The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1863-01-28

our Union ana government demand the
best and united energies and efforts Of
the whole people, is valueless. What all
united have SO far failed to accomplish,
the abolition chiefs and journals insist up
on undertaking as party. They do
mand that the war shall be prosecuted
under their auspices and for their pur-
poses. Mems opinions on the slavery
question must be heightened or shortened,
in accordance with Procrustean example.
These impracticable, one idea lecturers
and journalists, aided by the unfortunate
"On to Richmond" military disasters,
have already withdrawn New York, New
Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois from
the political support Of the administration.
Too many Of the democratic leaders in
these States---especially in Ohio and In
diana--are of the Vallandigham school.
This false, disloyal man, with shame be
il confessed, found sympathizing friends
to welcome and feast him at secession
hotel in the city of New York! Still the
masses Of the democracy, and most OF
their prominent men, are truly devoted to
the Union, and remain willing to contrib.
ute their money and peril their lives to
sustain the government. But in this
there is no merit, unless they adopt the
anti-slavery platform and accept the dog
mas of the New York Tribune.
Will those Of our old whig friends, now
so impatient with, and differing so wide
ly from us, turn their minds few years
backwards and remember what they then
thought Of abolition; and what its course
and action was? Was it not narrow,
perverse and mischievousl Did it not
exert vicious and malign political infu-
encei Did it not for twenty years, at
our elections, State and National, ever
play into the hands Of pro-slavery demo
Gratis? While we were laboring for the
right, doing all we could for the Union
and the country, were we not embarrass-
ed and thwarled by this factious, imprac-
ticable third party~ Who were its
leaders then! Messrs. Garrison, Phillips,
Sumner, Gerrit Smith, ETC., etc. Did we
trust to their judgment, or follow their
lead, or vote with them! Are not the
same men, with Mr.. Greely, fully devel-
oped as disciple, the abolition leaders
now? Have they grown wiser, or is
your intellect dwarfed, or has your COM
mon sense collapsedl If the North re-
jectcd abolition rs mere political test,
will it be accepted when the lives of our
sons and brothers and the preservation Of
our country are involvedl If wo refused
to follow one-idea men" when it only
cost us votes, shall we commit all that is
sacred and precious to their leadership
We ask these questions now in view Of
the concerted effort TO narrow this mighty
struggle for national existence down 10
an abolition crusade. We ask them in
the hope of arresting popular delusion
which is drawing tens of thousands Of
patriotic, devoted men into vortex which
BODIES inevitable ruin and destruction TO
themselves and their country. We ask
them, at this moment, in view Of the
studied attempt to classify all who do not
work up 10 their standard rs enemies.
And, finally, we ask earnestly whether
the experience Of the first year and a
half Of war, with all parties heartily en-
gagged in it, justifies the hope that the re-
bellion can be crushed and the Union pre-.
served with united South and divided
North?