Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-10-15

The following letter was addressed TO
the onmittee of the Republican mass
meeting held in Independence Square,
Philadelphia, on Saturday last, BY Major
General John A. Dix:
NEW YosK, October 6.
Gentlsmen-I have received your in
vitation to address the mass meeting to
be held in Independence Square on Sat
urday. II duties incident TO tie act
i've command Of military department
render it impossible for me TO attend
public meetings, or to make political
speeches But | accede With pleasure
10 your request 10 write you letter.
There is but enc question before the
country in the approaching CANVASS
Shall we prosecute the war with una.
bated vigor until the rebel fofcss lay
down their arms, or shall We, to use the
language Of the Chicago Convention,
make " immediate efforts for "css-
sation of hostihties, with u view to an
Ultimate convention Of all the States,
&c
Believing that the latter measure, for
whatever purpose adopted would lead
inevitably TO a recognition Of the indie
pendence of the insurgedt States; and
believing, moreover, that true policy, as
we'll as true mercy, always demands, IN
the unhappy eKigeneles Of war, steady
aud unwayering application of all the
means and all the energies at command
until the object of the war is accom-
plshed, l shall oppose the measure in
every form in which opposition is likely
10 be effective
General Mcclellan, the candidate Of
the Chicago Convention, by force Of his
position, must be deemed 10 approve all
the declarations with which he was pre-
sented to the country, unless be dis
tinctly disavows them. Unfortunately,
he is silent on the only question. in re-
gard TO which the people cared that he
should speak He does not say whether
be is in favor of a cessation OF hostilities
the measure announced BY those who
nominated him as the basis of action in
, case of his electien--or whether he Is
opposed TO it. He does not meet the
question with manly frankness - Am
| confident be would have done il he had
taken counsel of his owu instinct in-
stead OF yielding to the subtle sugges-
tons of politicians. Tbs Chicago Con-
vention presented distinct Issue 70 the
people. As the nominee of the Conven.
ton he was bound to accept or repadi
ate it, DE has done neither; and what.
ever inference may be drawn from biz
silence, either the War Democrats OF
the Peace Democrats must be deceived
In calling for cessation Of hostilitiel
the members Of the Chicago Convention
have, in my opinion, totally misrepre
sented the feelings and opinions Of the
great body of the Democracy. Th'
policy proclaimed in its name makes il
so far as declaration can, what 1t ha
never been betore--a peace party in war
degrading it from the eminence ol
which it has stood in every other ns
tional conflict. In this injustice to tn
country, and to great party identihe
with all that is honorable in our history
can have no part | can only mour
over the reproaeh which has been brougt
! upon it BY its leaders, and cherish th
hope that it may hereafter, under th
auspices of better counseliors, resum
its ancient effective and benifcsnt inal
ence in the administration Of the Go
ernment-
Does any one doubt as to the trT
: cause of our national cslsmities? b
lieve it to be found in the managemei
Of the leaders of both the principal P
litical parties during the last quarter
a century. In lS40 the great men
the Whig pariy-Webster, Clay and OF
ers-mTn of universally aeknowledg'
{ ability and long experience in civil i
were thrust aside, and General Hs
- rison, a man of very moderate eapacit
ci xss selected rs its candidate for Z
Pred dency. The principle of avail
bilitr, as it Was termed, was adopted
> the rule of selection, and the questl
of fitness became obsolete.
In 1894 the Democratic party follow
the successful example Of its opponel
ia 1910. 1t put aside Van Barren, Ca
n Marcy and its other eminent statesm'
ana brought forward Mr.. Polka 70
of merely ordinary ability. Part
which have neither the courage nor
virtue to stand by their greatest and B
men soon fall into hopeless dsmorsii
ton.
Under such system of political n
agemeu. no government can last 10
know It is not easy to. change "
M such lapse of time has fastened u
d Us Till this reform shall come, ny
vice to the great body of the people i
hold fast to their trsditionary prineii
and good name BY giving an earnest {
port 70 the war, and to scan with the
:. vsEsst serutny the conduct Of these