Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-09-01
Crushing Out Democrats.

A foolish editor, the organ of Mr. lin
coin $ abomnatonS says: 1.-The greatest
mistake we have made is that we did not
crush out the last vital spot of Copperhead
Democracy at the start. No, poor fool, the
greatest mistake YOU made was to compel
the people of the South to fight for their
liberty, which also compelledall good people
in the North to denounce your despotism
The greatest goodof people is their liber-
ty. Liberty is to the collective body what
health is to the individual. Without health
no pleasure can be tastcdb by man. Without
liberty no happiness can be enjoyed by So
ciety. The obligation, therefore, to defend
liberty is greater than all others and he is
a traitor to a frcecountry, whowill not glad
~ devote his life to preserve its freedom.
Mr.. Lincoln has forced upon Gen. Lee the
honor, which we should gladly have with
held from him, of fighting the battle of de-
fensive liberty on this continent, while Lin
sive despotsm Lincoln $ war is not upon
the South alone it is upon the North also
1t is a war against q great princlple-the
principle of liberty and sclf-govcrnment
1t is war against Democracy-against the
party that made the Constitution, and con-
Quoted the party through every step of its
progressive glory, up to the hour when it
fell by falling into the hands a of clan of
despots and desperadoes 1t is possible
that we have entered the field Of blood
that the terrible struggle is but just com
menced. If as is more than intimated by
the leading Republican papers, the despot-
! ism inauguratcd over the North is to be
continued, then, indeed, the sword is as
vet but lust started from its scabbard Ii
we have not Il right to our thoughts, oul
svmpathies, our hopes and faith, then shal
the battles rage until we have vndicated
our liberties and our manhood. We are
coming to point where the fight must be
with those who are attempting to rob us Of
onr freedom. The dclusion of fighting fol
the skeleton of a Union, after we have our
selves crushed the soul out of it, is nearly
over. For one, we do not hesitate to declare
that we thousand times prefer death IL
an honorable conflict to preserve our libcr
ties, than II life Of servitude and submission
to the boated despotism which houil.
threatens us. five are not free lctus maxi
ourselves so! We know what we say
: We hear, but we dcspise the threats W.
may individually fall, but we know that w
leave those behind us who are sworn TO exc
cute our last viii and testament, which i
that of death to the assassins. We ar
weary OF nearing anu rcdulnS INC tliledtS v
], Mr.. Lincoln satraps. If they stop wher
- they are, all is well-all that is demanded
peace, liberty and justice but this we wi
, have, or, failing, we will take our foes alon
Q with us to be tried at that high court fron
which there is no appeal. Shall we longc
walk the street to be threatened with al
5 rest" or hanging" every time we. exel
l else the frccmcn $ sacred right OF thinkln
5 and speaking the honest thought that is /
: us? Shall We longer owe our peace @
: safety to whim or passion Of slaverihg ignc
t rance or brutal prejudice and f;naticism
y In God S name, aei For INSTANCE, if W
that Abraham Lincoln is fool, we sha'
take the liberty to say so, just whenever 0
wherever we please. If we have not tn
same right to respect the intellect of JEFF
, erson Davis that another has to admire tn
ignorance and the trihing obcenity of Abra
ham Lincoln, let us set ourselves to wor
: and regain that right. If we have not til
| right to prefer the Government and Unio
Il that were formed by our fathers to tn
It abominablc despotism which Lincoln ar
y his party are attempting to fasten upon u
:. let us strike for that right, and strike
&c our fathers did |! This, then, is what '
h have to say to the bcsotted wretchcs wi
Ii talk of ''cIWShiUg ont Democrats. Bott
r stop where you are, and learn to carry
to civil tongue, oryou will be convinced TIL
y you are nearer the judgment day than yo
IT. dclusion has permitted you to imagine.
as The Old Guard,