Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-07-25
WATCHING AND PRAYING.

WATCHING AND PRAYING.
Since tho defeat OF the Democratic
party In 1860, Its hungry leaders have
been anxiously watching and not un-
frequently praying for the occurrence OF
soma national accident or misfortune
tha. would engender discomfort among |
the people and destroy their confidence !
In the Republican Party. Amy calamity, |
no matter how disastrous, that would |
have improved the chances Of their par
~ for success, would have been welcomed |
by these men with AS much enthusiastic |
feeling as the SURRENDERED Lee and john
ston and the overthrow of the rebellion
was received by the loyal people Of the
country. Bull Run, they thought, was
the lntcrposition of Providence to save
the confederacy and the Democratic par
ty; but that disaster, If II may be 70
termed, only increased the dctermiua-
ton of the people to destroy both. The
capture of hundreds OF thousands of
prisoners and their inhuman treatment
by the Southern Confedercy, they hoped,
would crcatesuch dissatisfaction among
the prisoners and their friends, and go
prevent the Government from recruiting
her nrrnics, as to ocompelan abandonment
o. the war; but the sutferings Of these
prisoners were as offerings upon tho altar
Of liberty, whose incense only inspired
patriotism and increased determination
to destroy power that 30 inhumanly
treated the brave men who, by the
chances Of war, were placed within its
power.
The Emancipation Proclamation, they
believed, was mistake In the President
thnt would prove fatal TO the party in
power, by dividing IT'S forces and en-
cournglng a reaction in favor of the DEM
ocantic party but, however startling Its
ennunciations because Of their contraven-
ton of the democratic theories upon the
sacred character of the institution Of
slavery, tho popular heart, whose pulsa-
tons had been quickened by two years
sharp conflict for the preservation Of the
Union against the attacks of tho slave
power of the country, felt rejciced that
condition Of war, inaugurated in the
interest OF slavery, gave power to the
Government to destroy the blighting
curse that a timo Of peace had never
afforded, and the Proclamation saved the
Union and the Republican Party.
The immense sums Of money necessary
to carry on the war could uot be obtained
except by forced loans. The people never
would submit to have their hard-earned
wealth torn from them in that way, and
the war must cease for want Of means to
carry 1t on but the people furnished all
tho money asked for, and would have
furnished moro II necessary. The en-
cTmous debt contracted during tho WAL
was crushing out tho life OF the country,
tho heavy taxes necessary to pay the In.
terest thereon were impoverishing the
people; and they could not and woult
not long bear with the party hat hat
entailod these evils upon them. Tho
people felt that this debt was tho result
OF tho war forced on the country by the
Democratic party, and that they could
afford to pay the debt because by the wal
they had got rid of the Democratic par
~. They also felt that there was II,
truth In the declaration that this heav,
dobt and the taxes necessary to pay th'
interest thereon were running the coun
try and impoverishing its people, for al
around they behold the evidences o
prosperity never equaled before. TIL
merchant and manufacturer were doinI
better than they ever done before. TIL
farmer, mechanic and laboring man re
ceived better wages than they ever re
ceived before. In the shape of neN
fences, new barns, new dwelling houses
new churches and new school house!
the evidences Of prosperity were every
where visible, and the people never pal
their taxes with less Inconvenience G
annoyance. AS last hope they wante
10 see II the fountain OF our resource
might not be dried up, and short Gro
produce the discomfort they had 80 Ion
prayed for but, 10! a Kind Providenc
who directed the nation amidst its cor
fict Of arms, has, In the hour OF peaC
touched our soil with his finger OF plent,
and like great cornucopia II yields a
abundant supply.
Thus the hopes Of the Democracy hay
been blighted. Its prayers and tea
have thus far been unavailing. It's trl
character, however, has been establish
cd. without principles, without poll,
unless opposition to everything dol
or advocated by the Republican Party
It's policy-it hopes for ultimate succe
In spite OF its biighting record during Il
war, through the occurrence of sor
underlined evil or misfortune, for whl
1t is constantly watching and praying
Such - Democracy!
- -
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