Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-09-21
POLITICAL APosEAoE

Andrew johnson s political treacheriel
and Inconsistencies are unparalleled except
by those of his associate renegades from
the Union party Mr. Seward, but fol
being junior in rank, might almost be said
to have exceeded him. johnson was or.
igninally pro-slavery, anti-progressive
Democrat. and his politics having beer
leavened with that faith in his youth, he
returns to it by the same instinct which
leads dog back to his vomit. He apos-
tatized only from the secession feature OF
+ Democracy, and that having been for the
time being thrust in the back ground, he
hastens to the embrace of his old politi-
cal idol. But what shall we say of Mr.
I Seward who spent the best of his life IN
building up the Republican party, and
who, as one of its chosen leaders, achiev-
ed an illustrious name as a successful
champion of anti-slaFery reforms ? What
shall we say of him who boldly declared
an irrepressible war on all the elements
of oppression, and taking Freedom s
standard in his hand led her hosts in
many glorious contest, winning from
her in the noon day of his manhood a
victors brightest laurels ? But now, hav-
/ ing reached his dotage, William FL. Sew
ard, bellies his past fame, and reverses the
whole current of his political life. Free
dom's conflict is as fierce aud irrepressi-
bic as ever, but Mr.. Seward is not in the
camp of her friends On the contrary,
he is the counsellor and leader of her en-
emies. The cause oftruth can spare him,
his party can spare him, but he cannot
afford to thus falsify himself and trihe
with his reputation.
Mr.. Doolittle's apostacy has the single
apology accorded to Mr.. Johnson-he
was originally a Democrat. This is the
only thing in which he has been consist
ent-he commenced life a Democrat, and
having been metamorphosed into radi-
cal Abolitionist, then a Republican, he
returns to his original faith. He has be-
longed to all parties, but in the Republi-
can ranks he rose to fame, and in the
Democratic he viii sink to ignominy.
His former political associates can but
regard him as trickster and dema-
gogue, and hence-forward no party can
trust him. In reference to the leading
measures of the Union party as well as
in his general political course, he has
equally belied himself. When the civil
rights bill passed the Senate, he happen
ed to be absent, but next day had his
vote recorded IN faVor Of the measure.
A few days afterward the President We
toed the bill and Mr.. Doolittle voted to
sustain the Ueto. Here is one vote saying
the measure is right and just, and anoth
er saying it is unconstitutional and in
famous. Mr.. Doolittle gives the lie to
himself, and passes into history self
branded political cheat, unworthy the re-
speet of honest men.
And Mr.. Raymond, what of him He
voted for the constitutional amendment, |
said he hoped the President would accept
it, and recommend it to the Southern /
States for adoption Soon afterward the
President tried to veto it, and Mr.. Ray
mond in his address presented to the
Philadelphia Convention tells the South
ern people the amendment is an outrage
to which none but poltroons would sub
NIT Which shall we believe-Mr Ray
mond when he indorses the amendment
or Mr.. Raymond when he condemns it E? +
The truth is we can believe neither, and
We set him down as a mere politician who
would sell the birthright of honor and
he jewel Of consistency for a "mess of
postage
Very few others have apostatized from
,ur party who ever were leaders in it. ex-
epting those who were original pro-slave-
y Democrats. The loss of such is well
epaired by the conversion of host of
uch progressive Democrats as Gems. Lo-
an, Butler and Grant to the Republican t
nth. These, taught by the great lessons
f the war, have advanced, while the 9th {
RS, blind to those lessons have gone back
ard. The example of the latter only S
hoWs how unsafe it is to repose the cause S
truth in the hands Of individuals, and I
nat its only safe foundations are laid in
ne great conscience and intelligence of c
f the people. Party leaders may retro C
,ade but the masses will never turn back t
the march of progress. Their for T
ard movement is slow but irresistible. i
I'D woe be unto him who attempts to d
op it. He who has helped to accelerate
.e movement viii only suffer a more
'eedy and more terrible annihiIation if b
: places himself in its way el
Men may afford to be untrue to par 5
IS, but they cannot betray principles Ell
th impunity. They may abandon their N
lends IN one party and find others in A
other, but honor and consistency once Sc
erlheed are gone forever. It is a fear n
thing for man to prove false to him y
# when he becomes identified with az
e cause Of right and justice. His ret he
'utlon may be slow but it viii surely en
me, and may be written In his epitaph. :
Id who knows but William III. Seward y
y yet with his living lips reproach him OF
t in more awful self denunciatiOn nj
N W oolsey who, though he served his ga
ID with only half the zeal he served his
ng, still dared to claim integrity to q
lyen At all events, how much bet en-
for him, for his country, and for the foi
at cause he once fought for SO valiant ALI
had he practised that noble Injunction -
PolOnius to Laertes:
To thine ot07s SELF be t7ate; 90
nd it must follow, as the night the dazy. 20
hOu Caust not than be Iss T., q, ~ - - leWi