Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-01-05
The New Year


Another year has gone down to the
chaplets of the past, and We have greeted
the new born harbinger Of future ovents-,I
Eighteen hundred and sixty-three has
passed away never to return-and eigh-
teen hundred and sixty -four has awakened
into lie.
1t is thus that the sands of man run out.
A few coming and gong years and few
rising and setting suns, and man passes to
his long bome-and is forgotten.
The year through which we have just
passed, has, 10 many respects, been one OF
momentuous consequence, both in a nation.
al and individual point of view. In our
own unfortunate country, especially, its
history has been a bloody oue-and it's
prints will last until the last vestige of civ
il liberty has departed. The fierce intes.
tine struggle which commenced two and a
half years ago was more bloody during the
| last twelve months, as will witness the
fields Of Port Hudson, Vicksburg, Chicka-
manga, Gettysburg and on tie Rapidun =
And in battle-felds alone the desperation
| of strife has not been exhibited. In the
embers of burnt cities, and towns, and
homes and the wide spread devastation
which extends over large portion of our
once fair and happy land, is seen the fruits
o. the terrible conflict.
To the people Of this country, particu-
larly, the chimes OF the departed year are
anything but cheering There is no nu-
sic in their tone, for they speak of stern
realities-of disappointments, of bitter tri-
ais, of appa ling war and grisvious wrongs.
Truly, the year gone by has been one of
woe and sadness. 1t has wruug scalding
tears from eyes unused to weep, and ROBBED
in sable many form once clad in purple.
But why dwell longer on the sorrowfuI
picture offered by the past.
The future indeed is portentuous oil
events of vast magnitude During tht
year eighteen hundred and sixty four, the
people of this country are to decide wbeth,
er constitutional liberty is longer to exist
IN America, or whether we are to sink into
an ahject military despotism. Many bat
ties, doubtless, will be lost and won and
frGternal Hood will flow and the walls Of
the wounded and dying ascend, but thu
contest OF the ballot-box on the first Teus,
day of next November will be of more i'm
port than all, 50 far as depends the future
existence of the Union and free gCvernmer
in our land.
II the Democracy, the only true friend
of the constitution and the Union as found
ed by the patriotic fathers, shall triumpI
this year, there mag be hope for the fu
tHre, but if the present corrupt and tyran
meal dynasty shall be continued in power
all may be given up as lost 1t has all
ready drenched our land in blood, and des
olated thousands of homes by its PERM
cOus policy, and if not checked by tn,
saving principles of conservative Democru,
cy, will bring ruin upon the North as i
has. upon the South.
True patriots, therefore, should enpl,,
! the new year to the purpose of saving tn
: Union from inevitable destruction, BY cleo
ting men who will discard the dangerou
policy. The power of the sword and tn
purse will be employed to prevent tn
election of Democrats or constitution abid
, ing men to the high places of Government
but let us hope that the people may b.
awakened to the danger that threaten,
them and our institutions, ere the return
of another new year, and will have hurlaC
from power the party that is dragging u
to destruction with fearful rapidly.