come, il the Republic
lives, that will bring with it change Of
administration, and in time o transfer Of
the party now out Of power, to a place in
power? Do they not remember that the
builder of the French GuillOtine, in the
due course of time, dropped his own head
into the bloody basket? Do they renem-
Der that though to-day the stones Of Forts
Warren and Lafayette encircle prisoners
uf State, Of one faith, that years hence the
same piles may still stand, but with differ
ent jailors2 DO they reflect that he who
is banished eyife to-day, may yet De the
Chief Magistrate Of State, or Of the Ma
ton? When they see the pale face Of q
Wall in the Senate of the United States,
do they remember how he came there, and
where he came from? Do they know that
though Republican may declare martial
law to-day, that the time may come when
they may hear their own sentence pro-
nounccd from the drum-head by different
lips?
Do they remember that those whom
they now stigmatiSe as outlaws" may
yet live to make the laws" Of the land
biz with the sting Of retaliation ? That
the precedents they now arc making
may point. the finger to their own graves
Human nature is not dead, nor does il
change. The world, in the six thousand
years Of its existence, has taught greaI
undertaking lesson, and blind, indeed, is
he wLo has learnrd nothing from it,
"The rice o! liberty is eternal vigilance. v
Because the sun rises and sets in due
cour e, and the harvests come, and the
great world around them is tranquil. and
they see nothing, hear nothing, must they
believe nothing? All, even so they prated
for the same reason three years ago, before
the thunders Of civil war were heard in
the land. And sd they, against the de,
nders Of their own freedom, cry out
q" hang him, Danish him." even as the
ecclesiastical tools Of James stripped the
robes from the back of him whose only
crime was in trying to keep their robes
upon the owners shoulders.
california Express.