The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-05-23
From tue Columbus Journal.
Radicalism.

|
| 'Radcalism means root-work the uprootine O
Of falsehOods and abuses" says DR.. Robertson,
and the definition furnishes such ample expana-
ton of Democratic hostility to Radicalism and its
preference for the ahtpodal article, conservatism
that we became willing converts to the quaint
creed of Josh Billings, that "when a man Is right
he can't be too.radical, and when he is wrong he
can't be too conservatives"
Ono would think to hear the popular Democrat
lc denunciatlon Of radicalism with which the press
and stump speeches of that delcctable party are
SO elaborately onamented, that radicals were a
species Of criminals of dceply-dved inamv, whose
designs were subversive of law and Order political
and social, and whose success would be "ehaos
come again.
The term radical is considered the choice anath-
cma of their prolific vocabulary of epithets, and
comprises in its awful comprehensveness of de-
nunci0tion all other terms Of abuse and contume-
ly.
In this connection we wish to call the attention
OF that modcum of the Democratic party that
can read, to some facts in connection with this
horrid chimera known to them as rIdicalism.
In the first place, and because It is an argument
that commends itself at once to the Democratic
mind, be it known, that radicalism is so far from
being odious that it is really the passport to pow
er. Look ut the men most bitterly denounced
for it, aDd 1t will he seen that they are the men
VINO are certain TO be returned to Congress by
heavy and steadily increasing mdi0rites while on
the other hand the wcaR-kneed. invertebrate
member goes back with the most pitiful majority
or is quietly permitted to contemplate his pecll-
liar geological condition in private life. Ilusra-
tons OF this fact are too numerous to REQUIRE
mention here.
1t is urged that the representative of radical
district can afford to be radical because he has
constituency that will sustain him. vet It must be
considered that the radicaism of the representa-
tive has had much to do in leading the constitu-
ency up to his own level.
Thirty years ago Thad Stevens with difficulty
avoided mob of his own neighbors because he
advocated free school system, yet he has led that
constituency onward and upward until to-day
thev stand upon his own level of EXTREMIST radi-
calism.
Again, Tadicdllsm has won many victories, vet
what step taken forward in such a contest was
ever afterwards lost ? Its conquests have this
peculiar advantages when the victory is won all
trouble ceases. No friendly garrisons are needed
from distance to occupy the conquered ground,
for the conquered become at once the allies of the
conquerors. Who ever heard of so much as pc
tition for the re-enactment of the black-aws in
Ohio, or for the restoration of slavery? Radical
ism asks nothing but what is right and its victo-
ries are therefore pure and legitimate, never hu-
initiating the conquered, but rather satisfying
them that their defeat is for their own good.
In this country radicasm has done much. but
the suicidal folly Of conservatism has done more
for the great cause Of human progress. Our
English neighbOrs were more fortunate than we,
in abolshing slavery without bloodshed and with
a comparatively small outlay of money. Yet
there as here, radicalism did the work. 1t wis
not the work Of statesmen nor of rulers. True.
it was done by act of Parliament, but Charming
wrote to Mi Clay that Parliament had done
nothing but record the edlct of the people"
Your offce-hOder of assured position Is little
prone to radiealism. His interests prompt him
to pursue the opposite course. So in this country
our leading statesmen Of the times before the war
were never radical, nor did they become so since
until the people Of the great North with one
heart and voice deereed the triumph Of freedom.
Abraham Lincoln, withall his heart-full belief
in the final triumph of these principals, was not
pioneer, but was led by the people up to the
consummation Of those acts which have placed
him among the immortals and consigned his
murderers to the deepest intamy.
In England 1t was the Clarksons, the Wilber-
forces, and the Granville Sharps, imbued with a
powerful Christian influence, that educated the
nation up to the true standard of radicalism,
while it is John Bright who has received from
their hands the burning torch of the higher civ
ilization in store for England, and to-day keeps 1t
burning brightly.
In America II is our Lovejoys, our John
Browns, and the ndmeless martyrs of Kansas
whose blood has proved the seed Of radlcallsm,
while the Summers, the Stevenses, the Wilson's
and Others have led our Congress forward to ire
cord the verdict of the people,"
We commend these facts to the consideration
Of our doubling friends, and exhort them to study
carefully the progress of radicallsm in the past
few years. and see the substantial advantages to
the country resulting thefefrom then turn and
contemplate the ready acceptance of these VIC
tories by the people, and remember that nothing
is ever settled that is not settled right.