Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-10-06

Popular elections ara the distinguish
ing feature and characteristic Of q Repub-
Ican form of Government. In despotisns
they are quite unknown; and in limited
monarchies the machinery Of election Is so
guarded and limited, as but family to re-
fleet the popular sentiment. So little, in
deed, is the popular feeling consulted, that
it scarcely constitutes an element ofthe
power of the Government But in free,
elective Government, the sentiments of the
people, deliberately formed is the end of
the law; and statutes and administrations
not in conformity Herewith, are set aside
as useless membranes.
We are upon the eve of an important
election here in Ohio. On the 10th day
of October the people viii be called upon to
exercise the highest stprerogative Of ffreemen.
They are called upon to select, by their
own free choice, the men by whom their
laws are to be made-the judges to give
Interpretation to the lsws-and the execu-
tive agents to carry them into effect. By
the action OF the people on that day viii
be determined the policy of our State for
series of years. Though we are but one
people, with common interest and acom-
mon destiny, yet we find ourselves array
ed in conflicting parties, swayed by differ
ent impulses and aiming at different ends.
1t might be supposed that inasmuch as
our interests are identical, and the object
of all being the promotion of the common
wealth, we miget dispense with party or
CARNATIONS and each pursue the highest
good of all But human nature has not yet
attained to that degree Of Perfection
Men can no more think alike than resem-
bic each other in personal appearance:
and besides sef-interest enters largely in.
to the account snd insidiousIy influences
mental operations. Those who are not
would be In; and those already in, would
secure and make better their position; and
Hence came strifes and competitions. It
is said that parties are necessary to the
healthful existence of Republic. When
conducted by honesty, and on enlightened
principles, they may conduee to the pub
lie welfare by serving as sentinels upon the
actions Of each other. But parties them
selves change with the circumstances with
which they are surrounded; and we re-
gard it as evidence of stoid bigotry, rather
than of wisdom or consistency, for a man
to boast that he has never changed his par.
tisan views. 1t is well remarked that
ne who has never changed his opinion,
has never corrected an error.
But in times like those through which
the country has been passing for the last
four or five years, it is difficult to conceive
now two parties could exist. The plat
form on the one hand, has been so broad
and liberal, that one would suppose it
should embrace all good and patriotic
men; and reduce the margin, on the 9TH
er hand, to such narrow limits, that it
would be imprscticable, in the glare Of
light beaming on the subject to form or
maintain dissenting party organization
thereon. 1t was question as to whether
the existsnce of the Nation should be con-
tinued, or the Republic die. Upon that
single issue we were engaged fnll four long
years in the most sanguinary warfare Of
modern times. Eleven of the States Of
the Federal Union were insurgent, and 90
intensified was their treason that during
all those four years no one of their inhab-
ltants dared raise his voice in remon-
STRANGE or whisper hope that the Republic
would survive the struggle.
While such was the case at the South.
there we're at the North a class of men
more nodded to party than to their coun-
try; and they RENTED no effort during the
struggle to embarrsss the Government, or
to give aid and encouragement to those
striving to overthrow it. They had not
voted for Mr. Lincoln, and that was their
sufficient reason for opposing every meas
ure Of his administration, although by 30
doing they opposed the only means by
which the Republic could be saved. Such
was the Democratic party in the darkest
hour of our country's peril-snd such it
remains to this day. There is no unchar-
itableness in alleging that the Democratic
party is, to-day, one in sympathy with the
eonqured but unrepented rebels, than with
the Government of the country. Their
present bone of contention is, that the re-
bellion being subdued, those lately enga0-
ed in it are to be regarded precisely a.
though they had all along remained good
and loyal citizens. They are ready at any
hour, for the purpose Of displacing the
administration that carried US successfully
through the war, to shake hands with the
conquered rebels, and to share with those
rebels the spoils Of co-partisan triumph
They would restore the government Of the
rebel States at once to the hands of the
very men who rushed their States into the
rebellion; thereby enabling them to entail
he Confederate" debt upon the people
ofthe States. And we have no surety that
they would not prefer to saddle that debt
upon the nation at once. They openly
professed their preference for the rebel
"Montgomsry Constitution, when it was
promulgated, to the sold Constitution of
the United States, which they professed
was abrogated BY the adoption Of the new
one.
Such is the character of the party ex-
isting among US, called the Democratic;
and such the tendency and drift of its doe
trines. 1t is indeed surprising that a party
thus equipped can find adherents in this
age and country; but such is the fact
Two years ago, it gloried in supporting for
the first office in the State, man who
boasted partiality for the rebels-and who
openly avowed bis doctrines ofdisunion-
whowas at the time atraitor banished from
his country. The same man is now a
power in the party, taken to its embrace
its acknowledged leader and exponent-
Let those who choose adhere to such De-
mocracy Ohio State Journal.
The entire donation to the Lincoln Mon
ument Fundup to date are S54, 4,424, ,s5.
Governor Oglesby has addressed letters
to the Governors and Legislatures of the
l.fo-a,,k GS,3a-