Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-02-21


ed suspicion against his fidelity 20 bis
own honest convictions, or to the cardinal
principles Of the Democratic faith. lie
preserved and maintained that fidelity un.
der circumstances which proved not only
his courage, but bis wisdom and statesman
ship, and by fearlessly enforcing upon the
attention Of the people his views OF pub
lie duty and constitutional rights, as Il
was his undoubtcd right TO do, he became
the victim of a despotism as infamous and
unjusti6able as ever was imposed upon
free people.
His bearing under these circumstances
was courageous and manly. lie 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 sympatby with their effort
to divide the Union and establish South
ern Coniederacy. lie found his way, not
through the violation ofauy parole or 9TH
er obligation, 20 Cunads, and while there,
the Democracy Of Ohio, true to their in
stinct Of manhood and against The iimid
connsels of the very men who still take
counsel from policy instead Of principle,
nominated him with unprecedented en-
thusiasm for Governor OF Ohio. All ire.
member tho incidents of that memorable
campaign. in which the Hon. George Il.
Pugh bore himself so calamity, and placed
the Democracy Of Ohio under an obliga-
ton that has never been cancelled. ~
Mr.. Vallandigham, In due time, return.
ed upon his own responsibility 10 bis home
--andi his safety from re-arrest was due In
great measure TO the courage which the
Democratic party had shown in the prece-
ding political campaign. 49, ri
Since that time he has not been can
didate, but has been prominently before
the public, and has exerted his whole pow
err aud influence TO promote the ascendaney
Of Democratic principles and the restora-
ton Of tho Union. lie has contributed
at least rs much as any one mnn Ia The
United States 10 maintain the integrity aud
purity Of the Democratic organization, and
We eau say 10 the New York World, aud
TO is sympathizers, that there are thou
sand sound Democrats in every part Of the
United States Who will stand by G. J..
Yallandighau, where they will find one
who will approve their attacks on him.
Ii is simply silly for the New York
World to talk of Yallandighau as u traitor
ia the Democratic camp. Of expect to write
him down, or read him out OF the Demo-
cia,ic party.
If such men as Vsllandiehsm and lis
friends were rend oul or il. there would be
nobody left but party of eupuehs.
To the native courage OF The mas~es and
the bold leadership Of the Drm cratic party
of Ohio in the last camp ign, the nuno-
cracy Of the Union is iudebied to that pc
lilicul success, which properly followed up
would be the harbinges oe se-tered Dem
ocralie ascendency aud constitutional lib
erty.
But no party ever deserved respect or
achieyedtutce,s without courage.
The Democratic party bas besp time
and time again cured mud betrayed by the
sinister bud malignant tactics Of suvh pa
peys as the Now York World, seeking to
sow discoId in cur ranks, ~ accomplish
local aud sectional purposes. aud by those
who PIT themselves forward as leaders,
after the success of some political forlorn
hope, who counsel with pale lips how we
may give least ohense 10 our adversaries,
Instead Of boldly advancing TO right the
wrongs VIC have suffered. and 10 restore the
sacred guarantees that have been violated.
The task before the Democratic party now
demands the highest qua'i les of msnho"d.
as vel os Of slaiesmanship. No success
Is worth the effort unless j, secures tho M.
eendancy Of Democratic principles. bet
ter, thousand liu.es, defeats 10 an open,
honest struggle for prpeipiv. than sue +.
cess, IL Il bring only mele personal wi
umphs, the demoralizing spols of office
aud the gains Of legislative b.andsriugs