Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-03-26
The Government and the People,


In times like the present when the Gov.
ernment is at war with traitors, and the Ad-
ministration is exerting itself to preserve in
tact the States, what is the duty Of the peo-
pie? What is the true position of the Union
man, and how shall he act to subserve the
Government and assist in such a trying time
IL It his duty 10 submit without cavil or ar
gument to the policy Of the Administration
and the means used to put down the rebellion !?
Is the individual member of the State, with
the slightest knowledge at hand in comparison
with the head of the Government. perf,rm-
ing the duty of the god and faithful citizen,
when he sets up his own opinions as to the
conduct of affairs against the Judgment and
policyof the President and his Cabinet We
are all interested in the present disastrous war,
and must each suffer the consequences Of its
results. Republicans, Democrats, and Abo-
litioni>ts arc all American citizens, and the
war Of the rebels is wag-d against ons as
much as the other. 1t is a struggle in which
ihe country is engaged, aud good and bad re.
cannot forbear partizan feelings. and either
from selfish purposes. or from lack of pa
triotic principle, refuse TO yield an implicit
aud abiding faith in the Administration.
They seem to fortiiy themselves in their po-
sition by assuming the right to govern. or
dictate the pulley of the governors. They
forget to realize that their opinions are partial
and onr-sidcd, when from the eminpnce of tho
President, his is broad and commanding.
and governed by all the facts and influences
viii III control his Judgment. The President
has the right to conduct the policy of the war.
and it is the duty of the people, to chperfully
acquie3ce in whatever he may order. lie has
tn. Constitutional right to command, and it
is the Constitutional duty OF the people to
obey. The parlizan press affect to abhor
this doctrine and say it smacks # Kings, En-.
pcrors and despois. That "loyaliy" i'm.
plies the subject" The sequence Of this
argument is that a free people cannot be true
and faithful to their co''stitu'onally elected
government. The same class argue that the
citizen, in time of war, and when the country
is in it's greatest danger, has the identical
rights as in time of peace. This infamous
doctrine ia the twin brother of Secession itself.
1t is srdiion, and the step stone to rebellion.
The doctrine cannot be maintained that the
saw:e rights maintain under all circumstances.
1t is subversive. 1t converts the governed
into governors. The individual, as a citizen,
delegates rights to the Government. and he
truly becomes Il subject, and thereby chfain-
ing community privileges and protection i'm
possible under his individual status The
citizen still holds personal rights. but none
independent of the whole State or Govern
ment In times Of peace there is laxity
in the Government. The utmost freedom is
properly allowed. But in times of war, when
the country is attacked by wicked horde Of
rcbels-whcn the life of the Government is in
It's greatest dangrr-thrn should the same
laxitv be expected! Should there be found
one citizen so low and degraded in such
crisis, as to b. tising for personal privileges
What purriiiy! What insignificant mean
ness What outrageous drpravity! Can
patriotism inspire such demand. or is it the
want of it! Is the man who quibbles and
squirms about constitutional intringments, the
ahridgement Of personal rights, the suppress
sion Of free speech, moved by high motives
of love and ftalty to his Government The
true patriot is not of such. The good and
true citizen forgcts all selfshness in su~h
times H. forgrts party and thinks of his
country. He looks to th. President as the
head Of the Government and not as the lead
er of politicians. Hc does not ask whether
this General is opposed to slavery, the tariff,
banks a hard currency, internal improvements.
etc. but is he loyal to the Government and
untainted with sympathy for rebels. Hedops
not ask how much the war is to cost, but con-
templates the value and worth Of a great and
united country.
The war has progressed nearly three years.
The rebellion is not yet crushed, aud the enc
mics of the country are still powerful. Its
duration may be one. two, or three years
longer, but the time is to b. measured by the
conduct of that portion Of the people Of the
Northern States. who, not openly aided and
ahctel the rebellion, have rendered the Gov
rrnmcnt no assistance. With a unanimous
North, the war could be ended in sixty days.
Under division, it will require years. Every
mnn admits this fact. II then VIC remain
divided. upon whom does the responsibility Of
II continuance Of the war fall Certainly not
upon the Administration, or upon those who
yield it cheerful obedience. 1t must rest
upon class of people who oppose the Ad-
ministration-upon those who call themselves
Democrats, and who are subtracting strength
from thu Union party to reconstruct the so
called Democratic party. The lives sacrificed,
the treasnre squand-rrd. the property des-
troyel from now to the close Of the war will be
chargablc to the leaders Of that factions ana
semi secession party. The case is plain
one. and there is no cunning deep enough or
strategy shrrwd enough to cover up and shift
the responsibility.
A COOP DoDGE-A young man in Cali
fornia whose friends had ceased to correspond
with him, woke up their interests BY sending
letters to business men in his native place. in-