The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-07-20
sALUTAT0RV.

Dear Reader: After three years service
in the army, / have returned to resume
liny post as editor of the SPIRIT.
/ Disappointing presidential campaign,
though less arduous than the campaign
|against the Rebels is, to the fullest ex-
tent, as important. The absolute ruin of
the country is as certain TO follow the
election of Lincoln, as it is to follow the
independence of the Confederacy. A
divided country, bankrupted in credit and
in honor; constitution outraged and
condemned until the lowest official may
defy it with impunity; nation, or rather
half nation, despised and ridiculed by
the pettiest principalities of Europe;
people groaning under great burdens Of
taxes, are events already nearly consum-
mated by the lmbecility or villiany OF
Lincolns administration. Far less than
another four years will see completed the
ruinous work now much more than half
done. The bones of thousands more, bet
seE LhSu ChdH Llhcoih, Will os ieie u
bleach on bloody battlefelds; tens Of
thousands more will be rendered helpless
for life; scores of thousands more of
widows and orphans will ill the land, and
our whole country become one great
house of mourning.
4 The consequences of the reelection Of
Lincoln cannot be contemplated without
a shudder. Rapidly the prices of the
necessaries of life are rising beyond the
reach of the poor widows and orphans
and MANNED soldiers. Day by day hun
dreds, sometimes thousands, are added to
the long list of helpless men, and poor
widows and orphans. No matter where
you may live, reader, few steps from
your door will take yeu to the sorrow
stricken homes of little orphans in whose
future is many a hungry. suffering day.
If you meet child you hardly dare to
ask it for it's father lest you be answered
with gush of tears, OF a deep sob from
it's little breaking heart.
In the name of divided and almost
bankrupted country; in the name of two
hundred thousand wooden limbs and emp
ty sleeves; in the name of untold thous-
ands of heroic dead; in the name of the
orphans tears and the widows woe, has
Are sorrow and starvation and wretched-
ness so sweet sight that we would com
plete the ruin of our country to multiply
:l.eH9 Have we the eyes of ghouls that
we must have more hecatomhs Of dead
upon which to feast them? Have we the
hearts Of sends taat we would double
the misery of our fellow beings in which
to orevel?
Let every man with heart and a con-
science ask himself If he wants four more
of such disastrous years? Four more
wears of outraged liberties? Four more
years of corruption and strife? Four
more years of carnival for misery and
death?
He is blind indeed who cannot see ab-
solute ruin broadly staring in the face;
and he is to be pitied or dcspised who does
not see that with the reelection Of Lin
coin it will fall upon US with crushing,
overwhelming force.
Like a vessel circling in the current Of
the maelstrom, our country has, during
Lincolns administration, been drawing
nearer ard nearer to the whirlpool Of de-
struction. As we approach the fatal verge
the circles become smaller, and our speed
more rapid. Knowing this, seeing it, are
we insane that we should set quietly while
the pilot tells obscene stories and allow
us to drift to destruction?
If we make no effort to save our coun.
try we deserve to have none. Go to work, |
then Democrats, patriots, by every hon
orable means to rescue our soiled and .
torn constitution from the hands of its |
violators. There is hope for our country
if Lincoln is defeated, none without.
JERE. WILLIAMS.