Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-09-06

J
the astonishing fact stands outprominent-
ly that, Notwithstanding all the persecu-
tions, and all the assaults to which the
Democracy of this State have, during
that unfortunate period, been subjected, |
still each returning year has shown that
the body was growing-each returning
of the votes, as they came in, showed
that, instead of persecution running you
down, and diminishing your strength,
and decreasing your numbers, they are
all the time elevating them. Why is
this? No association of men-no party,
gathered together for mere sinister, or
temporary, or selfish purpose, could say
this. They would have been broken in
to atoms with the amount of persecution
and oppression which we have encoun-
tered. 1t is because, fellow citizens
and we should always bear this in mind
because there lies right at the fOunda-
tion of Democratic faith-the sacred
trust of preserving the great and essen
tial rights Of the great mass of the Peo-
pie.
That is the secret and the whole of it.
And let me give you this one encourag-
ing word, that just as long as you are
true to yourselves, and true to the great
interests of the people, you are invinci-
ble (Applause.) The world, the flesh
and the devil may combine against you,
but without effect. (Applause.) And
now, gentlemen, without undertaking to
detain you any length of time, for 1 am
wholly unprepared to speak to you as l
would have done-without undertaking
to detain you for any length of time to
90 over any of the various topics that
now agitate the public mind, and upon
which you are called to act, let me fer a
single moment take glance at the past,
in order the better to assure ourselves of
our present position and our present du-
ties.
Down to the advent of the present
party in power-a little over four years
ago-no country on the face of the earth
presented such attractions as this beloved
and happy country of ours. limo coun-
trv on the face of the earth, were all
mems rights so well and so perfectly re-
spected. From thirteen small colonies
upon the Atlantic seaboard, we had seen
grow up, under the inspiring influence
of Democratic principles, population of
over thirty millions Of people, and more
than thirty States. Instead of being
hemmed in substantially by the Allegheny
mountains. as we we're at the outset, we
had spread from ocean to ocean, until
our flag Roated on both shores Of the
continent. That was our condition four
years ago, and It was due, under God
and with Gods blessing, to those great
principles of Democratic faith that look
to the good of the masses-those princi-
pies that we're formed at an early period
by the great patriots and statesmen who
we're the founders of our organization.
From this pleasing state of facts, lei
us look to what exists at present. But
four years of time have been necessary
for the party who have succeeded il
overthrowing the Democratic party, tt
change wholly the entire face of the
country and its affairs. Instead Of tina
absolute security of person and property
which we realized before, who does no
look back upon this sad period and SET
what has been done. Instead Of united
country extending from ocean to ocean
the map has been torn asunder ant
bathed in blood. Instead of a unite,
and free people, standing as the represen
tatives of republican government in tn
Western hemisphere to the rest of tn
=, world, we have presented, in the las
four years, faction and disuniOn that hav
torn us asunder, and rendered US utterl
l absurd and disgraced in the eyes {
t foreign countries. Instead of that absC
IN lutte security we enjoyed before the az
to cession of these men to power, what hay
ir we witnessed2 During the past foU
es years all our guarantees of liberty ha7
ct been broken down, the writ of ha6ec
as corpus, the right to entertain your ow
o, opinions and express them, and the FREE
re dom of the press, have all been stricke
of down and trampled in the dust. Wit
be this look at the past, let us adopt Il
d, language of the immortal JefOrsOnin b
ar first inaugural address
he "When in moments of error and alari
Ks, we have departed from the paths tn
he lead to happiness and safety, let US
he, trace our steps and go back to the co
m sideration of those great principles up
)e- which our fathers have founded the Go
81 ervment"
eat That's our duty day. Woare nothe
to create, or to recommend creation. '
en arc not hear to build up better systt
he than our fathers of the rcvolutiona
IN. time, made for us-nothing Of the XII
Jay tbs a simple effort to go back again
We the chart of our principles as recorded