The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-03-13
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
How often have u spirits become
clouded when We contemplate the sad
thoughtof "what wo are and what we
might have been" A retrospective
glance at the condition Of national af-
fairs, and a view Of what now exists,
bring us to the unwelcome thought that
we are changed-and changed for the
worse. For the last five years our desti-
ny has been shaped by a prejudiced, vile
and corrupt class Of politicians, who, for
the sake of self ACKNOWLEDGMENT, have
attempted to force upon the American
people q constitution stripped of its ma.
tive grandeur, robbed Of its elegance,
and disrobed Of the shield and armor
that make It an instrument Of protection
to the great principles Of Democracy ;
that made the honest heart of every
American citizen swell, to know that he
lived in a country 80 great, 80 powerful,
so liberal. Where now, We ask, is this
wonted iberality? II has given place 10.
narrow minded, hide-bound, over bearing
exacting disposition that cries to the
humble, yet honest citizen, kiss The hand
that smites you, and lick the hated foot
that tramples in the dust your rights,
your liberties, and your protection.
Whose heart-be it North or South
did not leap for joy-whOse hopes for
the future prosperity and good feeling of
the whole people, North and South, did
not rise to the very zenith Of gratitude,
when those great master spirits of the war,
LEE and GRANT, Shook hands across the
gulf of FIRE and blood that for FIVE long
years had separated them, and commcnc.
ed, as seemed they, to entwine the olive
branch With our national future. Who,
on the other hand, could help but per.
ceive the storm-cloud of despotism dark.
oning the political horizon, when Hide.
signing and unprincipled politicians
checked the returning tide Of peace that
could have made America what America
was aye, more than what she was; for
if it were not for the bad men, whose
shadows darkeu the political present and
disgrace the high positions they hold, we
might have attained to that most euvia.
bic Of positions, which is q nations cul,
minating point, and a nations pride, The
most liberal in peace, the most pOwertul
in ,car. But the issue, whether it be ia.
tai or not, is upon us. The honest PEG,
pie of the nation have fallen upon times,
in which they must yield to a sacrifice of
their liberty and their rights, to the de.
struction Of The Constitution, which was
their former guide and protection, and
inheritance, or brook the influence Of the
vilest and most powerful conspiracy that
ever imperiled the progress Of Democrat.
10 principles.
The great question, that the future
must solve, is, can the influence Of those
who are now in power and conSpinng
against the palladium Of American liber.
erty, be subverted7--can this influence,
which is glory to those who WELD it, and
destruction to the rights Of those who
oppose 1t, be successfully thvsrted ?
Are honest men equal to the taskH II
so, there is yetin store o reward for hon.
esty aud perseverance, 6rmness and bold.
ness, srch as should elicit earnest effort
and indefatigable exertion from every
man who loves liberty aud hates oppres.
sion. The men against whom we urge
opposition, are those against whom the
blood Of thousands and tens Of thous-
ands are now crying for vengeance
War and carnage have made them what
they are. "BloOd letting has filed
their cofers-and now, with red hands
and black hearts, they, by their actions,
evince q disposition to carry out their
wicked designs or inaugurate another dis!
graceful inlernecine war ore the blood
has dried upon the swords Of the brothers
and kindred who fought against each
other in the terrible conflict from which
our country has just emerged. II hon.
est endsayor will bring a just reiribu.
ton upon these offenders against the
rights of humanity, b II not the duty Of
esery citizen to use all honorable means
within bis reach 4 bring about this mer.
lied result T. II our ssortsu arc properly
put forth we may uproot The calculations