American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-09-28

and establishedupon the principles OF the
Declaration of independence. They rec
ognizc greater evils than war, such as this
is in which the nation is plunged. Di-
vide the nation geographically and to what
end do we inevitably gravitate ? With
the precedent and justice of secession es-
tablished, who can presume to say that
we shall not repeat the humiliating histo-
ry of Mexico and South American States ?
United, the common danger was, and would
continue to be. our common security.-
Divided, the land would groan with the
wreaking out of individual vengeance. -
Divided, the torch and brand would never
be idle along the line of division. The
country would at last awake to the bitter
knowledge that open, vigorous war, prose-
cuted with a high purpose, is a thousand
times less to be dreaded than an armed
peace.
As an example, little morsthan year
since, when Lee, with his cI'army, in
vaded Pennsylvania and when the fate of
the Republic was decided by the battle OF
Gettysburg, how prompt wicked and de
signing men were to inauguratc the insur-
rcction in New York city, trusting in the
hope that the Government was not able to
maintain the supremacy of the Constitu-
ton and the laws. 1t will be long before
the blackness of the crimes committed by
that conspiracy will be obiterated
As another example, take the recent
conspiracy discovered in the northwest
the banding together in secret of a large
number Of men, the concentration of
thirty thousand stand of farms and large
supply of ammunition The papers of
this conspiracy, which were seized, evi-
dencing too clearly that their design was.
and is, the overthrow of the Republic.
trusting that division and anarchy would
shield them from harm, but in utter dis
regard OF the concomitant wrongs to the
people--murder, robbery, arson--in a
word, desolation for the time.
Now, fellow citizens, in both these cx-
amples the moving spirits are prominent
men in the Opposition, and controlled the
nomination and platform at Chicago.
Yet it is to such peace as this that our
opponents invite you. They ask your
suffrages for a man who either is pledged
to such peace, if elected, or who is de-
termined on war grander in scale and
bloodier in results than the world has vet
witnessed. There can be but two issues
cut of the pre- cnt difficulty. The intoll-
gent freemen of Pennsylvania need not
to be led like children. They will not
fail to comprehend the nature of these
issues, and to choose between them. In
so choosing they choose for their children
and their childrcn's children. They can
do nothing Of public nature in those
pregnant times that shall not cause com
ing generations either to revere or despisc
them The reelectian of Mr.. Lincoln.
and the election of Andrew johnson as
his associate, will indibate to the chiefs
of the rebellion that the war for Union
and permanent peace must go on until
those ends shall be attained. 1t win also
signify to the nations of Europe that the
people of the whole United States will,
soon or late, become an united people and
the government remain, as it has hereto
fore been, a star of hope to all the op-
pressed peoples of the civilized world,
and an everlasting monument to the wis
dom of the grand old heroes who con-
ceived it. If we could basely afford to
abandon the struggle now, the world, man
kind, could not afford the sacrifice. IF
we could afford to bear the shame. and
wear the fhackles of defeat so crayenly
invited, our children could not stand erect
under the deathless reproach of our be-
haviour. As men, as freemen, as patri-
OTIS, we have no choice but to stand by the
government as administered. The alter
native presented by our opponents in dis
union and dishonor, which is national
death. If a man recognizes the existence
a.
Of the principle of Eternal Justice he
could not despair of the republic There
may be some in whom the principle of
hope maintains but feeble existence. un-
less stimulated by uninterrupted sddAss.
Such must be encouraged and sustained
by the example of the more hopeful and
enduring. They must be assured of what
the philosophy of history and of events
teaches, that danger lies in turning back.
as security lies in pressing forward. The
desolations, and bereavements. and bur
dens of war may be, nay, are terrible, but
the tempest which rayages forest and field,
destroying the increase of labor, and even
human life, is also terrible Yet it is ben
Efficient With unvarvino ealp tbo n.