Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-04-30
From the Mansfield Shield and Banner.
NO-Ppc;y Dem OCrats.


Democrats who leave the party, and give
as reason that we should have "no
party" here in the North, while the war
lasts, few undeniabe facts by the way
Of refreshing their memories.
The history Of parties in this country
( proves that in no time is party spirit so
bitter and SO prevalent as when the oppo-
sition. assuming new name, is fishing
for gudgeons in the Democratic party.
At this time the cry Of ono party" Is
raised for the purpose Of enticng Demo
Gratis from their old organization. While
this is going on, bitter partisan strife
must be expected, and upon that party
rests the responsibility, who inaugurate
the practice.
Those who would heed this cry, if they
are honest, will remember that the party
they are intending to act with, is an or
ganization Just as bitterly partisan as any
/ party ever was or can be. Hence where
is the gain to them in the fur.herance Of
the very object they propose, by refusing
longer to act with the Democratic party.
Such individuals invariably protest,
that they "are as good Democrats as ever
they were" This, in the majority OF
cases, is no doubt true, but not in the
sense they intend to be understood. The
Democratic party, however, think differ
emily. Such men should take a retro.
spective view in the history Of their lives,
and remember the remarks they made Of
others. who then pretended to have been
"lelt" by the Democratic patty. Apos.
tates in those days, also prctedded to be
as good Democrats as ever they were,"
and now can they not refresh their mem
orics and recall their feelings in those
days ? Surely they appear to their for
mer political associates, justa as those did
, to their eyes who had permitted the Dem
ocratic party to slip away Jom them
a Democrat who is so easily turned
, aside, cannot be very stcndfast in his prin-
ciples. He may be "rule or ruin"
Democrat, but it strikes us he knows too
muoq iu his own conceit, and too
unwilling to de his wishes to the ma
iori;y of his associates ever to be a quiet
"noparty" man in any party he may as
iate himself with.
Suppose, for argument sake, some
member OF IRE party, or some township
or county convention, or even a single
State in the Union should utter senti-
ments or pass resolutions, which every
member of the parry could not sanction, is
it the duty of good Democrat at once
to sever his connection with the party
, and Immediately thereafter to oppose its
organization? Not at all.
Leaving its organization, we have no
voice in its councils, and lose all our in
lluence to change the determination OF
the masses adhering to its line of policy.
1t therefore is the duty of every good
, Democrat to remain with the organiza,
tirn, and in its councils. seek to steer its
course Alright, We should think little Of
a man when upon ship when in danger
would leave its crew to their fate, while
he had struck hands with the pirates who
stno ready to shacr in the spoils. Secc
ding from its organization, we sustain the
same relation to it as the rebels of the
south after going out of the Union.
\ Who believes they are good Union men
who believes the former are good Dem
ocrats! They are not wit wiser, nor a
particle more justiiable so far as princi-
, pie is concerned.
Secession ever has, and ever will bring
war and contention. 1t brought war to
) the South, and SO also will it pro.
f duce to the same result between the Or
ganization and the party seceeded from
it. This should be contemplated philo-
sophically, and not produce that bitter
, feeling against former friends which
| among bigoted partisans it always does.
, Cannot such Democrats-pretended
Democrats, perhaps we should say-rem-
! ember the many hobbies got up by the
opposition, in order 10 break the Demo
/ cratic party, many of which they at one
> time assisted to oppose. Have they for
. gotten the Know Nothing, Fusion, Re-
. publican, No party party Union (?) dod'
: ges, of recent date; or the old blue light,
a Peace party, Hartford Convention Fed
9 eralists of early years-not to discern
:, that same old coon" with only an addi'
tional ring on his tail ?
Ah but there are none so blind as they
/ who will not see.
= To say that they cannot associate will
"a their old political friends is ridiculous il
the extreme Democrats, enemies of thei
:, country! false to the Union-and disloy
~ al t. the constitutional obligations ! OF
- what delusion ! The heart of every
= Democrat is filled with anxiety for the
- fate of our beloved country. We said
~ from the beginning of this anti-slavery
agitation, that this sectional party upor
- obtaining the ascendency, would destroy
- our Union, and inaugurate civil war
:, Has it been forgotten how earnestly W.
- = warned them Of the impending danger
- and how scornfully they ridiculed us a
:, :, Union screechers,' Union savers etc.
"a while they, happy fellows, laughed der
- dinghy at idea of war with the South
=, But the evil times have come, and we al
y alike must bear up under the blow to our
- liberties, which they have giYen so un
thinkingly.
The Union, the Constitution, and the
liberties OF the people-give us these
c tits what we wan. How to do it-that
II is the question. Suppose we think war
" and compromise, without proclama
ii ton, is he only thing-you that want a
g war of determination aOih a proclama.
d ton-and third that neither one is sui
u ficient to save the Union, what reaSona
y bla mill Gnu tbot aithar opa IL a