Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-08-12

Slave of my thoughts obedient to ms will;
Plucked from thy parent birdhto make a pen
That mighty instrument of little men.
Prepare for rhyme--Pll publish right or wrong,
Fools are my theme, let satire be my song.
Byron.
EDITORS REPUBLICAN Since [ an
nounced my intention of voting for the
nominees of the Republican party, [
have been assailed with the utmost viru-
lence by my former political associates.
They have taxed their invention to the
utmost to find accusations against me
From the little WelttMger to the Chic
ago T,n,es [ have been slandered an d
traduced in the vilest manner. "The lit
tle!dogs Tray, Blanche and Sweetheart all
do bark at me-" But having taken this
step from conviction of duty, do not
propose to be driven back into the traces
by the crack of the party whip. [ have
counted the cost and defy alike the
sneers of ridicule and the threats of NAL
ice.
For years / have acted with the Dem
ocratic party. [ have seen it drift away
from it's old land marks, and forsake
those princi pies for which I had joined
myself to it. But still chung to it hop,
ing that it would return to its old stand
ard, until seeing that its whole tendency
was to drift still further away, [ became
convinced that it was my duty to follow
it no further So believing, I should
have been no true man if had not acted
accordingly and boldly avowed my de-
termination to renounce all allegiance to
that party which has become but a miser-
able burlesque on the old Democratic par
ty of Jefferson and Jackson
1t is fair to judge of the principles of
party by the men who advocate them
men are attracted by sentiments kindr ed
with their own. Judging by this rule
would ask my fellow countrymen, what
have we as A American citizens in common
with the Democratic party Of this day
[ see that its leaders are men who make
politics trade for the sake of Office, or
are the would-be founders of an aristocra-
tic class in this republican land. They
have been the active Sympathizers with
every system of oppression thr oughout
the world They would use us as means
to help them accomplish their ends and
then turn and trample upon US. tell
you my countrymen we have everything to
fear from this Democratic party, and
everything to hope from the continued
ascendency of the Republican party.
The latter, which we have so persistently
opposed, has shown itself to be the constant
aud consistent friend of the people. To it
we are indebted during the time it has been
Ill power for more measures of public utility
than to any other one party which ever
| had control Of the Government. The
| Homestead Law and other acts of similar
beneficial tendency will readily occur to
your minds, but I wish to call especial at
tention to the Protection Act which has
recently passed Congress and by which
the poyer Of the flag is extended over
our naturalzed citizens while abroad to
the same extent as over the native born.
The sympathies Of the Republican party
are practical its hatred of oppression
sincere aud its. helping hand is extended
to the, downtrodden ofevery land. For
these and similar reasons [ have given
in my allegiance to it, and sincerely be-
lieve that the countrymen Of O'Connell
whose whole life was one protest against
oppression, should join themselves to this
the true, progressive, national party of
freedom. Now is the time to choose
the candidates are in the field, and I say
''Hurrah for Grant, the Union, and the
Irish Republic" 7. DERvIN.