Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-09-01

enemy, with the prestige of defeat against
him, should withdraw large portion of
his troops for distant and unimportant
operation, would be courtmartialed for
his crime, after being whipped for his stu
pidity. In both punishments he would
but meet with his deserts.
Our readers will remember the shock
which the Dem ocratic Conservative por-
tion of the country experienced, when, on
the eve Of the last Presidential election,
the New York World gravely proposed to
withdraw one of our candidates and sub
stitute another in his stead. Those of us
who did not suspect open treachery were
amazed at the stupidity of the proposition.
Not less criminal and fabulous than
either or both of these two instances. the
one suppositious, the other real the
suggestion to sacrifice, for the sake Of a
mere party name or shibboleth, the integ-
rity, the efficacy and the success of the
present organized opposition to Radical
ism.
Not less silly and suicidal would be an
unwillingness, on the part of some, to
unite in q common effort to rid neighbor-
hood of gang of plunderers and thieves,
because, forsooth, few who were once
old Wings. or few who were once old
Democrats, were Of the number so en-
gagged
As we have heretofore had occ aston to
remark-aud as our readers well know,
without such protestation-we yield to
no one in our pride in the ancient con-
quests Of the Democracy ana in our devo-
ton to it's time-honored principles. But
there are other things we canGot forget.
We cannot forget that when the act of
North Carolina in severviDg its Federal
bonds on the Goth of May, 1861, virtually
obitersted all former party ties and anti
pathies, BRANCH and VANCE, STOKES and
CHAMP. DAVIS, FISHER and CRUMrLEB,
GORDON and CowAN, SHAW and MCRAE,
RUFFIN and FEREBEE, AVERY and PUR-
DIE, and most of others, of Heretofore
antagonistic political sentiments, made
COMMON cause on common folds Of blood
and glory. We cannot forget that, when
IS this cruel war was over" all our fortunes
were involved in one common ruin. We
cannot forget the common sympathies and
common sufferings of that hour of defeat
and of gloom. We cannot forget the
common warfare, which, with elbow touch
ing elbow, and indignant heart respon-
sive to indignant heart, we, the men of
different former political creeds, have
since wsged against the vindictive and
cormorant crew of unprincipled pirates
who have laughed at our calamity and
gloated over our miseries. We cannot
ignore the fact that in union there still
is strength, and that divided counsels
will inevitably bring disaster ard over
throw.
Feeling all this, and knowing all this,
we should despise ourselves if, through at
tachment for an ancient name, Tin which
no one surpasses us,) or because promo
ton has enured in a somewhat lavish de-
gree-the result of accident, rather than
design, as we believe-to those who once
protessed different faith. (though we may
sometimes, perhaps, have been disposed
to think little harshly of it, I'VE say that
we should despise ourselves, if for such
considerations. we could slacken pace or
experience less of determination against
the mercenary and malignant foe, whose
continued su ccess will be the knell of all
that we hold dear.
Is he honest, is he true, is he compe-
tent, is he opposed to Radicalism, is he
the nominee of the present organization
with which we act. That is all we ask or
desire, and we are ready to SILVER lance
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