Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-11-10
THE LAST WORDS OF THE HOUR

ThE LAbI WOhD0 Ot HE hOUh
We have nHH almost reached the end Of TIL
Presidential contest. The issues that have beer
joined in the persons Of the respective candidates.
of Mr.. Lincoln and Of Gen. Mcclellan are about tt
be submitted to the decision Of the people.
In the time of high political excitement through
which the country has passed during the last few
spoken on both sides with more Of passion and
prejudice than of soberness and truth. 1t is nc
more than just TO suppose that the great mass Of
the adherents of both the contending parties are
fully persuaded, as far as they have any rational
convictions at all on the subject, that the success
Of the candidates whom they sustain is intimately
identified not only with the prosperity but hevery
existence of the nation. And where such momen-
tous interests honestly believed by all to be at
stake, 1t j. not only natural but Inevitable that
men should feel deeply, and in proportion to the
earnestness with which they espouse .Onc cause
will be their impotence al all who dissent from
them and espouse. another. And, in addition to
the considerations growing out of the magnitude
Of the issues admitted BY all to. be involved in
this struggle, there are great material agencies
which exercise = disturbing pressure on the minds
Of the people,. One Of the PARTIES being conscious
that it has at its back all Tie powers Of the Gov
,ernment is under the constant temptation to hold
towards its opponents the language and bearing
inspired by the consciousness Of the. physical
strength it can command in aid of its purposes,
and these opponents, laboring under 1, sense Of
apprehension from this source, are. in danger Of
constantly misjudging every actof the Administers
ton by surprising themselves to see in the marks
of an abuse Of the power rghtfulY belonging to the
whole nation. And in this way, as there is enough
of in6rnity, and sel6phness attaching to men in
all organizations to give oolor to the accusations
mutually levelled BY each against the other indi-
vidual suspicion gradually widena and intensi6es
itself intoa public distrust gener. As it is pro-
found. Under such circumstances zeal for opin-
ions on the one side or the other easily passes be-
yond the bounds of discretion andin the collisions
Of heated dsput.pts the sparks may be struck that
shall kindle tho elements of strife readyto burst
into flame. :" '''a'',a' s'' '~"' 1880
do not 80 write because we have any alarms
beyond those common to every thoughtful, citizen
at crisis like this, but We present these conside-
rations BY way Of impressing on the adherents of
all parties the duty of exeroising candor and mod
Grafton towards opponents il this supreme moment
of the contest. If hard words have been scattered
in the debates Of the canvass and if hard thoughts
have been cherished towards men who differ from
as, let nothing nov, he spoken unadvisedly with
the lips, andrletaA sock topurge their hearts from
the 1saven Of malice and uncharitableness, chat
the whole people may approach the ballot:box as
members 81 a.comrpon. political household, among
whom there may be divisions of sentiment, but
anob &, whom wrath, and clamor, and il-spe,king
should have no place. n'''aoe'' gHa' aa s"''r 90