Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-10-13
The Country's struggled few w ords
TO Young Men.

Of fSeFm0hs, 80 eents each. nonv1l-'bo
The oountry's struggIe-A6e few Words
to Young Men.
is From the,New York Times
Old Copperheads are natural enough
but young ones are monstrosities. Il Ia
hard for man to rise who for years has
crtnged and crept, but young men can ca.
silly stand erect. The party spirit which
has once saturated, sticks 10, but It takes
time TO saturate--more time than young
men have had. Yet the genuine Copper
head is made only by one OF these two
either the servile spirit or party spirit.
By the servile spirit we mean the con-
slant disposition to yield to the dictation
of the Slave Power. With all the old
Copperhead politicians, It was a habit
formed before the rebellion. They had
gradually come to feel that the very first
public duty of Northern man was to
comply with any demands of the South
Far be it from us to say that this feeling
did not often spring from patriotic motives.
The meanest habits frequently begin in
the best intentions. We have seen quite
enough of the world to understand how
true it is, as Erskine says, that "faults
may sometimes be found to have grown
out of virtues, and very many of our hea-
man imperfectfon upon the best and kind
est of our affections" But this respects
BILE origin does not make the fault itself
any the less fault. Making the most
charitable allowance, the fact still stands
that long before the rebellion, very many
of our public men had contracted a habit
of sacrificing all their better promptings
to the behests of the Slave Power, aud
had thus gradually parted with their in-
dependence, uutiLat last not the slightest
vestige was left. Their spirit-whether
they realized it or not-had become COM
pletely seFvile. In political life they were
as absolutely subject to Southern masters
as is any Southern slave In social life. But
the saddest thing about Il is that, though
Ghs rebellion has for the time broken all
political connection With the South, great
numbers of them still retain the old hab-
itual serviIity. There is a constant i'm
pulse to do that which they imagine will
be pleasing to the eyes of their old over
seers. We presume that mauy yield to
this without any idea that Il comes at all
from the force of old habit; and that many,
too, with such idea, honestly, though in
vain, struggle against II. But the thing
itself is still the same. 1t is the serVile
spirit that prevails. The extent 70 which
this spirit still operates in our Northern
politics is not appreciated. 1t is the real
GRiVWS of all the opposition 20 civil enact
ments aud military policies bearing against
Slavery. Just as, formerly, it would not
do to offend the shareholders, no matter
what principle was involved, just so now.
g0fparty spirit as an element of Copper
headism, Il is hardly necessary to speak.
proportion of the old Democratic party are
still. held together by Il, and systematically
oppose the President, simply because he
was originally elected by different party.
They make no account of the fact that the
Government is now struggling for its exis-
itenee, aud that its constituted authorities
have claim upon the support Of all the
people without distinction. They put the
interests of party before the interests Of
the country, and concern themselves far
more about getting their own men into
power than about aiding the men now In
power to overthrow the rsbellion. The
Administration makes its appeal TO the
loyal spirit of all citizens. 1t gives it's
confidence TO all. and cOnfers its trusts
and houors without regard to old party
associations. The noblest portion Of the
old Democratic party have worthily re-
spopdedtt to this Spirit of the President,
and supported him faithfully and most
-
them for instant from their public duty
But the other portion have not risen at all
from their O.d pattylovel. They look at
everything from the, old party points of
view, aud measure everything by the old
party standards. The Democrats party
not being in power, they consider opposi-
tion their regular business; and they fol-
low this business with little or no regard
TO the bearings it may have upon the strng-
gle going ON between The Governments aud
the rebellion. No historical fact is more
certain than thatthisCouTse of conduct has
very often oresultedsin giving positive aid
and comfort 70 the rebellion; and yet they
have none the less persisted IN Il. It is
this self. seeking, jealous, sordtd, malignant
party spirit that has generated the worst
sort Of faction which has existed! With
out 1t Copperheadism, as We understand
the thing, could not be at all. If 1t be the
old servility 70 Slavery that bestows the
creeping nature, the virus comes from this
unumely party spirit.
But it is- impossible 10 excuse a young
man tor, giving way 70 any such influence.
Il has been his lot 20 come npOn the stage
when the old order of things is passing
away. Slavery, which used to lord it 90,
is fast dying9aS death Of unmitigated inEa-
my. Il Is easy enough to understand how
an old yassal of il; should still bow before
1t with all his former dread, but that man
should now, In its present condition, begin
to do 90, Ii marvellous beyond all measure
So, too, it is iptelligible euoBgh how It Is
that go many old politicians still cling to
their old party associations, without regard
10 the awful necessities and obligations Of
this new period. but all reasoG and all
charity are alike Lafied iu the endeayOr to
find an apology for such public faithless-
ness in d young inen who never passed out
of Sis barty noVitfate. tits not for those
in new life 70 be the victims Of old habits
They are, free to be governed purely blythe
generous sentiments and noble impulses