The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-02-17

scattered leaves of the forest. To pre-
vent the success of the men who figure
so UNANIMOUSLY in the history of the rebel
lion, the Union men assuredly are sol
emnly called upon to make assurance
doubly sure-to take a bond of Fate
We must swear upon our country's altar,
and we must sacredly redeem the deep
pledge-that the schemes of this junta of
conspirators shall not succeed to obtain
the control of the helm of the laboring
Ship of State. We must solemnly, and
before high Heaven, resolve that this So
cial revolution shall not go backward;
that the honored dead have not died on
CORY fields in vain; that not in vain limps
about among us the mutilated trunks of
our noble and dear braves; that not in
vain have the hearts of fond wives, sis
ters, lovers, parents, been wrung by the
devoted sacrifices which they have heap
ed up on the altar of our country. The
reyard-the high reward of a dear bought
peace must be paid in the full, final, and
bright redemption of our beloved land.
Now, if ever, has the time ideed come,
when the ballot is to be enforced to aid
the bullet
Then to whom shall we entrust our
banner in the mighty crisis before us?-
Whom shall we select to represent the
honor, the safety, the future of our Insti-
tutions?
If we believed that the foregoing ques
ton were merely and purely personal
one, we should feel humiliated in the
that we should have asked it. This is no
time for personal considerations But
with our standard bearer in the coming
fight is associated everything that is dear,
contest with rebels in our midst: there
fore it is war for Heaven, for honor,
for our firesides. And we must, one
and all, elevate ourselves (if we would
prevail to the high stature of American
patriots. If they succeed, everything
goes back; if zoe conquer, the mighty idea
goes forward; forward, as we have every
reason to believe, down to the ''last syla-
BILE of recorded time,''-the mighty idea
that MAN Is CAPABLE OF SELF GOVERN
MENr It will be because of the commits
sion Of some grave fault by us, if our
sacred cause can be imperilled.
Therefore it is that we have presented
the well known, the beloved name of
ABRAHAM LINCOLN for re election. That
name represents a character which the
people fully know and wholly trust
a name respected and honored all over
the civilized globe. There is nothing
uncertain, either about his integrity or
his capacity. He has been tested in
the fiery furnace and has proved to be
changed for the unknown-the tried for
the untried. Were vote submitted to
the Union people as to whom they would
prefer to guide our destinies during the
next presidential term, we solemnly be-
lieve that nineteen -twentieths of the
masses would thunder forth the name of
LINCOLN. Were a similar vote to be sub
mitted to the worst men in the Southern
revolt, the unanimous shout of such mis-
creants would be Elect any man bm Lin
coin: yet, if possible restore our old
friends the Opposition" If this ques-
ton were submitted to Europe, every lib
eral friend of American progress would
counsel the denomination of Mr.. LIN
COLIN; and every Southern sympathizer,
every deadly foe to our institutions,
would sneer and scoff at his name. Is
there any honest, impartial, careful rea-
der, or observer of what is going on
about us, both at home and abroad, who
has the slightest doubt of these our
statements?
Other men may be esteemed as excel
ling Mr.. LINCOLN in this or that mental
point of view: one as having more skill
here, and another there, in the varied de-
partments of mind; but there is no other
man upon whose entire wisdom, temper
and integrity the people rely in any de
gree which will bear comparison with the
rank that ABRAHAM LINCOLN holds in
American regard
wewin not contemplate the possibility
that the intrigues of mere ambition, or
that the jealousies and maignity of disap-
pointed offices seekers. or that any other
cause can be made to prevail to defeat
the public will in this respect
We believe that ABRAHAM LINCOLN
will be preserved to be the next Presi-
dent: Because he deserves it: Because
he is the author of . policy which the
people intend to carry out, and which
they viii not see rebuked, or imperiled
by the hazard of political chances: Be-
cause the administration for which he is
reponsible has been q more vast un-
dertaking than has hitherto devolved up
on an American Statesman; and for the
reason that. in every respect. it has been
a wonderful success: Because the people