The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-11-26

Democrats ofFranklin, one ofits bright,
est pages will be devoted to you. L say
this, not to draw comparisons, not 70
detract from the merits of others, IoI
fall we'll do I know what the Democra-
cy of the whole State, nay, what the
Democracy everywhere, had to endure;
know how they were misunderstood
by good men, reyiled by bad men, dis
trusted by timid men, hated by narrow
minded and passionate men. But yeti
is appropriate to this occasion, 1t Is
right, here on this spot, to speak to You.
1t is right, while we award gratitude to
all who have suffered for liberty's sake,
to recall the years, oh, how long they
seemed-when you were misunderstood,
when You were reviled, when you were
threatened, when in the eyes of old hon
ored friends you saw coldness and dls,
like, where friendship and love had
formerly beamed; it is right, say, TO
recall these years, not to draw compar-
isons, not to inculcate revenge, not TO
bear malice, but to profit, in all charity
aud wisdom, by the lessons they teach.
But here let me observe, that ef all cour-
age that has ever been developed, there
is none equal to that which, for the
sake of truth, endures, year by year,
month by month, week by week, day
by day, the constant presence OF dis
like, defamation and danger. In the
excitement of battle, even timid man
may, in the recklessness of desperation,
perform feats of apparent valor; brave
man may, under the inspiration that
the brave only can feel, rival the deeds
of Hector or Achilles; but to live, year
after year, conscious of the rectitude,
yet misunderstood, misrepresented,
looked at with coldness and suspicion,
nay, threatened with violence, this is to
try o mans courage indeed. And this
is prs cisely what you have undergone;
this is precisely the manner in which
ysu have been tried. This is precisely
the proof that you have given of patri-
otism, courage and fortitude.
But, my friends, while we remember
these things, let us be just. No man de-
tests more than do, the mean, and base,
and selfish, and sordid. But all are not
mean, or base, or selfish, or sordid. If
that were so, popular government would
be impossible. Ifthat were so, the most
despotic government would DO the best
government. But it is not 80. Men
in times of high public excitement,
say and do what their cooler judg-
ments condemn. Men say and do that
which it would be folly to remember.
How many who have Joined US this year
have hated us in the last seven years
Shall we, therefore, repel them Shall
we, therefore, Ostracise themi Shall
we, therefore, try them by bed of Pro-
crustesi No, fellow Democrats, no.
Whoever is the friend of our country row
is our friend. Whoever will assist us to
rescue the Republic from destruction de-
serves our hearty welcome. Vae rictis
woe to the conquered-is the cry of
the Radicals-not our cry. 1t is the
slogan that calls for Disfranchisement,
and Confiscation, and Negro Supremacy.
1t is not the maxim of wisdom, of vir-
tue, or Of patriotism. No, my friends,
though We have cause for anger and i'll
will, if such passions were ever justiti-
able, yet let us remember the words of
Holy Writ: "H9 that's slow to anger is
better than the mighty; and he that
ruleth his spirit greater than he that
taketh u city"