Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-08-22
TO the Younu rlen of Ohio.


coming fall, for the first time be allowed to
vote. To them we have few suggestions
to offer-a brief argument to advance in
favor of the support of the Democratic
party.
In few years more the active duties of
life, of our political management and very
existence, will devolve entirely upon those
men just stepping upon the threshold of
manhood. It is of the utmost Importance
then that they should start correctly, and
so be able through future time to hold the
seat of reason with becoming firmhess.-5
Ten years have scarcely passed since the
progress of our country was uninterrupt-
ed. No sectional issue had divided politi-
cal attachment, nor frenzied feeling en-
bittered by party hate become aroused
Believing in one God and one country, If
left as our fathers designed the States to
be-each within its own particular sphere
independent of all the rest, and solely free
excepting as to the power actually surren-
dered to the General Government by the
Constitution, we should to-day have been as
heretofore prosperous and happy and free!
In an evil hour, the passions of the peo-
pie were needlessly awakened. against
particular portion of our countrymen,
and their natural instincts as men, were in
turn quickened into fury, until the horrors
of civil war burst upon peaceful Repub-
lie. Throughout the entire war its pro-
fessed object was to secure an undivided
country. Civil strife, the National Congress
said, with all its consequences, must be
borne indefinitely, ':.the last man and the
last dollar" be summoned to the cause, but
f. the States, as they were, must still exist
O. The United States, they repeatedly affirmed,
should never be divided. Nobody, North
or South, without real or ,solemnly believ-
ed danger to political rights, ever desired
disunion, but the few thousand Abolition
lists, who have disgraced the country for
the last twenty years past. But the war
came, and was fought with fury hitherto
unknown, in order, as the Northern army
believed, to prevent the Southern States
from forming separate government.
Thousands of millions of dollars and hun
dreds of thousands of lives were freely
given to hold an unbroken union of
Statesi The war ended, and imme-
diately the party that was the direct
cause of the war attempts to change
entirely the situation of affairs of
parties of the country. They have at
tempted in defiance of every principle pre-
viously proposed, and of honor and the
Constitution, to overthrow the Govern
ment under which we have lived and
prospered, in the vain hope that by SO
doing they may hold absolute power. For
no other earthly reason have they con-
ceived the infamous and impossible design
of holding the Southern States by military
tenure. Gradually, they have by slow de-
grees, departed from the high path of rea-
son and of right, and now are in the con-
diton described by MILTON, whose experi-
ence and great discernment justified him
in saying that
Reason in man obscured or not obeyed,
immediately y inordinate desires
And upstart passions catch the Government
From reason; and to servitude reduce
Man, till then freeI'
This quotation describes fully the party
who are now endeavoring to enslaye the
people of the South; but if in that they
should prove successful, the violation of
natural right would embolden them to
resort to similar measures to hold
in submission the balance of the
States. Can it be believed that
the men of Ohio and the West would
bow down like slaves before the rod OF ar
bitrary powerp We do not think they
would. The remedy then, it seems, is yet
in our power, and simple one indeed. 1t
is to show them at the polls that tried, they
have been found wanting, and that the
voice of popular indignation consigns
them to infamy. We will not attempt here
to arraign the party by technical rules for
trial. Wherever its influence is felt, and
that is all over the country, every man,
and woman, and child able to reflect, must
be convinced of the load of taxation that
party entails upon us all. And while it re-
mains in power there can be no relief ! In
fact, they do not propose to give us relief,
but simply say that by the aid of negro
uotes they will be able the better to rule
the country! Do you, as young men-as
honest men, hoping before long to bear
your part honorably among the men of
your country, believe in progress like this
Do you think that the fathers of this Re-
public laid its foundation upon principles.
of sound philosophy and patriotism, or
that hoping only for the best, they trusted
to chance tor success? "When everlasting
fate shall yield to tickle chance and chaos
judge the strife" the principles of the
Radical party will be everywhere pro-
claimed.
Let us hope for success, but hope
without vigilance and determined labor
will not avail. We can, if we will,
save our fair tame from further
wrong. We can, if we will, so tri-
umph in October that the usurping power
that contemplates still further invasion
upon our boasted rights will pause and
tremblel Remember that it is alone by
ceaseless watching that liberty can be pre-
served. All history tells through every
age the same sad story, that when the
people sleep the usurper reigns. A hope
full reaction in Ohio will give to other
States renewed encouragement, and in
another year our glad shouts of redemption
may be echoed to the skiesi
Though suffering long and great be our pain, Z
Twill awaken at last to glory again,
And rising like m en- all bound to he free,
Our cause will be crowned with rejoiced liberty.
August 18th, 1867. W..