Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-29

ticular, admit But would IL be of use? {?
very much doubt it. The public mind re-
fuses to be diverted from the consideration
of the disintegrated state of our Union, and
to give thought to our material prosperity.
While Democrats assert that States cannot
legally secede, and that the acts of the
Southern States in attempting to do so
were void, the "loyal" party of the country
assert that they did secede, and are now
returned to us as conquered provinces. This
great difference between parties as direct
issue, is of so large Importance that there
does not seem room In the public mind for
thought and reflection on any other. And
questions of political economy not having
been discussed among the people, Democrats
or their opponents, to any large extent, for
years back, there is great danger that the
decisions ola National Convention on these
subjects would not be as wise aud endur-
| ing as would bring peace and harmony
4 to the party. Certainly at this time,
; we need 10 new issues to produce
division among us, or to prevent
accessions to our ranks. What we want
most now is more assured conhdencein our
present position, upon which we are sub
stantialiy unit, and more aggressive
statement oft. The powerofparties passes
away, public sentiment changes, thebillows
| of the ocean are not more unsubstantial or
| less firm. In the Union we are in major
ity; in the North in minority, it is true,
but In one which from its numbers may
any day become majority, and will, If we
but manfully stand by our measures and
principles. That we are not in a majority
now is our own fault. We have allowed,
without just resentment, assaults and
falsehoods monstrous as those of MORTON to
circulate by the hundred thousand, and
simply confined ourselves to defensive
policy. We have thought it sufficient to
deny the lie without adequately branding
the liar. We have too tamely borne the |
charge, falsely made, of unfaithfulness to |
country, without, with sufficient energy, de- |
nouneing both the SANDER and the coward
ly slanderers. 1t has seemed to paralyze |
our people that the men who stimu-
lated the passions that made our civil
war, could win majorities by their own
wrong, and too many have despaired
of the Republic, and become merely
irritated and apathetic, and in some in
stances uselessly violent. This is not what
is wanted. 1t is to feel the truth, that
while our eminent men are not in office
that while majOrities have, for the time
being, passed to our opponents-yet that
with the Democratic party is alone the
the integrity and the pat
riOtism, not to govern the country by
prejudice, but to administer its governmentI
by reason, for the largest good of the
largest number, and only with them and
not with their opponents. That effort,
faith and persistence alone tend to
for party, for principle, or for coun-
try, and to clearly comprehend that "the
fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves,
that we are underlings.p To be perma-
tyrannical faction as now rules, is discred-
table to any people. The Democracy can
change it, if they will heartily 60 about it.
And they must. But this is to be done as
well, and better, by persistence than by new
-
1t is true the people, by small majority
of the Northern States, are against us, and
have repeatedly refused us their confidence.
But tits because, for the time being, passion
and prejudice have been made the substi-
ute for argument and reason. This state
Of things is but temporary madness,
which cannot last. Yet we need not be
surprised that the passions of a civil war
70 terrible as ours have not subsidized, in
lay or year, or that for a time the voice
If reason and prudence has been unheard.
This is not new feature in Republics.
The outrage Of the proposed Republican
amendment to the Constitution to exclude
almost every man who has force and intel
igence in the South, from participating
,ither in the State or National Govern
nent, has never yet in the North been
discussed. The violations of the Constitu-
ion, in the Freedmen's Bureau and Civil
Rights acts have been too tamely dealt
With. The assaults on regulated law, the
the frauds OF the party in power,
nave been too easily passed by, as the nee
,ssary acts of the war power. Loyalty
md pious pretense have covered sins large
enough to damn nation, without adequate
'ebuke. IT we are ever to stay the march
o despotism of the incapables, who know
10 way to preserve power to themselves
tut by the ruin Of our institutions, we
must carry with aggressive energy the
var into Africa, that is, against the loyal
African party. .a.
Without National Convention,on the
;th of January, the Democracy of Ohio,
han whom is none truer in tho Union,
AN again, as heretofore, unfurl the Demo-
ratio banner and inscribe on 1t those prin-
iples for which all can, will, and must
light. In the boldness of our declarations
# our principles, in our stern persistence
or their sustainment, in our assurance
hat no temporary force and violence shall
,e allowed to defeat them, we can bring a
moral power to check (even without office
IT position in the presently the threatened
buses Of power that are 80 dangerous to
public freedom. )ijt gss vToifl
1t should be asserted, and we ought to
,repare to maintain It by every practicable