Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-09-21
Democrats, be Active.

There never was time in the life of the
Democratic party when there was so much at
stake as there's is at the presenttim To this,
il may be added that scarcely ever was the
opposition as formidable as it now is, or as
daring in its efforts and INSCRIPTIONS in its
designs as it is to day; nor has there ever be.
fore in the experience Of the Democratic
party been a period in which success dcpcn-
dcd so largely upon untiring energy.
1t may lie imagined by many that success
or otherwise depends wholly upon platforms,
whercases aud their following resolutions.
1t is true that victory depends largely upon
the excellence of cause; but next to this as
an element of success, and not unirequently'
superior to it, is energy If, therefore, the
Democracy shall win in the coming cleo
tions, it will have done it quite as much by
the activity of the party as through the
merit of its platform.
There Is, says Shakespeare, tide in the
affairs of men which if taken at the food
leads on to fortune; and the same is true of
parties For the past four years it has been
ebb tide with the Democracy; the party has
been, during no small part of that time,
stranded and helpless. But now the tide
is turning and flowing in, and will soon be
full; and if we do not avail ourselves OF the
opportunity to get ourselves afoat, it will
be through our own negligence and want OF
effort,
Not merely the selfish instincts Of party
existence should inspire US at this time, but
the love of country. To great extent these
are identical, and what benefits the one ben
efits also the other. What ever greatne: $
this country has gainel has been through
the management of the Democratic party,
and whatever Of war and disintegration and
indebtedness have fallen upon it, have oc-
CURED under the power of the opposition.
We have, therefore, the history Of the past
as well as the desires of every Democrat to
prove that the interests of Democracy and
those of the Union are inscparable. With
these two motives to give inspiration to our
action, we must achieve success.
If country aud party both afford strong
reasons for activity, there are additional
ones in the character of the obstacles which
must be overcome. Our opponents have u
strong position and are well armed They
are ntrenchcd in all the places of power
and these are scarcely ever successfully as
saultcd unless there exists powerful en-
] tl,,..iu-,, ,,,bi,I b,.,,,,,, Ia, a.,
as one man, to the work. Our opponents
have these almost unapproachablo positions;
and, moreover, they have arraycd on their
side much priestly influence, and much of
the sentimental sympathy Of would be re-
formatory philanthropists. For four years
have they been throwing up their works OF
defence, until now, when legislative halls,
federal Offices, pulpits, and everything avail
able have been fortified and are bristlng
with the arms of abolitionism But the
number and character of these works do
not neccssitatc a conclusion that they are
imprcgnablc; it demands only a proportion
ate effort.
The labor to be performed is wcll-known,
and, with knowledge of its Dimensions, we
have urly ~ muto our effort proportionate-
ly large. We have to fight the dctcstable
doctrines of negro equality; the attempt to
reduce sovereign states to dependencies OF
New England; and II policy which proposes
to place the enormous burden of our ndcbt-
edness upon the shoulders of a portion of
our people The iniquity of the designs of
our opponents should add to our strength
quite as much as does the justice of our
cause.
Therefore, let Democrats everywhere GO
to work. Let each man make the cause oI
the party and of the country his own. We
may not carry all the fall elections but We
can make beginning, and harass and tire
the opposition preparatory to the great as
sault Of next year, and the still greater one
of 1868.