Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-03-19

man so universally respected, and trusted, and
beloved, should not be ienominated and re-
elected. And, after all, the voice Of the peo-
pie is true and unerring. A nation thinks
slow, but its thoughts are inspirations. The
nation knows that as Abraha Lincoln has
been wise in these three years of war, he
should he trusted to finish the work. That
work is almost done; and generosity would
say that, having been in the heat and burden
of the conflict, having borne all he tolls and
troubles of these three years, lie should be per-
mittet to enjoy triumph he has done so
much to achieve. For Ourselves, we are dis
posed to respect this sentiment. AS Journal
lists. We have refrain-d from the an-worship
the war has so abundantly developed We
! have felt that the nation was in strife for its
existence, a strife involving the principle of
! lbcrty-dear to us, as it has been to freedmen
in every age. We have regarded men
whether p: esilens, cabinet ministers, generals
or soldicrs-as the mere instruments of this
strife, and that whether they lived or died.
lost or won, it was nothing. so that the coun-
try was saved. We have sustained Mr.. Lin
coin disint"rcstrdly, because he was our Re-
publc's only head and champion, and if his
policy was defeat,d d there could be little hope
for the nation We sustained him not that he
might be President again, for that belongs
to the peoples but because he was right.
Olher men have been mentioned as candidates
-sta,csmen and soldiers, who have served
the country with fidelity. They arc worthy
of all honor. and We should rejoice to aid them
in any aspirations, to contribute to their tri-
umph, and to sustain them as we have sus-
tained Mr.. Lincoln, so long as they remained
true to their country, and to the principles IN
volvtd in this cause. This is not the time for
us to change leaders. That may be- done
when we have earned the right to select them.
and to enforce their authority. These states
men and soldiers have sust lined Mr.. Lincoln,
and they will agree to what the people evil
IDENTITY ask. We accept him as candidate
for denomination and reelection. because we
believe the nation demands it, and more may
bc done by him to strengthen the cause and
harmonizc the loyal MASSES in support of the
country, than by any other citizen in the Re-
public. This is result as desirable to us as
our success in the campaign, for We should
look forward with distress to any movement
that would create alienation or bitterness in
the country, Or weaken the popular support of
the war; The Republicans believe in him, for
he was their party choice. The loyal Demo-
Gratis believe in him, for hr has bepn kind ard
considerate to them. and has always in the
most magnificent manner recognized their
devotion TO the country. His action in Mis-
souri,, where he refused to brcome pa,tisan
of extreme radicals and his action in Mary
land, where he refused to become partizar
of the slave arstocracy. have united around
him men ofextreme differences of opinion
and they will support him as the leader of the
Union party in the Presidential campaign.
He. above all men. can unite the friends of
the cause-and in the campaign now opening.
a union Of our friends will secure us victory.
There is something like grandeur in this
enthusiasm for Mr.. Lincoln, and the universal
desire TO See him again the leader of the
friends Of the Union. 1t has majesty to
which weyield. The importance of this Pres.
idential Year cannot BE- overlooked by the
friends of the cause. 1t is the year of trial.
The disoyal look to it with an anxiety as
great as the dread Of death, for if the people
reflect MIR. Lincoln or statesman represent
ing his Administration, it will be an end of
the war or Of any hope Of foreign intsrven-
ton. The rebellion has reached this point,
that its only chance of success is in what is
called reastion in Northern sentiment. This
Isl last hope. If the people of the loyal
States can be induced or seduccd into revers-
ing all that has been done by disavowng this
Administration, then our enemies abroad will
have an argument for intervention that we can
neither answer nor avoid. Treason in the
South will again rear its head and gain new
life in its withercd and famisling limbs. All
the blood We have shed will b. so much water,
and all the money we have spent as so much
chaff We must therefore win this next cam
pagn. W. know that the people. by large
majority. are true tn the Union, and our care
must be to make their voice heard and their
influence felt. We must stand before the
world as one nation-true to our past pledges,
and not unmindful of our future glory. When
the ballot-box speaks in December, it must