The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-01-20
S-OufsposSen Discussronsa

SOufspo1Ien Discussions
The following paragraph from Governor
Sdymourss recent message, deserves sbrcthing
more than q hasty or thoughtless perusal
@While it i duty to state plainly my
views about public affairs, I shall do SO inznu
spirit of controversy or of disrespect for the
opinions Of those who differ from me. The
questions of the day are beyond the grasp OF
any mind to see them from different stand.
points and we reach conflicting conclusions
None but the Ignorant, the bigoted or the de-
signing will make these differences of views
occasions for -reproaeh or oontumely. The
times demand oufspoken discussions. When
We see good and earnest men, under the in
fiuence of some absorbing sentiment, over
looking the great principles of good govern
ment, trampling upon usages and procedures
which have grown up with the history of lib
erty in the civilized world, we are warned
that none of US can claim to be above the in
luence of passions or of prejudiees. While
I do not ngrec with those upon the one hand
who insist upon an unconditional peace, or
with those, upon the other extreme, who
would useaonly unqualified force in putting
down this rebellion, I demand for them what
[ ask for these who concur in the views I
present. a fair, dispassionate and respectful
hearing. Let not the perils of our country
be increased by bigotry, by partisan passions,
or an unwillingness to allow opinions to be
uttered IN forms and modes in accordance
with the usages of our people and the spirit
of our laws"
The above remarks are conceived in a right
spirit, and are emf sntly wise, liberal and
statesmanlike. "The times do, indeed de-.
mand outspoken discussions" Perhaps one
of the most deplorable and discouraging signs
of thetimes is the reluctance with which peo-
pie express their real sentiments. There
seems to be a prevailing idea that every man
is bound "a give. assent, in a greater or less
degree, to the policy of the Administration
The terror of being called "disloyal" by some
people is SO great, that it actually frightens
them into silence, if not into positive endorse,
mcnt of that which tkeir own honest judg-
ment condemns. This has been carried so
far, in some circles of society, as we know,
that several individuals, upon a first acquaint-
auce, were led to believe that they were all
"Lincoln loyalists," when, on further inter-
course, and when each had spoken his real
sentiments, they were all found to be ysnom-
Gus Copperheads One man says to himself
81 am not such q fool as to believe in Lin
"coln and his war pclicy~but as everybody
aelsc does, why, it won do for me to speak
tout boldly p and thus people go on deceiv-
ing one another, simply for the lack Of a lit
tie plain, outspoken, honest talk. Every man
is bound by moral obligations to express, upon
all occasions, when he speaks at all, his real
sentiments. Aud while it is not incumbent
upon him to obtrude his opinions, yet upon
all suitable occasions it is his duy to express
them. He is oae of the humble who help to
create the political atmosphere in which he
lives and he cannot, without moral treachery,
refuse to be true 20 himself. -No-speak out,
speak outi 1t is this cowardly. trucking to
the Black Republicans that has COTTON up a
fictitious public sentiment, which has no foun-
dation in fact. The Republicans have sue
ceeded in doing it by bullying, Dragging and
shouting by cowing down the timid and pur-
chasing the yenal. Let Democrats no longer
yield to it, but give their opponents to under
stand that the time for srccumbing to their
~insolent behavior is past, and that henceforth,
the cry,of "secessionist," sstraitor," &c, will
brighten no one from expressing just such
opinions in regard to the man in power or
their principles, as they choose to utter. Let
this be done by every Democrat, and there
will soon be q visible change in public opin-
ion. One will encourage another, and all
will at last be surprised to find how few there
really were who believed in this Abolition
war. Tho Republicans are like the story that
old Sam Houston used to tell of the wolves,
$50 out on a prairie atsnight," said the old
man, "and you would swear that the air was
vocal with the how-ing Of at least a thousand
wolves, while upon Investigation, there would
not be over two or three" And so it is with
Republicans. One of them will make more
noise than a dozen Democrats, and create the
impression that the whole neighborhood is soi
his way of thinking. 1t is time that it was
remedied, and it can only be done by bold,
brave and honest talk upon all suitable occa.
sions Day Book.