, 1863-06-20


rebels South, and their helpers an
agents North, cling to their plans, an
: amid all difficulties, and in the face Of al
opposition, steadily move towards thei
object, would be worthy Of all praise, !
their ends and purposes were not so infa
NOUS. The hearts Of all good and 1oya
citizens In the State have just been relieve
from load Of gloom and anxiety, by til
noble conduct Of Governor Yates, in dis
pe1sing . Legislature which was file
with elements dangerous to the peace @
the State, and that threatened to rob an
Cheat us Of individual rights and publ
franchises, while at the same time, j
made every effort to plunge this great Com
monwealth, bound hand and foot, into th
pit Of treason, bloodshcd and annarchy
But scattered and sent home, as they were
to the just relief Of honest men, who fel
neither. their persons, their property, no
their pockets were safe while these met
were in session, they. gather again undel
new names and in larger numbers, witt
perhaps louder professions and under fairel
prcte1ts, but n truth for the same purpose
which Is to thwart, oppose and embar.
rass the Government; to hinder and Grip.
pie al its efforts to crush the rebellion; to
spread a feeling of distrust and enmity to.
wards its policy and measures, wide as
they can among the people; to render the
war odious; to prove that the officers and sol
diers who fight forit are giving their blood
and lives 10 IN unholy cause; and in cv.
cry way, and BY all means, to make it dis.
reputable, wicked and infamous to he for
the Government in this great conflict; and
while it teaches, loudly and openly to all,
Indulgence, charity and forbearance for re-
bels in arms, it will bid some, in whispers
and the dark, to lend them all the aid and
comfort they can. :
We do not, for We cannot believe, that
a course Of conduct 50 unworthy OF true
men and loyal citizens, has the consent OF
appreciation Of an the Democrats OF the
State Of Illinois. We know too much OF
the impulses and conduct Of the Demo-
cratic party Of this State, under the lead Of
sucll lllustrious men as Douglas, to sup
pose TINT It can sink SO low as to hold
commerce with traitors, and pander to
treason. But the voice Of Douglas is heard
no longer urging its resistless masses for
ward to the defense Of the Union
and the Constitution; and there have
sprung up new men, whose loyalty is not
free from suspicion, and whose principles
arc not without taint, and it is these new
men-fa1se prophets and blind guides-that
are leading the Democracy far astray from
the good old faith; that seek to bind its
strong limbs will. green withesa and to force
it to do the base work Of treason and dis
union. Unless the sound, firm and loyal
men in the Democratic ranks look well to
it. they will, before they know it, find the
party sold into slavery, and rebels and
traitors, with bit In its mouth, turning
and winding it just as they please.
lnsuuection and crime with armed and
bloody hands, and breathing forth ven
geance and slaughter, are now On their
way to rayage and deyastate the homes
and fields OF the loyal men of the North.
The Democracy Of the State of Illinois
gathered in full and solemn council over
the affairs Of the State and nation, and yet
to the eternal sha,ne Of the Democracy, it
must be said, that, though Pennsylvania is
Tayaged, and Ohio Threatened with fire
and sword BY the rebels ard traitors, it is
doubtful whether that Democracy had
most sympathy with treason or with 10y
atty; whether it would hare the rebels re-
pulsed or triumphant; whether it would
rejoicemore in the victory Of loyal men, or
in their defeat.
No one can dispute that such is the fact,
and all the true men in Illinois are troubled
and anxious, to know what the Democracy
will do. That there should be such doubt.
and such good reason tor it, is most terri
bic and bitter reproach to this State; and
it is also loud and singing rebuke 5f the
course Of the men who profess to be the
Democratic leaders and chiefs. For it isa
shame to the Democracy, from which it
would have been saved, had it now the
same true and great leaders it once had.
We're Stephen A. Douglas alive, would it
not be known plainly and clearly, at all
times and everywhere, that Illinois was for
the Union and the Constitution? The
Toice Of her Democracy would be heard in
no uncertain sound, but clear and ringing
with defiance and death to all traitors and
treason. But Douglas is gone, and the
people are cheated, misled, and blinded BY
pestlent demagogues Is then the breed
OF noble blood all gone? Cannot tile De-
OF Illinois find in its ranks ano-
ther man, true, loya1, patriotic and greats
No g7ander opportunity was ever known
Tor truly great man, to take the place Of
Douglas, and like him, put the Democracy
Of Illinois On the right road-to point the
path and lead the way. No nobler work
could be done, and none that would re-
dound more to the good Of the State, and
10 the eternal fame Of him who had the |
power and the will to do it.