Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-07
The U. g. Prudential Election,

The New York News has an article on the coming
If, Indeed, it at alPresdential election ia
the United States
Thus far In the Congressional session Senator Hale
has been exceedingly industrious in seeking to vindi-
the action and motives of officials. At one time
be pleads custom and precedent justification of his
questionable proceedings at another he becomes
the JEALOUS defender of Dir. LincoIn's political reputa-
ton. It was in answer to the imputaon shat the
Administration desire tbs continuation Of the war; in
order to control tie next Presidential election that the
Senator waxed sensitive ard Indignant He believ-
ed thing met every bedy's assent namely: that
Lincoln is emnenty on honest and patriotic man
To-day for the first tme be had heard the honesty aHd
patriotism of the Executive questioned" In view of
the delicate pGson in which the Senator himself has
latery been exhibited presume that be has an origi-
nal and accommodating conception Of "honesy and as
tor patriotism every one will accord to Mr.. Lincoln
foil share of euch patriotism Mr. Hale end his eI
low radicals have made their standard II the SEM
tor the day in question: heard Mr. Lncon's honesty
and patriotism questioned for the first time, his ears
must have been completely sealed against the popu
lar voice they have been against the mploratons OF
bis suffering country. One days sojourn in this me-
tropoHs would have suiced su!y the rCsatints of
mmacuateness ia which his fancy painted the Execu
tves character Ia public and ia private, upon thor
oughfares and at social circles, at all times and in all
places where citzans are accustomed to speak their
minds freely, any man who Is not willfuy or actually
deaf, may hear Abraham Lincoln denounced 'as a low
cunning fanatic, IA INSCRIPTIONS partisan, and per
jurtd mag istrate.
The trouble is that Mr. Hale conceives himeaf and
his party to constitute the political world Whatever
is thought or said or done beyond that world is not
taken into account 1t has been repeatedly charged by
public speakers and public journals that the Admins.
traton, and chiefly Mr. Lincoln, mooldpg the cir
cumstancis OF the war TO assist their party aspirations
From tie commencement of hostilities to the present
time the Executive has seemed to study less the inter-
est of the country than the cCnsummaton of certain
partisan schemes, which before his time were held to be
beyond the sphere OF Federal official action. He has
been the President of faction, not of people He
has not only served his party and their fauaica idea
within the limits Of his functions, but he bas usurped
functions 10 order the better to fulfil the mission of
emancipation, for which be is sacrificing the Republic
So far from having his honesty and patriotism uuq4es
toned he has been branded by millions az despo and
we douot II there Is man IN the North more thorough
y deested and generally suspected than the Senator's
reproachless paragon.
1t is very natural that Black Republican member
OF Congress should attempt to u the 1asses into fan
ced security upon the subject Of the Presidential cleo
ton The gigantic pleu of dsfranchsement and usur-
patton that is in preparation could with difficulty be
carried in the face OF people awakened to sense
of their danger. Mir. Hale repudiates with grandio- |
quent wrath the idea OF any design on the part of the
Administration to control the Presidential election -
Like Iago, be exclaims Fie there is no such man
1t is impossibe But can this Senatorial white
washer purify the past of tie damnDg facts that cling
to it, we'll as he cleanse the future OF its
doubts! TIE military power that has con-
trolled Slate election may well be suspected OF an
intention to repeat the experiment upon grand
sr scale. Ohio, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware
speak far eioq aently and concusively than Mr.
Hale 1t is safer to take counsel OF their experience
than to trust the fair promise of innocence that
from Radical tongue well skilled in special plead
ing, and that has so lately demonstrated the facility with
which it can disguise contemplated political wrong
and palliats msrcenary enc al eady committed. Has
even been denied and it be denied that an armed
Federal force stationed at the polls in MARYLAND
md that Federal subaltern announced that he was in