The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-10-05
Th0rnS in the Side of Dem0c-
Pacy.


with the campaign for the Presidency,
which irritate the Democracy alarmiDgly
First, the largest and most respectable
portion of the American ministers of all
denominations in the free States, are
heartily in favor of the reelection Of ADra-
ham Lincoln. 1t is not the man, alto
gether, whom the clergy support, however
deserving Mr.. Lincoln is the OF the con-
fdenoe reposed in him. 1t as the priaci-
pies at stake. 1t is Gods religion that is
involved. Abraham Lincoln is to-day
the embodiment of greater principle
than ever was centered in any American
statesman, from the day that our fathers
resolved to dissolve their connection with
the British Grown. 1t is principle as
sacred as religion itself, involving the
the hopes of the poor man, and leading
back to God and Heaven, an entire race
of Christ's brethren. If Mr.. Lincoln
should fail, Christianity would be more
or less impaired in It's power for good on
earth because the worst feature of bar
barism, that which justides barter in
human flesh, would be legalized. If
George 3. Mcclellan should become
Presldent,then Immediately after his in
auguration, slavery would be rationalized
the selling of human beings would be
resumed on the porches of the Federal
capitol-while ignorance and sloth, con-
cubinage and lechery, lust and IiceDtious-
ness would attend as the handmadens of
slavery, the slow but sure retrogression
OF a nation back to barbarsm. None un-
derstand this better than the enlightened
aud Christian minister. Hence, large
majority Of the Christian ministers in the
land are IN favor of the reelection of
Abraham Lincoln, because the issues in
volved In his success seriously affect for
good Or evil, so far as it is possible for
men to do SO, Gods religion. 1t is not
! the politics Of the contest which attract
the clergy to our standard In fact the
ministry have not come to- us. The surg
/ ing Of the great shareholders rebellion
has rather carried the struggle for liberty
into the sacred precincts Of the pulpit, so
that the Christian minister who does not
take part in the fight is unfaithful to the
great Master, who uttered the sublimest
political axiom that ever was spoken on
earth, when he urged that we should
"render unto Caesar the things that are
Caesars" Hence we insist, that The
brave men, preachers Of the gospel of the
living God, who take part in the present
struggle for civilization and liberty, are
only defending and uphoIding the first
great principles of their religion. The
preacher Of Gods religion, who lacks the
courage to cry out against the sin Of sla-
very, is either fool or knave, unfIs to
teach men and women the way to Heaven,
and unworthy the confidence Of the Chris.
! tian and the patriot. But the oUt-spoken,
! fearless Christian minister, who upholds
man 10 power while declaring the eman-
cipation from slavery of millions of Gods
creatures, is the man who forms target
/ for modern Democrats. Y ct it is brave
men like these who now support Abra-
ham Lincoln's reelection. No wonder,
then, that the allies of slavery and treason
! hate such men.
There Is another class whom the trea-
son sympathizer hates. II is composed
of men who, still claiming to be Demo
Gratis, openly and fearlesaly advocate the
reelection of Abraham Lincoln, because
they believe that in his success is involved
the highest interest Of our nationality
This class of men are sagacious and far
seeing. Heretofore they impaired all the
vigor, all the decency, all the prestige,
all the strength for victory, and all the
craftsmanship which the Democratic or
grnization ever possessed. Their separa.
tion from the Democratic organization
does not dissolve their connection with
Democratic principles but it d9es leave
the new leaders OF the party in woful
plight Hence the vindictiveness and
the spleen with which Independent Dem
ocrats are assalled by the adventures who
have control of the Democratic organiza-
ton. These men know that they canDot
WELD that organization for good-they
see the best blood, the largest brain, the
steadiest courage, the experience and
renown of the old party against them.-
Hence their wrath. But it is a wrath
impotent. The Cessnas, and the Tods,
the Dickinsons and the Buffers, the
Cases and the Rosencrans, the Holsters
and the Cunuinghams, the MacDowels
and the Speels, belong to class who,
when the proper time comes, will return
to the Democratic party, spurning its
false leaders from their assumed control
of its organization, and again, under purer
incentives and for loftier purposes, than
those which now inspire its leaders, con-
troll it for the good for which it was
originally called into existence.-HarriS,
/ I,,.,, TIo7oo..n.,h