Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-06
The Elections ON the Eleventh Of
October and the Eighth Of No

The Elections ON the Eleventh OF
October and the Eighth Of No
vernbcr. "a
Less than one week divides the present
from the time at which the three great States
of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, hold
their State elections, the resultof which by
many is accepted as decisive of the far more
important election in November. The time
swiftly approaches when the people, the
first and last source of political power in q
Republican Government are called upon to
select their rulers for four years to come;
and the destiny of the nation trembles in
the balance at every motion Of the pendu-
lum which marks its inexorable advance.
He is but poorly vcrsed in the history of
his Government, and is unworthy of its
former benefits, who needs to be reminded
of the Importance OF these elections. r,
For the first time in four long and gloomy
years-years drenched in blood and black
ened by calamties- the people have an op-
portunity to inaugurate that change which
all men have at times desired, and to which
a great majority of the people of this coun-
try now. look with profound solicitudc, and
ardent and earnest hope. That change is
In the Administration Of the General Gov
ernment. If that change Is not effected by
the people, the history of the American
Republic and of free government has
reached the fms and is closed forever. The
election Is the test and solution of the
problem-the last deadly struggle between
liberty and that same old spirit of des-
potism which has for centuries dogged the
steps of human regeneration. If the peo-
pie fail in this momentous contest and
prove false to themselves by voting to be
slaves, then will the hearts of the oppressed
in every cline turn sick in their bosoms,
and the eye of the patriot falter in the at
tempt to pierce the impenetrablc gloom
which will settle over his country.
There is no third issue involved in the
struggle; the contest is narrowed down to
the naked difference between liberty and
despotism. The Administration party is
the party of despotism its success is the
triumph of despotism, and the death knell
of liberty. For four years it has drenched
the land in blood; for four years 1t has per-
verted every victory in behalf of peace into
defeat in behalf Of Abolitionism; for four
years it has destroyed the earnings of the
valor of our troops in the field by its fanati-
cism; for four years it has reduced the just |
hopes of the nation to ashes; for four years
1t has duped the weak with false hopes, and
betrayed all with its perfidy, until its prom
ises are q mockery, and its language is lies.
Every provision of the Constitution, every
law of the land, every principle of honor and
morality this Administration has basely |
and perfdiously violated, until Liberty,
shocked at the crimes committed in her |
name, has concealed her face, and fled from |
the land. 1t has desolated one-half of the |
Union, and cast the shadow of death |
upon every hearthstone; it has i'm
pregnated the air with the poison |
GUS stencil of corruption, effecting the
highest and the lowest, from the Presi-
dent in his chair down to the lowest spy |
and the scurviest Provost Marshals clerk. !
1t has offered premiums for mediocrity and
crime-the bastile and the bullet for genius
and innocence. 1t has Impoverished the in
dustrious to enrich the unworthy, and OPP
pressed the multitude that the few may riot
with license. By the unscrupulous use of
its vast patronage, it has caused the promi-
nent men who condemned its career, to
stultify themselves, and accept bribes for
the betrayal of their country; by the same
means it has corrupted the press and re-
1uced it to vassalage; and it has degraded ;
,he pulpit into rostrum for ferocious fan |
ltics and senseless bullies, who claim to
Weld the attributes of God in its support. I
t has degraded the flag by trucking to t
oreign powers and by surrendering the \
rave Poles who enlisted to fight for it to
he tyrant who demanded them for punish i
nent. 1t has dishonored the name Of phi a
anthropy by offering freedom to theservile i
legroes and then leaving them to perish by i
thousands from neglect. 1t has endeavored Y
o pervert great and holy war into po- a
itical crusade inspired by nothing nobler t
han fanaticism, nothing more enlightened
han an ignorant bigoted, sordid hatred. t.
Yet this monstrous and hideous Admin X
stration, with its volume Of blunders, and a
is mountain of crimes, comes before the Il
,eople for Reimbursement with no other "
lain for support than the pledge that it k
will continue to be in the future what it A
las been in the past. 1t asks the free peo- b
,le of this country to indorse pure and (,
imple despotism. Against such an Ad- o
and against such a cause, every v
nan worthy the name of freeman should p
egard it as glory and privilege to labor v
md vote. an. v
On the other hand, are offered induce il
nehts as glorious and hopes as sublime as r
my that ever inspired great people. By b
he defeat of LINCOLN and the election Of g
MCCLELLAN, we will secure an Administra- r
ion whose policy and privilege it will be
0 bind up the bloody wounds made by q
our years Of war, return victory to our n
rms, and achieve peace by victory, restore r
iberty to the land, union to the States, n
urity to the Government, and peace, unity, +
appiness, and prosperity to the people. It
Upon these issues the people of Ohio \
aust declare next Tuesday, and still more 7