Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-12-11

and then they were marked out for instan
and remorseless sacrifice To add insult tC
outrage as the editors and proprietors o
these newspapers were elected from office
or deprived OF the little advertising they
had received from the Government, theii
| immediate antagOnists-thc men who had
throughout the war sympathized with the
traitors, and who had selected Andrew John.
son as the chiet object of opprobrium-tho
men who had contributed to the encourage
ment OF the rebellion by maintaining the
| Democratic organization in the free States
the libellers OF Lincoln, the opponents OF
the draft, the apologists of the riots in New
York, and the enemies of the Union soldiers,
were made the recipients of the bounty of
the Government, and in all cases authorized
TO speak for tho Executive elected by Repuh-
lican votes. Applause. In my own State
OF Pennsylvania there was hardly county
in which this terrible prescription was not
practised, and thus il was that not only the
vile partisans and the notorious agents Of
treason in the free States were honOred by
Andrew johnson, but the newspaper organs
OF the same party were everywhere distin-
guished. The effect can hardly be described.
So far from demoralizing or discouraging the
loyal press, Andrew Johnson's maleyolence
inspired them with new courage; and if the
recent elections effected one thing more salu-
ing in the loyal press constant and vcto-
rious conscience. tApplause. Never before
has political campaign been so permeated
and purified by holy principles. The ability
and industry, the learning, the devotion to
truth of the citizens who had command Of
the loyal press soon created an irresistible
sentiment, filling the minds of the people as
with new light, and carrying conviction to
hundreds of thousands who had before sur
rendered themselves willing subjects TO
slavery and bigotry. [Applause.l There is
something absolutely sublime in the contem-
plation Of the work wrought by these con-
quering agencies A little more than twelve
years ago the States which now constitute
the very fortress of the Republican Union
party were Democratic strongholds. Maine,
New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois. Wis
consln, Iowa, California, Oregon, and Mis-
souri,, in the days before the great principles
began to operate upon the minds of men,
proudly enrolled themselves in what was
called the Democratic party, but some at an
earlier and others at later day, have been,
believe forever sealed to the great organiza-
ton which stands boldly committed to the
fulfilment of the promises of the Declara-
ton of Independence. [Applause.l The
men who effected this tremendous and un-
paralleled evangelism are the loyal thinkers,
writers, and toilers connected with the loyal
press Of America [Applause And not
only have they destroyed the Democracy of
the olden time, giving to the mighty brother
hood which has in charge the destines of the
Republic the best talent and best vigor of
that organization, but they have dislocated
and demoralized what is left of that once
formidable party. Six short weeks ago and
the whole Copperhead press, North and
South, denounced the Republican party as
the party of negro suffrage and negro equali- |
ty, and 1t was only by this single cry that
they contrived to gather their followers
around their candidates. To-day the great
conscience which has given to the Republi-
can press of America the victorious advance
in this terrible struggle has wrought the
completest conversion Of many Of the Cop
perhead leaders, and prepared the way for
the inevitable absorption of the Copperhead
party. [Long-continued applause Even
as that party was sinking into a perpetual
minority, the voice came forth as II from the
very grave of its hopes clamoring for relief
and confessing repentance. The demonstra-
ton of the Chicago Times, which you may
regard as the utterances of desperate parti-
san seeking for a safe and solid ground upon
which to gather his scattered hordes, is not
the less tribute to the truth, nor a surren-
der to the great conscience which has given
such incalcuable power to the loyal press of
the United States. [Applause. The ex-
ample of this single newspaper has had many
imitators, and very soon even before we have
advanced-probably before the close of the
present Congress, if the unity and courage
of these sublime msjorities are maintained,
as trust and believe they will be-we shall
be called upon to witness the spectacle of
of the Democratic leaders claiming to be
among the formost defenders of the very
doctrines they have only recently despised
tCheers.l There is satisfaction as well as
admonition in this thought. 1t shows to us
that we cannot, even if we desired to- stand
still. We must go on. We must progress;
and in progressing we must improve our
principles and perfect our destiny After
some further remarks in elaboration of this
idea,. Colonel Forney concluded amid tire.
mendous applause.