Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-11-03

4. Hyatt Smith, Esq, and Others
GENTLEMEN: Yours of the 22d instant is
received, and | most cheerfully accept your
kind invitation.
Amid the perils and prosecutions that as
sailed the early Church, a faithful few re-
manned obedient to the Christian faith and
IN loneliness and sorrow, in separation and
exile, deserted by leaders and in perils I" bv
false brethren" followed the precepts of the
Great Teacher, and, strengthened by perse-
BUTTONS, rallied and advanced to evangelize
the world.
Democracy, the hand maid of religion.
whose golden rule-equality of rights and the
greatest good to the greatest numbers sec
ond only, IN sublimity and beneicence, to the
golden rule Of our holy religion, is now suf
1erlng Its trial season; and our faith in truth
IN justice and in the intelligence and patriot
Ism OF Fhe great masses of the people, is our
only guiding star amid the gloom that sur
rounds US. They who ought to have been
our leaders, whose counsels should have
pointed the democracy to the war path, are
crying peace, disgraceful, disastrous peace ::
beckoning the democracy away from the
field Of duty, DANGER and glory, and leading
Us with unerring certainty to the graves
where federalism and whiggery are rotting in
their shrouds. In their platform, in their
speeches, from their press, no word of cheer.
no hopetulness, no exultation; no word of
encouragement to our brave army no pledge
Of assistance to our tormented government ::
no condemnation of rebellion and treason.
The faction that controlled the Chicago Con-
vention, belied the history of our party, and
dIsgraced its name 1t has no claim to the
support Of democrats. Where is the young
ardor Of patriotism, the hopeful endeavor,
the "public defiance" Of danger that made
the glory of democracy, and challenged the
admiration of the world? Gone-all gone.
And instead we have in the platform an in
dictment Of our government as bitter as jeff
Davis could draft; we are told that circum-
ciscd brokers are the only proper guardians
of the labor and muscle of the country; that
Grant, Sherman and Sheridan must stand
aside, and negotiators, red, not with blood,
but tape, must lead our armies; that the
white flag is our proper ensign; and that
these rebels who have betrayed and ruined
our party, and threaten to overthrow the
government, must be soothed and entreated :;
and if they must be enveloped in smoke, it
must proceed, not from the fire of battle, but
the pipe of peace. Democracy has at all
times held other language to its and the ma
TONS enemies.
10 all this craven crying for peace, let me
quote from the eloquent, patriotic and soul
moving speech Of Hon. Jonathan E. Arnold,
in the GAINESVILLE convention year ago
Speaking of the idea that we must hold out
the olive branch Of peace to the rebels, Mr..
Arnold said: CHOW gentlemen, how utterly
futile is any such idea. Hon dis!oyal Is any
such proposition. Will the South listen to of
fers of peace? Who has intimated it ? What
public paper has proclaimed it, Or what lead
ing statesman of the South has suggested it ?
No one. On the contrary, they have said no
terms Of peace would ever be listened to ex-
cept based upon the recognition of their in
dependence. Why then should ne hold ont the
Olive branch Of peace? In addition to what
they have said, there is the undeniabe fact
that they have an immense army in the field
which must be put down if this rebellion be
ever crushed" And again, "what we want
then is to whip the army; that is to be done
by soldiers in the field. Hence l say 1t Is
aorong to talk of ending this rebellion By prop
oSitions of peace. I trust in God the time
will come when we may hold out the olive
branch; but that must be after Charleston and
Mobile hare been taken and the army of Virginia
aohipped."
1t is understood Mr.. Arnold has left US,
seeing his duty at present in the support Of
Mcclellan, and defense Of the Chicago Plat
FORM but thank God, he has not taken this
noble speech NTH him that remains to as, an
imperishable lesson Of patriotic duty, which
it should be our highest ambition to cherish
and execute.
will be with you on the It'll Of November
Then we will consult together of our duty in
these perilous times, renew our pledge to the
only faith, and drink again at the ancient
springs MATT. Ell. CARPENTER.