The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-02-19

"a UGH his course has been condemned
by his oppouenfs, no one has ever
breathed a suspicion against his fideli-
ty to his own honest convictions. or
to the cardinal principles OF the,
Democratic faith. He preserved and
maintained that fidelity under eireum-
stances which proved not only his
courage, but his wisdom and states
manship, and by fearlessly enforcing
upon the attention of the people his
views of public duty and Constitutional
rights, as il was his uRdoubted right to
do, he became the victim ola despotism
as infamous and unjusti6able as ever
was imposed upon a free people.
His bearing under these circpm-
stances was courageous aud manly
He told the officers of the Southern
Confederacy, that he came among
them not of his own free will, but
compelled by superior force; and that
he had no sympathy with their effort
to divide the Union and establish q
Southern Confederacy. He found his
way, not through the violation of any
parole or ether obligation, to Canada,
and while there, the Democracy of
Ohio, true to their instinct of man
hood and against the timid c0uBsels
of the very men who still take cOun-
sci from policy instead of principle.
nominated him with unprecedented
enthusiasm for Governor of Ohio.
All remember the incidents of that
memorable campaign, in which the
Hon. George E. Pugh bore himself
so CALAMITY, and placed the Democ-
racy of Ohio under an obligation that
has never been cancelled.
Mr.. Vallandigham, IN due time. re-
turned upon his own responsibility TO
his home-and his safety from re.
arrest was due IN a great measure to
the courage which the Democratic
party. had shown in the preceding po-
ltical campaign.
Since that time he has not been a
candidate, but has been prominently
before the public, and has exerted his
whole power and influence to promote
the ascendency of Democratic princi-
Piles, and the restoration of the Union.
He has contributed at least as much
as any one man in the United States
to maintain the integrity and purity
of the Democratic organization, and
We can say to the New York World,
and to its sympathisers, that there
are thousand sound Democrats in
every part of the United States who
will stand by G. L. Vallandigham,
where they will find one who will ap-
prove their attacks on him.
1t is simply silly for the New York
World to talk Of VallandighaIn as a
traitor in the Democratic camp. or
expect to write him down, or read
him out of the Democratic party.
If such men as ValIandigham and |
his friends were read out of it, there
would be nobody left but a party of |
eunuchs.
To the native courage of the masses
and the bold leadership of the Demo-
cratic party of Ohio In the last cam |
paign, the Democracy of the Union |
is Indebted to that political success,
which properly followed up, would be |
the harbinger of restored Democratic |
aseendency and constitutional liberty. |
But no party ever deserved respect |
or achieved success without courage.
The Democratic party has been /
time and time again cursed and be- /
trayed by the sinister and malignant /
tactics of such papers as the New
York World, seeking TO SOW discord /
In our ranks, to accomplish local and /
sectional purposes, and by those who
put themselves forward as leaders, af-
ter the success of some political for
lorn hope, who counsel with pale lips
how we may give least offense to our
adversaries, instead of boldly ad-
vancing to right the wrongs we have
suffered, and TO restore the sacred
guarantees that have been violated.
The task before the Democratic party
now demands the highest qualities Of
manhood, as we'll as of craftsmanship.
No success is worth the effort unless
it secures the ascendency of Demo-
cratic principles. Better, thousand
times, defeats in an open, honest
struggle for principle, than success, if |
it bring only mere personal triumphs,
the demoralizing spoils of Office and
the gains of legislative blunderings.