The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-11-10

The C0umtry,sn StruggIe--.Af Few
Words to Heung Men, -5veT
.lr9m 1i4cN a From the New York Times
Old Copperhsads are natural enough, bu
young ones arc monstositiss. II is hard for q
man TO rice who for years has cringed aud
crept, but young men can easily stand erect
The party spirit which has once saturated
stick in, but II takes time TO saturate-- more
time than young men have had Vet the
genuine Copperhead is made only by one ol
these two-either the seivilo spirit or party
spirit. .7nga mni.sW 'aalildb0oW
BY the servile spirit we mean the constan,
disposition to yield to the dictstiou of the
Slave Power With all the old Copperhead
politicians, it was habit formed before the
rebellion. 'uThey had gradually come to feel
that the very first public duty of a Northern
man was to comply with any demands of The
South { Far be 1t fromfus TO say that this
feeling did not often spr DO from patriotic mo-
tivos. The meanest habits frequently begin
in the best intentions We have seen quite
enough Of the world to understand how i,uo
it's, as Easkine says, that faul 8 may some.
times b. found to grow out Of virtues and
very many Of our heaviest offences TO have
been grated by human imperfect ion upon the
best and kindest affections But this respect
able origin dose not make the fault itself al, y
itheless a faalt. Makinr The most cha....s. = ~
ALLOWANCE, the fact still stands that long be-
forc rebellion, very many Of onr public mon
had contracted habit Of sacrificing all their
better promptinga to the be heste of the
Slave Power, and bad thus gradually parted
with their Independence, until at last not the
slightest vestage was left. Their spirit it--wheth.
er they realized il or uot-had become com.
pletely servle, In political life they were as
absolutely ject TO Southern masters as is
any Southern slave in social life. But the
saddest thing about it is that though the le.
belion bas for the time broken ali political
connection with the South, great numbers of
them still retain the old hsbitual sevility.
There is cons ant impulse 10 do that which
they imagine will be pleasing o the eyes of
their old oversee. Wepersume that many
yield to this without any idea that it comes at
all from the force Of old habit; and that
many, too, with such idea, honestly, though
in vain struggle against it. But the thing
itself is still the same. II is the servile spirit
that prevails. The extent to which this spirit
still operates in our Northern politics is not
appreciated. II is the real animus of all the
opposilionS to civil onactments and military
politics bearing against Slavery Just as,
formerly, il would not do TO offend the slave
holders, no matter what principle was involv-
ed, Just so now.ifcN s{t ifrI NsglozsA
D Ofparty spirit as an alemenl of Copperbead.
ism, it is hardly necessary to speak Every.
body sees it. A very considerable proportion
Of the old Democratic party are still held to.
geather by it, and Systematically oppose the
President, simply because he was originally
elected by a different patty. They make no
account of tho, fact that the Government is
now struggling for its existence, and that, its
cop'titoted authorities have claim upon the
support Of all the peopc without distinction.
They put the interests Of party before the in
trests of the country, and concern themselves
far more about getting their men into, power
than about aiding the men now in power TO
overthrow the rebellion. The Administration
makes its appeal to the loya! spirit Of ell cit.
izens. 1t gives its confidence 70, all, and con.
fers its trusts and honors without regard to
old party associations. The poblcsl portion, Of
the old Democratic party have wortbiy re-
sponded TO this spirit OF The President, and sup
ported him faithfully and most effectively.
Party trammels have not held them for an 10
slant from their public duty. But the other
portion haye not iisen at all from theit cid
party level. They look at everything from
the old party points Of view, and measure
everything by the old party standards. The
Democratic party not being 10 power, they
consider opposition their ,regnlar business;
and they follow this business with little or no
regard to the bearings it may have upon the
struggle going on between the Government
aud the rebellion. No HISTORICAL fact is more
certain than that this course Of conduct has
very often resulted in giving positive aid and
comfort to the rebellion; and yet they have
none the less persisted in i. II Is this self.
seeking, Jealous. sordid, malignant party spirit
that has generated the worst sort of faction
which has existed. Without it Copperbed-
ism, as we understand the thing, could not be
at all. II it be,the old servility to Slavery
that bcstows the creeping nature, the virus
comes from this untimely party spirit. n
But it is impossible to excuse young man
for giving way to any such influence. It has
been bis lot 10 come upon the stage when the
old order Of things is passing away. Slavery
which used to lord it so, is last dying death
of unmiligateG many. 1t ia easy enough TO
understand now an old vassal Of it should bow
before il with all his former dread, but that a
man should now, ia It's present condition, bo.
gin to doso, Is marvellous beyond all measure.
So, too, ills intolligbie enough how it is
that SO many old politicians still cling to their
old party associations without regard to the
awful necessities and obligations of this new
period, but all reason and al charity are alike
bafflsd 10 the endesvor TO find an apology Tor
such public faithlessncss in young man who
never passed out Of hisparty bositiate, 1t is
not for those new in life TO beihe victims Of old
habits. They are free 10 be governed purely
by the generous sentiments and noble impul q
ses which belong to the period Of youth-such
sentiments and impulses as have sent hundreds
Of thousands Of their class into the battle fe ID
to stake their very life for their coantfy.o
The young who opposes the Government
ia this crisis win stain bis nsine for life. II
will be fold OF hin, be may depend upon il,
10 bis dying day. His dishonor will be as
much tho more grievoas aud bitter as The fu-
tufe hopes a larger aid mightier. q II does
not so much matter to the mn in more ad-
vsnced life whose ,fesr has been already, 10
greater or less measures realized. II pleas
ant to know that the immense majority Of