The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-06-24
putty OF Young Men.
From the Utica Herald.

man attain for the first time to the dig
nitv of the elective franchise. In
CLOSELY contested elections these new
voters may decide the result. may by
their ballots designate the officers who
4 SbaII hold the reins of government, and
J oTdain the policy which shall control
The nation and determine its future.
Mo-, who have become enlisted in par
tisau controversy are held by pride OF
looinIon and OF consistency to adhere TO
their creed and their leaders, Ihose
who are unfertered by such consider
atoms are free to choose their ground,
IN select their candidates untrammeled,
n direct their political action to the
nest and Worthiest interests of the Re-
public.
situation2 Two parties are in the field,
One party is that which met the storm
of rebellion, bravely and firmly. The
record is recent. It organized the forces
| of the Union for the national defense; 1t
raised the money for maintaining ar
mics in the field; 1t employed all the re-
sources OF the Government to save the
| Union; in success and in disaster 1t
pressed steadily on TO the final victory.
If the war had failed, the odium would
/ have attached to ii. The glory OF the
victory is distinctly its own. That
party abolished slavery, and relieved
the nation from its curse and its
disgrace. It put coloHed soldiers
into the field, and thus crippled the foe,
and enlarged our armies. The same
has led back to their relations to the
Union, seven OF the ten States tainted
by rebellion, and has brought them
back without servile, hostile popula-
ton, with labor and education free, and
with Institutions resting on the consent
OfHll classes OF the governed. The 9TH
er party has been simply and only des-
tructive. 1t opposed all the measures
of the Government for self-preserya-
ton it caFPed at taxation and resisted
the draft, without which the war could
not have been prosecuted ; 1t gave its
sympnthies and It's prophisies to those
who were In arms against the Govern
ment IT struggled persistently to pre-
vent the abolition OF slavery; although
in il lay the strength Of the rebellion.
The same party opposed the addition to
our armies OF the fighting material out
n population of four millions. 1t has
protested against reconstruction based
wOnthe victory over the rebellion. The
Union party fought the war, and or
ganized the peace. The opposing par
ty, falsely called democratic, never en-
listed heartily in the war, denounced
all the strong measures essential to sue
conditions of peace formally establish
ed, and riPening into quiet and order
and beDeticieut prosperity.
Let us DO no injustice TO this party.
Individual members of it, have acted a
patriotic role and adhered to its organ.
ization. Beaten in its opposition TO
coercion. its leaders fell back to carping
at the war taxes. As the taxes were
collected, it shed blood to prevent the
draft. When taxes and the draft were
acquiesced in, it waged bitter conflict
in behalf of slavery. Slavery perish
ed, and It's arguments were turned
against negro soldiers. The bravery
and devotion of these new recruits,
overcome opposition. The latest wind
mill the professional grumbleTs have TO
combat, is negro suffrage. Even that
tie party seems willing to aCquiesce
in, as the price OF return to power.
Between these mo parties, one stri-
king difference exists. In every case
from the beginning OF the war TO this
hour, the progress OF events has juSti
fled the course of the Union party, in
its grand measures; and in every case
they have exposed the hollowness and
meanuess of the prelensions of the
sham democracy. Step by step The
country has approved of the Union
policy, and constantly the democracy
have been compelled substantially to
confess that its evil prophecies were
wrong, its attitude false, It's pretensions
blunder and crime.
The fault OF the.Union marty, lift has
been fault, has been faith IN the Re
public and its principles. Its oppo-
nents have been carping Infldels, hav-
IN. no trust either in the cardinal ideas
o! the Union, or in the American peo-
( pie. With whom ought the young men
l of the country iry to cast their fortunes?
/ Looking back over the heroic years
( just passed, which record is that which
/ deserves approval? Which party
cOuTageously accepted the odium of
destroying every fetter, and listening
neither 70 timidity nor to ease, con-
5tTucted anew the national structure on
the old foundations?
The candidates of the Union party
! GtlY represent the faith and fidelity
which in civil life and on the field, sns-
I tanned its principles and thus saved the
Republic. No matter who may he
designated on the other side, the per-
sons selected will represent the grum-
blers and Carpers OF the war, and the
opponents OF the confident heroism
which was our salvation. Possibly the
New York convention may by acquies-
cling in the situation, acknowledge the
constructive wisdom OF the work OF the
Union party. That will only be a
frank confession OF the ofTenses OF the
democracy in the past.
The party of the future is the party
which never despRiTed of the Republic.
! That Ia the party Tor young meftO cast
their fortunes with and to work for.
-------" $50