The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-05-17
Disabusine the Public MIND.

The three prominent agencies in the form.
alton and. direction of public sentiment in
this country are the press, the pulpit, and
hustings. In the majority of instances dur
ing the civil war through which we have just
passed, these have acted in unison, in the
general inculcation that the danger to which
the nation was exposed demanded the exer-
else of extraordinary and Unconstitutional
powers. The democratic party has, with all
the earnestness and ability it could com.
mand, opposed this assumptions. It's argu.
ments have been met by q general charge
from its opponents that its members were not
actuated in their opposition by respect for
the principle involved, but by hostility to the
government. In other words, its arguments
have been met by an attempted impeachment
of its motives. The majority of those direct
ing the agencies to which we have referred
were sufficiently intelligent to know that the
charge was entirely unfounded, and would
therefore have been purely malevolent had
not partisan interest combined TO make the
COMMISSION of its truthfulness in the public
mind one of advantage to them. The repub-
fcan press, pulpiteers and stump speakers
have deliberately retailed and insisted on the
Islander. and have justified the arbitrary vio-
lence of cabinet officers. and the defiance of
law which is no exhibited in the trials of
the assassination conspirators at w ashingtop,
and which has ELECTED the severe condemna
ton OF the press of both parties. 1t ought to
be matter of surprise that the newspapers
OF political party in this country would Join
In making an accusation of "disloyalty"
against political opponents whose support of
the constitution and integrity of their coun-
try had been their distinguishing character
istic. and had arrayed them in opposition to
those making the charge. The impudence of
such proceeding fully equals its dishonesty.
and 1t argues poorly for the virtue and intel
| lgence of this country when reckless parts
anshlp embraces so high field and trium phs
by the employment of such means. And il
| this be true of republican journalism, what
| shall be said of the prostitution of the pulpit?
In what ht terms can we characterize the
| engagement OF protested ministers of Jesus
| In the work of deliberate Islander 1t IS char
| ity to hope that many of them were so ignor-
| ant OF the positions and principles of the
democratic party, that they were not aware
of the extent of their guilt, but if this be So
how supreme should be our pity or contempt
| for an ignorance so profound, as the subjoned
| testimony by Abraham Lincoln in bis las
| annual message will disclose. In reference
| to the election he said
| sit 10 an unansw cradle argument that no cand.
| idate for any Office whatever, high or low ha,
| yentured to seek votes on the avowal that he wa,
| ioI giving up the UulOn. Inere nave been mucf
| impugnIng OF motives and much heated controv,
ersy as to the proper means and best mode fol
| advancing the Union cause but on the distinct
| issue OF Union or no Union, the politicians have
| shown their instructive knowledge that there ii
| NO diversity among the people,
Let it not be supposed that deem it neces
sary by this testimony from Mr.. Lincoln to vindi
cate the Unionism of the democratic party. w,
introduce it as a conclusive refutation of tn,
| charge to which we have referred, from one who
as the candidate of the party making the accuse
| ton, stops them from all efforts at Defence
They are convicted by his evidence and it is tnei
condemnation, not our acquittal that we look Of
| ter herein. We wish to show the results to which
their malevolehce and reckless dishonesty hav
led. They have melted and justified the lawless
ness which they now condemn. They have ma
i ligned and traduced the motives of those VIII,
condemned it at the outset, and now when Their
| is nothing in the situation of the country which
does not afford as complete publication for tn
trial of ofenses against civil law by military trib
unals as when they appeared as advocates of sucl
trials, they learn that they must disabuse tn
mind OF the people from errors they have laugh
them. In the bitterness, predjudices and passion
which their inculcations have engendered, tn
people have been led to the general conclusion
that censure of the administration is''disloyalty
Now when it is seen that the despotism of Stan
ton is continued, although the pretence which ha
| been offered in its support no longer exists, thu
republican press has Weakened to the danger o
permitting him to exercise such power Their,
has been little of permanent impressiveness il
their teachings touching the right of the admins
tration to judge when necessities arise justifyin,
disregard of the constitution and assumption o
powers forbidden by it, If there is not formida
BILE sentiment in the country to-day ready to up
hold the secretary of war in acts more dangeronl
to the liberties of the people, land more deliber
stely insulting to the nation, than the trial of tn.
accomplices. of Booth by . military commission
|