The mountain Democrat., 1864-12-31


leue period In the stormy sea Of California
Journalism, NhOss .eeia and shoals are strewn
with The wrecks Of what seemed to be much
ssAunehee crafta. We have calmly pursued
our voyage, without even stripping to the gale,
With principle in the pinnacle, and determined
patriotism Ut the helm, and though ferceiy
eoessa By the wild waves Of fanaticism and off
O4poeed to the darkliDg reefs Of tyrannical OPP
pfeesiOpA yet our little barQue, with its precious
treiS6y Of patriotic Intentions has outw Gathered
she storm, and now rides with the flowing tide
Of popular endorsement rs proudly as ever, and
with every timber a. staunch as at the launch
ing. The DENocRAr, like all outspOkeu Jour-
nails. has its enemies; we only ask these 70 ex-
tend 10 as reasonable degree OF federation,
and not to denounce US as traitors" without
being able to point out wherein consists our
treason let them read our columns for them
selves, and not take the idle denunciations of
ShS igncfant and depraved as proof of our "dis.
loyalty" We appeal TO the record, and defy
She world 10 convict as of . want Of patriotism
and devotion to American liberty. 1t also has
Its friends (may their tribe increase warm, de-
voted friends, whose approval has cheered and
sustained US in times past, and which we shall
vndeaver TO deserve and retain in the future.
We return our grateful thanks to oil of our
PatrOos, and assure them that we shall steadily
sEive TO dese1e their future approval.
NEw YEAR.-To-morrow the Christian world
enters upon Q new year in its chronological
progress. For Americans the birth of 1865 is
yfaught with peculiar significance. However
calm and smooth the surface of events at the
present, the great fact that this nation has
turned the nth year of = devastating civil war
RON whose ruinous effects-whatever its issue
lit cannot recover for centuries, must alone
strongly impress all thoughtful minds. What
has 1854 done for our bleeding country? What
may We expect from the incoming year? These
are questions which challenge our attention
end demand the deepest solicitude of every pa
triotic heart. Let Us look at things dispassion.
ately. Laying aside all other subjects, let us
regard only the nliabsorbing one-the militia
~ progress OF the past year, with its atten dant
Indications OF success or failure. From the
meagTe and partial accounts published, we cau.
not arrive ut an intelligent conclusion. The
telegraph assures us that Federal victories
have been OF the most astonishing character
They have been crushing aud decisive. Gen.
Grant tells US that the "Confederacy is Il mere
ehell, and all soy that the rebe lion is ION its
last legs" with scarcely sufficient vitality to
kick. The way is now clear we are assured,
20 . sure and speedy return 10 peace on per.
maneut basis. and the beginning of new and
yet more glorious era OF national prosperity and
greatness. TO doubt this is treason-to DENY
1t, impiety. Because people love to be deluded
and hate TO be told unpleasant truths they &C.
eept these pleasing statements with unwaver-
ing trust. Conceding ell that has been stated
by generals, correspondents aud telegraph Op.
orators, it is still obvious that the battles of
1884, have been neither complete nor decisive.
They have added TO our prisoners, and a long
line Of country to be held and defended. But
have they wrought any material modification
in the temper and spirit of the Southern peo.
pie? Have they softened their hatred or
crushed their resolution? So far is this from
being the case, that loyal correspondents of
loyal journals honestly admit that in even
such districts as are announced TO be reclaim.
ed, nobody is loyal but the mercenary, while
The great mass of the peOple-men, women
and children-hate what they esteem the inva
ders with relentless hatred and in all the
States not yet conquered there is no sign of
yielding. II is idle to talk about starving the
South into submission. The COnIederacy is
better supplied with food, munitions of war
experienced officers and disciplined troops,
than ct the time the war begun. Desolation
and anguish aud WEAKNESS and suffering but
nerve apeople reaoluiely bent on Independence
Our Revolutionary struggle proves this. These
ere unpalatable truths, we know, and will be
disputed. In the face of all at has been said
and reported, we believe that the South can
never be conquered, aud that if it could, the
Union would only be the more effectually de-
stToyed thereby. Time will determine and to
time We appeal. But, though candor forces us
TO the utterance Of these meagre views of past
events, and these gloomy forebodings of the
future, we would not cast shade of sadness,
beyond that which the deplorable condition Of
our country imposes. on the mind of the indi-
vidual reader, to each and all of whom we sin.
sereiy wish many happy new years.