The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-01-25

| ity of a child as she was, but there was
a directness about it which carried
conviction of its truth to every heart
present. She was rigidly cross-exam-
ined. The counsel piled her with va
rious ingenious questions but she va
ried from her statement in nothing.
The truth as spoken by that child was
| sublime. Falsehood and perjury had
| preceded her testimony but were scat
tered like chaff. The little child for
whom a mother had PRAYED for
strength to be given her, broke the
cunning devices of matured villainy
to pieces like potter's vessel.
Sound Doctrine.
Among the many able and patriotic
letters read at the celebration of the
victory of New Orleans by the Young
Mems jackson Association of the city
of Pittsburgh on the Sth inst, was the
following from James H. Hopkins:
My DEAR SIR IL greatly regret
that an attack of neuralgia will de-
prive me of the privilege of being
with you tonight, and will prevent
me from responding in person to the
toast assigned to me-"The Union-it
must be preserved
When Andrew Jackson uttered that
declaration and sealed it with the SOL
emn emphasis of an oath, he but crys-
talized in words an emotion and pur-
pose deeply planted in the popular
heart. That sentiment is an enuncia-
ton of q consciousness OF the count
less blessings which the union has Sc.
cured to us. and of the duty resulting
therefrom, to perpetuate those bless
sings, as we'll as a declaration of an
immutable determination to discharge
that duty under all llcircumstances. and
against all adYersaries. The senti-
ments announce that all arguments
have been weighed all considerations
reviewed that all discussion has en-
ded in the overwhelming conviction
that the Union must be preserved.
The question admits Of no controver-
sy, depends upon no contingency,
tolerates. no equivocation but is an
unfaltering, unconstitutional, resolute
and irrevocable determination.
The sentiment suggests the historic
glories of the past, and the grander
possibilities of the future. The birth
of the American Union; the man of
colossal mind and untainted purity
and unpurchasable patriotism who sat
by its cradle and nnrtured it into
strength and beauty, until it stood
very queen amongst the nations of the
earth; its wondrous growth and mar
veloas development, and matchless
wealth of dormant resources gather
the past into proud memory, and the
future into a golden hope.
What is this Union of which we
boast? What makes it so precious?
1t is not alone the majestic rivers, and
towering mountains,a and broad sweep
ing prairies that make America dear
to US. Europe, Asia and Africa have
as sublime scenery and as fruitful a
soil. 1t is not the rocks and hills, the
trees and flowers, the land and water
here. that have made the breast to
swell and the heart to throb with the
just pride of being an American citi-
zen. But it has been our free institu-
tions, our form of government, that
has distinguished US from all other
people, and made us so ardently love
this land of our adoption or of our
birth. Without this government
these free institutions-the rivers
might flow and the prairies bloom,
but our country would have no hal
lowed memories, no incentive to de-
velopment,nothing towarm our hearts
with patriotism so absorbing and in
tense.
When we speak of our Government
we refer to no mere fgment of the
brain; to no impalpable and intangi-
BILE essence; but to a substantial reali-
ty. 1t is embraced and expressed in
fha GnncfffrrfsoRa that So 20 hA1r, or,6
soul. Blot that out, and we have no
government; we become an morgan
lied society without the protection of
law, without any security or peace.
The Constitution, moreover, is the
bond of the Union. 1t is like that
beautiful and subtle principle which
keeps each star in its appropriate or
bit and makes all roll on harmonious
ly, chanting the sublime anthem of
the music of the spheres! And if that
principle be destroyed, those stars
the stars of the Union-will fly from
their accustomed courses, and all is
confusion, darkness and ruin.
Who can estimate the value of this |
Union? Who can exaggerate the inn
portance of preserving this Constitu-
ton inviolate? All who assail it are
the enemies of the Democratic party, |
come whence it may. Our grand old |
party has ever stood opposed to all
sorts of sectionalism, to every species
of disunion, whether it burned blue
lights by stealth in Massachusetts,,
whether it assumed the bolder form i
of open rebellion in the south or
whether it cloaks itself in the more
insidious and dangerous guise of CEN
tralization, or of pretended execu-
ton of odious laws. The calmness
and patience with which our people
submit to the dissertation of the tenn
pie of our liberties is one of the sad
dest, as it is one of the most alarming
indications of the times.
The Duke of Wellington, although
every inch soldier, and presumably,
Jealous of honor and proud of the
power of military sway, demonstrated
most clearly that under martial law,
the very elements of justice are depen-
dant opon individual folly or caprice.
But it was reserved for our boasted
republic to exemplify this truth. ag-
gravated by the fact thatlove,revenge
and inordinate ambition are far more
to be dreaded than folly or caprice.
1t is the mission of the Democratic
party to see that the Constitution is
preserved in its spirit as we'll as in its
letter; and that all violators thereof
shall be rebuked and punished.
To this task let us devote ourselves,
summing up our duty and our deter.
in the grand sentiment of
the glorious hero statesman whose
splendid victory you celebrate-"THE
UNION, IT MUST BE PRESERVED
Very truly yours,
JAMES III. HOPKINS.
WILLowBY, January 8, 1872.