The mountain Democrat., 1865-01-21
rae MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT.
putx OF the Denecraex.
"Ax ERA or GOOD FEELIxa'-A MoDEsr Pro.
pOSfrfoN

ahire Patriot, many OF the Republica
leaders and papers have become exceed
ingly anxious for ian era of good feeling;
and how do they propose to bring it about
Why, they very modestly propose tina
the supporters Of General Mcclellan shal
abandon their principles, ignore all regar,
for truth, consistency, honor and patriot
ism, cease all opposition to the Admins
trs,,eN, and join heartily in support of it
policy and measures! Tiis is the sun
and substance of their demands. The
propose to yield nothing on their part
they urge "a united North, but to Obtain
it they will "yield not an inch" 1t l.
true, the President is now willing to admi
that those who supported him do not EN-
brace nil the patriotism Of the land, ant
Mr. Seward magnanimOusly says that il
the Democracy will now conclude to be
quits, is, iC they will all become
earnest supporters Of Lincoln,--he will
admit that his party "has Judged them
pretty harshly"! This is the con>era.
ton offered to the Democracy uf the Union
TO induce them to abandon their orCaniza.
ton aud principles and unite in support
Of policy and measures which they be
licve ruinous to the country and certain
10 result in the utter destruction Of per
sonaI freedom AMI public liberty! This
is modest truly! 1t is the winning invi.
tatlon OF the spider to the ily.
This proposition Of the Republican lead.
trS is even more insulting and offensive to
the patriotic Democracy than the shame
ful abuse and misrepresentation hereto.
fore hcaped upon them; for it adds Insult
10 injury. II is an Impeachment of both
their intelligence and their honesty II
implies that their opposition to the Al
mlni>tratipn has been insinccrc, not die,
tsssd hy ho"e>t convictions of duty, re-
gard for principle and desire to promote
the interests Of the people aHd the real
welfare OF the county. 1t implies that
they are mercenarics, flctinni>ts, unprln.
cp'cd men, scckinS OILY personal ends,
regardless Of The demands Of pltrinli>m
aud the prOmptings 1t conscientious ddtv.
II implies that political defeat can con
WAGE them that their opinions are un.
tJunled, their principles unSonnd, aad
their honest course of action wrong and
unpatriotic. II thus insults their ntrlli.
genrc aud Impeaches their honesty and
paifiot!>n,
To >ach a proposition honest Demo
Gratis have but one answer. They have
opposed tac Administrator from honest
tincere ami patriotic mutiyc>--bccanSc
they con.clentinI>ly believe its policy,
measures and course Of conduct are sure
70 result IN The utter ruin Of the country
and the destruction Of ali that i valuable
TO trcemen. They believe that the Union
can never be restored under its manage.
urnt--'hat peace and prosperity can new.
trrt>u.t thrr.frntn, aud tat Constitution
:, liberty cannot survive under II. For
tnI> reason they have Opposed it; AMI ,Ir
feat in the election, even if honestly and
fatty incIrte.l, can have 10 ten urv L.
remove Ia, - j,.'ipn or To rou,iuc. t.em
hist their opposition Las zen wrorg.
~: the Democracy Of the country.
trlt to thvir ua'htjynal reputation, ac1uI
c>cc in the d, ci>!pn ot the ballot box. al.
though firmly convinced that il is not the
unbiased, tir" and f.r expression Of trr
popular 1t has been obtained through
the legal forms, and they Acknowledge It's
tlnlInS force: They admit that ii is 4
icrina cnd'rsencnt arl approval Of the
policy and measures ami avowed purPo-
SEES nj the Administrator. But il is a new
lea in the Country that such "A decision
L DIS all men IN Yield np their adverse
opinions and give in their adherence 10
the principles aud measures thus endors-
Ell. Snch an idea is not only contrary to
the very theory Of Constitutional Govern
mrnt, but contrary To The practice of the
past. No party in the past has ever thus
cuhlncted-t'Iu >tultiticl and eliminated
themselves - thus publicly impcachcl
their Own motives ard confessed them.
selves IDIOTS ard knavcs. Nor will the
Democracy do 80 IoH. They sc no rca.
son for abandoning their principles, ignor-
ing their political views. or describing or
changing their sincere opinions in regard
TO the policy AMI measures Of the Admin
istration. 1t is one t'iinS to acqui.sce in
defeat at the ballot box, and quite another
thing to yield assent II the measures AMI
principles thus approved. The Dernocra-
cy believe that decision Wrong--that the
people have been miSird, mistaken; and it
is no less their duty now to labor to cor,
rect that mistake and reverse that decision
when the proper time arrives, than it was
10 labor to prevent that wrong decision
before il was made. And we believe that
daty will be performed, faithfully and
firmly.
Let the Democracy reflect upon the
course of the Administration, its gross
and admitted violations of the ConStIln
ton, its al biirary and inhuman infringe
ments Of personal liberty and private
nights, its shameful corruption, lis de>pot
lc and illegal use Of power to accomplish
personal and party ends, and more than
all. Its deploi bile policy in the manage
ment OF the warts prryerSion from Il
struggle Ia maintain the Union to a war
for Abolition, devastation, plumber and
robbery. and-its apparent determination
to make it perpetual, with all the blood,
Shed, MISERY aud ruin consequent thereon
DO they see any thing in tie result Of the
election to reconcile ;nrm to all this and
TO induce ITEM TO approve and aid in its
continuance? Let them reflect upon the
PARTISAN and vIudirtive conduct Of the
supporters of Lincoln, and listen to the
threats Of personal vengeance against their
Opponents daily uttered in the streets. -
Let them notice the thousands Of cases Of
men turned out of employment since the
election for the crime Of having voted AS
their convictions Of duty prompted. Is
there any thing so attractive in all this as
to induce them to give up their principles
and join in support Of men who are guilty
of these Outrages upon themselves and
their associates We think not On the
contrary, these things, the acts and words,
the threats and known purposes Of the
party in power, furnish ample reason for
our continued opposition to them, and at