The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-06-29
The Great QuestIon-ShaIl Lincoln be Re-
Elected.

the present century. IL is an issue which
is TO decide xhether or no. the people have
sufficient intelligence to preserve their own
right. and liberties from The eacroachmen:s
of igno rant and despotic rulsrs. This is
sue has been determined in the negative by
| the history of past republics. Now it is TO
be re- argued, aud final decision rendered
by the citizens of this country, the last aud
! the greatest OF democfaiic governments.
| porter Of the Administration, urges the fol-
! lowing among other reasons for opposing
Mr Lincoln's reelection
We do no, object TO Mr.. Lincoln because
he was once raiIsplitter, nor because his
associate nominee was once tailor, as one
OF our contemporaries did. We know that
! some of the greatest men in tbs world have
risen from a low origin, and in nation like
! ihi. a mans occupation Providedii be hon.
I est, is no bar 10 his future advancement
! But we object 10 MIR. Lincoln Necause he
! has been tried and found UGnfing, and be-
! cause his re eIeciion would in all probabil-
I ity seal the fate of republican institutions
! We concede everything that is true in re-
gard TO his personal character. his good in
,entions and his honesty, 70 far as pecuniary
! matters are concerned. But mans per
sonaI character does not excuse his official
misteeds a mans good Intentions do not
: remove the effects OF his blunders and his
foIlies, and mans honesty in regard TO
money matters is no offset 10 his dishoues-
" in regard to nearly everything else. Snch
weak ps'Iis,ion. of Mr. LincoIu's conduct,
therefore, do not weigh with Us, and ought
not 10 weigh With the people.
/ President Lincoln has protrscted his war
for iour years, when he could have ended.it
in one He. has committed the criminal er
ror OF allowing questions OF political expe-
! diency 10 interfere with his management OF
I military affairs. He has removed generals
I for party reasons when such removals gave
great advaaisges to the rebels. He has is
sued oroclama,ons with the same motives,
when his better Judgment. as expressed in
private conversations, disapproved of HE
official acts. He has surrounded himself
with q Cabinet notorious FOR incapaci.y and
containing some of the most imbecile meu
in the country, as an example OF whom We
may instance Gideon Welles. He has re-
tanned this Cabinet in defiance of the uni-
verssl remonstrance o! the people and IN
spite OF the criminal blunders his Secreta-
ries have committed. He has permitted po-
liIical squabsIes TO 30 disorganize aud dis
tract his Cabinet that no Cabinet councils
have been held for weeks at time during
this great crisis of the country, thus leaving
himself, practically, dictator, and each Sec
retsry al liberty TO blunder unchecked in
his own department He has arrested thous-
ands of loyal Americans, and incarcefated
them in dungeons, without warrant, judicial
procedure or reasonable cauee for SO doing.
He has insiitufed The forms of martial law
| in loyal cities of the North, without pro.
claiming it and without the slighes: pre-
text for enforcing it. He has truckled TO
England and to France. thos soiling the ma
tional honor almost irretrievably. Upon
! these grounds we shuIl oppose his re-elec-
I ton.
|
ated, and by many nofe of the same odi.
Gus stamp, President Lincoln has unneces-
sar;ly prolonged the war and strengthened
the rebel cause at home and abroad. He
( has allowed thousands of brave men 10 be
slaughtered in vain. He has souandered
millions of the public money uselessIy,
diverting it from its proper channels to en-
rich corrupt satellites and fsvorites. He has
FdIskstroUsly disarranged the finances OF the
country, through his Secretary OF the Treas
| ury. He has seen our commerce swept
from the seas by two or three pirates, and
our proud flag thus terribly dishonored with
out an effort TO prevent IT, He has robbed
ourspeople OF the protection hitherto af-
forded by that grand formula, 81 am an
American cilizsn.n In word, he has COM
bined imbecilliy with dcspolism, affiict;ug
us with almost all the evils of an unlimited
monarchy without giving rs any of the
compromising advantages. 10 all this his
intentions may have been good but we
INNS: judge the tree by its fruits
Besides this, the fact that he has accep-
ted The denomination of convention of
Office holders and contractors, carefully
packed at bis instance to secure this very
end, argues but little for the purity Of his
motives. Setting aside motives, however, /,
We only ask candid consideration OF Mr.
Lincoln's acts. If the people approvs these
acts they will have the opportunity of sn-
dorsing them in November. If moi, they
cannot conscieniiously vols for Mr. Lin
coin. Whether they have the intelligence
taaI 81 erlf -taclfIld