The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1863-12-31
n NEW YEAR.
1--WE take no note Of time,
But from its loss,
To give il then o tongue

leort. II speaks IN every day, ano
avs that life Is shor,3. It speaks !,
N every week, aud bids us seek "
things. 1t speaks in every q
fear. ooh! give us Lord an ear, to .
hear the truth it tells" Neighbors, !.
readers aud friends of all parties, :
permit us to remind yon of mercies !
Of blessings abused, and
of duties neglected during the year
1868. If we have had q deficient
harvest of Indian corn and pota.
toes, we have had a good wheat
crop, and many other blessings, to
add to our domestic happiness and
comfort. 4..s IA
But while we have been en-
riched and made happy in the
enjoyment Of our blessings, a large
portion Of our best and hravest
men have been on the battle field,
exposed to hunger, danger and
death. Tens Of thousands of these
bravo soldiers have persisted during
the year which is now winding up
its last message to mankind, i'll
tones Of awful thunder. We have
had nearly three years war, but it
is the year 1868 that presents to us
. the most hea~rt-rending and gloomy
picture of the field of slaughter,
j., ever witnessed IN modern times
We need not harrow up your SOUL
with details of battles fought-o
! tens of thousands slain-of womel
made widows-of children mad
fathcrless-ofhomc made desolate
These are facts with which you ar
oil familiar. But oh think of tn
future; yes, the future. Man ha
his future-the earth has its futur,
y Wars, slaughters, and suffering
'e all have their future. 1t is a fa'
lie that we must all give an accour
ct to God of the deeds done in tn
v body. What has become Of ii
:, souls of all the mel hurried I'M
= eternity by shot and shell WI
is accountable for so great a was
of human life? What have ,
gained by IT? Why, we ha
*. gained dear bread, dear c!othin
ma q heavy burden of taxation, t
loss ofcur active useful, and cley
ex. mechanics, aid field laborers. 0
'rm daughters have lost their HUSBAND
and our wives have lost their sons
l' our grandchildren have lost tn
fathers-our country has lost
are wealth, and our Constitution q
still glorious Union have lost their Q
him legal, and firm hold in the reco.
ev' of the American nation. Imp
onments, chains, dungeons,
suspension of the great safegu'
ACE, of liberty, the Writ of Habeas {
hmm pus, and military d~espotiem,
tory among the things which the y
We 1863 has handed over to the |
torian to be recorded by him,
hal legacy of sorrow, anguish and W
nee b~equeathed by the rulers OF
American people to their ANA
posterity. When will the enc
the this state of things GOMEZ! {
est, the North conquer the Sou
,uld Suppose we should finally cong
heir the Southern States, take their
nci. ton fields, set all their slaves f
and and hang all their ringlead
q to what would be the gain to
the North, we should like to know
,e- But, suppose the South should
noe. coed "a their efforts to gain Il
it complete separation from
all North, what would they gain
rade their independence? We I'll
tive that for years to come both pai
hem would be losers by their victor
tors which ever side would gain
day. Our own opinion is, thu
PEI both parties hold on in their
war sent determination to conque
ratio die, the continent Of America
Ouse Lo to,o1lv r1;nad and aOyna for