Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-10-13
T6e Weaihsr-Yane.

The |Weather-vane.
kfJ---rf5n III, New Yo1krndepend.ntl
The public mind is a.eurious study For
chkngeableness, it is not only like a cham
elcofr-uot only like an en-leaf--bnt, az
John Randolph characterised great ipsta-
bility, "a chameleon on an aspen leaf, -
The winds, never changing except for good
cause, are more steadfast than mems minds,
that constantly change without good cause.
Lights and shadows on grain field are not
more varying than the varying Beods of
popular feiing. A whole community il
thrown UP. or thrown down by telegram.
A momentary emotion, particularly after
bad news, blots out as with cloud the clear
est convictions Of long matured sober judg.
ment. .br- -~ .. -af
/ At present, the general pulse beafs hikh.
Faces in the street have CHEEKY looks
Friends whs meet interchange congratua-
tions ION happy vict orics aud auspicious
hopes. Nov while we heartily rejoice in
these nights and ecs;acies Of public feeling,
we think the present a ft t,oprorlunity to
ask our fellow citizens TO look back aud
honestly ehide themselves for the gloomy
forebodings which, two or three months ago,
hung before their eyes, Ike thick fogs.-
There Is too easy habit among the people
Of despairng of the Republic After VIC
tory there should be good cheer, but sitera
defeat there should he coed courage. dur.
ing the latter part Of the suDmer, there
was q general conviction that the Union
party had lost its friends in such Numbers
that the coming election would bring its
overthrow. Had the election been held ct
that tune, this apprehension would probably
have proved true. But in ten DAYS 'after the
rebels evacuated Atlanta and Chicago, there
was evideBceaof complete reversal Of the
expected Wsjority ard miporit1-tbe Union
sile of the scale eeinr down with solid
weight. and Chicago kicking .the'bsam.
Since Sheridan wonderful victories in Vir-
sinia, many people lave entirely forgotten
that there i Democratic candidate in The
field. Anjif bcfre November Gen. Grant
.horlh smoke his.pjpe in Richmond, Mr.
Mcclellan would undoubtedly follow the
example Of Mr. Fremont. aud write letter
Of Withdrawal. SO the public mind istcssed
up and down, IKE warc!
There IS more than one lesson in this fact.
0ne is this. Il was time Of depression
that the Demo-ratic party clamored with
ten thousand throats az Chicago for "'ees-
sation Of hostilit;es" But now, in time
Of cheer, that party suddenly finds that. it
has still greater need of a cessation, of
hostihties." 1t caunot endure any bosfili-
ties thst end in victories by the Union
armies. . II .shivers every time Gen. sheri-
den cries Charge! 1t grows pale every time
the old Gag mounts sonlo new battlement of
the rel e'lieD. When, therefore, all patriots
ara glad. ard only Chicago platform makers
are sorrowfnl, let every citizen who hesitates
as to which way bis vote shall go, ask him
self, What is the just merit and claim of q
party whose only hope Of success is through
the defeat Of our armies whose only chance
Of attaining power in the Government is
through the weakening OF that Governments
by public enemies? .s
There is another question. Let men
during the present exuberant tone of the
public mind ask themselves Io,o. thy ca,s
find more reason to rote Alright for The couaiyy
tainiy, the country's chief time Of need is
after defeat, not after victory! 1t is now q
wholesome season for many thousands Of
Americans TO make this self exsminasicn-
Suppose that, between now ard the cleo
ton, there sheald come a great defeat
what then? Will you desert the party With
whom you now shout and cheer? VIII you
blot out he ballot which you now expectto
cast. and write the contrary principles upon
il?y let thousands ofmen uoald do just that
Mn9iy Therefore, We say earnestly and
strenuously, let every man who thinks him
self q patriot examine himself well. and
learn of what stuff he is made. II takes a
mau of fine fiber to be trusty at ali times
1t is the test Of true man that he pre-
serves his fidelity in trying seasons Saeh
men are the pillars of states. Are you such
a man2 -... ..-....I Lrl.f.tL sft
One word more. Thank God for that
few among TIE mapy--that party within
the party-who staad always like rock,
upmoyed of winds or waves-w who abide by
Liberty, Come joy or grief-who ale not
shifted from their steadtastneSs. to eternal
principle w any fckleness OF human nlevents.
Such men, having learned how to stand in
the minority against the majority, must
now, stand in the mejJrity to hold it fast
against its fickle ITSELF There never is
time when men of hnmoyahle moral convic-
tons are so much needed torthe safety ola
state, as when the public u,ind is sssyed
violently up and DOM by varying public
fortunes. Such men are so-calied radicals.
And when, the word gets wiser, it will look
back, and learn. to its wonderment, that The
only conservatives, after all, have been the
radicals -...L. ...L ....-i susa.
- % fair weather friends, focking now in
great numbers to the successful side, you
are abundantly welcome! There is cheer at
Your comine But, to sailnpon haieyon seas,
as we all are sailing now, is no test for a
heart Of oak. How msny, therefore, will,
volunteer in advance to stand stcadfasti IN
IF