Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-03-13
DELAWARE, OHIO, MARCH 13, 1868.
Loyalty.

The question is hourly asked-What consti-
tutes loyal man? f? "Fealty to the Govern
ment," some reply. "Feally TO the Admins
| tratioa," reply Others. These answers are syn
opmyous-but in the minds of those who speak
them, they have different meaning, and on
this difference issue is joined. There are few
men 10 this community that do not profess
fealty to the Government. 1t is a profession
they glory in making; they prunouhce 1t oh
every occasion; they roll it Ike sweet morsel
und,r their tongues. The leading members o!
the Democratic school; the enemies of the Ad-
miuistration; the clubs, and the conventions,
all proclaim loud deveiions to the Union.-
They love it; they will live Tor it; they will do
anything but die for it; aud yet they will not
support the administration. We claim to be
loyal men, but we hope TO see revolution in
the North. We sustain the flag, but we do
not sustain the defenders of the flag. There
are many who think that these differences OF
opinion can exist without affecting the loyalty
OF those who profess them. We do not think
so. Loyalty, to our mind, means unlimited de-
votiOn to the cause-and earnest sympathy
with those in power-a confidence in their am
bition to do that which is right. We ask the
loyal man to support the President. In times
Of danger the President is the State, {o5s
cause he is the savior of the State. He wields
the sword, and unless we are saved by the sword
of the friend we shall perish by that of the en-
emy. The President can only successfully per-
form his high duty when he is sustained by the
love of the people. Every word of dsparage-
ment and unjust condemnation weakens his
power, for the hand ofa Republican President
can never strike effectually unless it repre-
sents the voice of the Republic. And So,
when men speak about enlistments and slavery
and tyranny and arbitrary arrests, and clamor
for peace that means dshonor, they demoral-
ize the nations heart and weaken the nations
strength. Is this loyalty Is he loyal who
mingles his hourly conversation with defiance
and animosity, and who sees nothing in all
that has been done but material for angry and
and virulent assaults upon the Government.
Is it loyalty to tell the soldier he is fighting
negro war ? to tell the taxi payer that his rate
list is for the support of an inferior and dis
tasteful race? Is it loyalty to arraign the
President Of the United States for high crimes
and misdemeauors because in the hour of des-
peration he struck treason with a mailed band
ing law might be saved? Is any man loyal
who by word or deed, or suspicion, gives joy
to the heart of the enemy, and grief to the
patriot? II the time of the Revolution there
were Tories, Traitors, and Patriots. The To-
ry and the Traitors, are remembered with scurn
and children blush for the opinions of their
fathers. The patriots are blessed and honored
They were loyal men of their day, for they
were loyal to liberty. The same distinction
may now be drawn, and we may anticipate the
same Judgment from history. We have trait
ers who fight against US in open war, and to
ries who give them active and cordial aid
They may express devotion to the nation, but
we know them by their deeds, and their chill
dren will weep tears of shame in the years to
come. In l776, The test of loyalty was the
Continental Congress, for Congress was the
supreme executive power. In 1863, the test
Of loyalty should be 1.-The Administration -
1t alone can save US, it is the supreme embod-
iment of the peoples will.-Phil0. Press.