Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-07-03
The Fnnrth or Inlr.

tNAtohiN N'Nl'ViNAiN i"ibi1 thN WV ANlA
Metropolitan Rccoyd, contains the right
kind Of sentiments TO be read and studied
on the recurrence Of the National Anni-
ycrsary. There is truth and wisdom in
every line and Sentence. Read it;
The Fourth OF Juiy, Iso5
The memories connected with the day
on which the Declaration OF independence
was promulgated to the world are dear to
every lover Of Liberty. 1t established the
Right of ScleGoyemment, and pledged
the American people to the maintenance Of
free institutions throughout all coming
time. How this pledge has been kept the
history Of the past four years has horne
testimony. 1t has seen the bulwarl,s of
constitutional liberty prostrated, it has
seen Hsbcas Corpus, Freedom Of the
Press, Liberty OF Speech, State Rights,
in q word, all that made the United States
free country, swept away bp the fierce
blasts of civil war. while those who dared
to advocate and sustain these great prin
ciples were flung into prison or driven into
exile.
Arc these crimes against Democratic
freedom to be continued VIII President
johnson ignore his political faith, or will
he obtain forhimself proud, a high name
in the future by returning to the old time
honorsd policy of which he was once Il
stern and uncompromising advocate? ? We
believe that Mr.. Johnson means to thwart
the designs OF the Abolitionists, and we
know that he has done many things for
which he is now violently denounced by
their leaders. They have already declared
themselves against his policy, and in
meeting which they held in Boston ON the
Dist ult. they insisted that "none should
be allowed to vote who are not loyal, and
that none should be excluded from voting
because Of their race or color" So they
have constructed their platform, and it is
in direct opposition to the policy of the
President, who is denounced by many as
being too lenient, as making too free a
use Of the pardoning power, and as ex-
ceeding his Constitutional authority, for
these iharplots and anarchists talk of re-
specting the Constitution when it serves
their turn.
This stand taken by the Executive on
the question of negro suffrage, and the
inauguration of the new movement by the
Radicals are the healthiest signs Of the
times with which we have yet been favor
ed. The line is at last distinctly drawn
between the conservative and radical par
ties, the grand amalgamation of so-called
"patriots" is rapidly dissoIying, the poll
teal chaos is fast disappearing, and there
are at last good grounds for hope that we
will yet have an organization which viii
bear some resemblance to that of the old
Democratic party. Mr. johnson knows
well that without State Rights this country
must either fall into anarchy, or resolve
itself into permanent despotism, a form
of government which we do not believe
this people are yet prepared to adopt al
though their political education. during the
last four years was rapidly qualifying them
for such a system. We do not believe
that the President will allow the restric-
tionsIwhich now press upsn the energies OF
the Southern States, to remain much
longer in force, and we call upon him in
view of the coming Fourth of July to re-
move the remaining links of the chain by
which the tens of thousands of aohite men,
men of his oi0B race, are still held IN Po-
litical slavery. Let him render the day
still more memorable by issuing a Procla-
nation of General Amnesty restoring
Americans to all the rights for the main
tenance of which the men who gave birth
to the Republic pledged their lives, their
Il