Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-13
[From The Chillicothe Advertiser.
"The Democrats Can't Elect n
President

We sometimes hear members of the DEM
ocratic party say: ''rhe Democrats can't
elect President this fall; they had better
make no nominations; just keep up the State
and county organizations; let the Abolition
lists have full sweep; 1t is their war and let
them have whatever honor or dishOnor may
attach to it; Lincoln can and will control
the army for his own behoof."
There seems to be no disagreement among
Democrats as to the fact that the country is
on the high road to ruin and running down
an inclined plane with the breaks up. All of
them are sort of holding their breath in an
tcipation of the fearful crash. Is it wise,
therefore, in view of this lamentable condi-
ton of things, to fold our arms and inter
pose no effort to save the country from the
destruction that seems to await it? Grant
that it is not a war Of our begetting;
grant that our advice has not been fol-
lowed in its prosecution; this does not
relieve lis from the responsibility of try
ing to displace from power, through the
agency prescribed by the Constitution,
the men who now hold it as with an iron
grasp. No one whose mind, intelligence and
Judgment are not dwarfish in proportions,
believes that the Government will survive at
the end of four years from now if the pres
ent party is perpetuated in power, and it
administers its affairs with the recklessness
with which it has administered them since
the party came into power. And shall we
make no effort now to bring about change?
Will we stand acquitted in history-will
we stand justified with our own consciences
can we expect the approval of heaven
if we shall refuse to take advantage of the
opportunity that now offers to make bold,
a vigorous effort to displace the party in
power? There is too much at stake to JUS
tify Incidence or apathy. Constitutional
Liberty for ourselves and for unborn gen
erations is at stake--a prize the most .glori-
Gus that ever pealed out an invocation to
man to labor resolutely and untiringly to
win. Shall we, then, play the sluggard?
"The armv will be thrown against lis,
and there Is no hope for u.s." Considera-
tions like these, If even well-grouDded,
carry with them no extenuatiDg force for
indifference on our part. Our duty Is to Ia
bor for the riqlt, and no consideration can
relieve us from the performance of that
duty. If unsuccessful we shall not be af-
fiicted with self-accusing reproaches.
County, District and State organizations
are not only right; they are necessary. Cam
didates for Congress should be nominated
and elected who will reflect the will of their
respective constituencies. But OF equal, If
not of far greater, importance Is 1t, that a
candidate shall be put In nomination for
the Presidency who will as nearly as posi-
bic reflect the views of majority Of the
Democrats. 1t is Important that that nom
inee should be man who not only thor
oughly understands the Constitution and
the history touching Its formation and
adoption, but who, II elected. will make
his administration conform to 1t in spirit
and letter. That instrument was formed to
meet the requirements Of iron-handed war
as well as to minister to the piping times
never justified or palliated o single infrac-
tion Of the Constitution, or CLOSED over its
perversion -strict constructionists = men
who would not take into the Presidential
chair either the feelings Of prejudice or re-
sentment-of enlarged and generous views,
who would bind up and heal the wounds of