Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-06-20

organization embraces nearly three mil
lions of voters, and we might reasonably
count upon sufficient accession Of num-
Der from the dissatisfied Repub licans to
carry the election, could we have fair
one. But the election organization of a
large majority o: the States will be in
the hands Of the Radical Republicans
Our knowledge Of that party, and the ia
cilities the ballots afford for the success
full employment Of all sorts Of mal-prac-
tce justly warrants US to apprehenddefeat;
no matter what our numerical majority
might be-. we should, il all probability :.
be counted out. My own impulses impel
me squarely to meet this danger, and
trust to God to protect the right. But
while we must act with firmness and cour-
age, We must also not forget that it is
equally our duty to act with tact and
wisdom. Under those now in power con.
stitutional liberty has ceased to exist,
and no change can make our condition
worse. Indeed our hope only is in change,
for it is more than probable that if the
present dynasty be retained there will be
an end to all future elections by the peo-
pie. But why go for any candidate not
of our faith unless we can elect him? l
would be glad if some ono would give
me good reason why we should do so.
The Liberal Republican candidate un-
doubtedly leads feeble array of his own
party friends, aud without the Corpora
ion Of the Democratic party has no chance
for an election. Rending the ties which
bound him to his old party, becaGse of
its enormous crime against the constitu.
tional liberty and honesty. tie legitimate
course for him and his followers would be
to boldly follow the lead of the great
party which has been the main stay Of
the constitution, and is still the main re-
lianse for saving the country from the
misrule which imperils it. But SO far
from this be tells US that if we nominate
a candidate of our own he will instantly
withdraw from the contest. &c. I can
hardly repress my strong desire to re-
buke this insolsnt presumption. Bit I. yer
lily believe the country is In dangeerr, and
that it is Our duty, If possible, to save it;
and thus it is plainly our duty to sustain
any man who will stand upon the Cincin-
Lati platform. who can carry such num-
bcrs as " 18th our assistance, can elect him.
must, however, be fully satisfied upon
this point. ! have no desire to 20 for
Liberal Republican, and certainly not for
one, if I can help myself, who, in effect,
tells us that the country may go to the
devil if we dare to select Democrat as
leader in the great work Of our deliver,
ance.
It is very much the fashion to say that
certain questions have been settled BY the
late war. This is doubtless. true Of
questions of policy; but principles are
evermore the same. Milton, the great
Republican writer in the days of Charles
and Cromwell, powerfully said in sub
stance, that ever since the fall of our first
parents there has been greater war 60
ing on between truth aud falseLood, right
and wrong, liberty and oppression, and
that it would continueuntil the DAY of
doom. And if this be true, as it ever
must be, then there will be always, in
all governments Of the people. great
party who will view power with distrust.
apply to those who exercise it the test.
lis he honest, is he capable. is he faith
full to the constitution" and proclaim to
the world the imperishable right to pro-
tect themselves against oppression,
''pcaceably if they can, forcibly if they
must" This, I take it, is the doctrine
Of the Democratic party, and their organ
ization is intended to maintain it. Tn.
happily, our efforts for the general good
have been overborne by tho preiud ices Of
The hour. and those now in power are
busily engaged in breaking up the fo,uunn-
1ations Of the constitution and in ,estab-
fishing upon its ruins an imperial despot.
ism. Should we permit this ssrocious
work to be finished, if we can prevent it ?
Ard shall we refuse to cooperate with
hose who. shocked at the conduct of their
ate associates. step out from among
hem, plant themselves upon a platform,
which in the main we approve, and thus
inspire the confident belief that before
mother election we shall see our doc
rines fully established, and The honest.
imple unambitious form of govern.
nent given US by our fathers restored i?
Gould this be accomplished under Demo
'ratio leaders, the Democratic party would
pring to the glorious work with joy ?
But if the people are not prepared now to
ustain US in our glorious desire for
borough reform, is it not plainly our du
y to take such reform as We eau get;and
f We can get back to constitutional.
government Of our fathers, only BY slow
md measured steps, do not our duties, |
md professions. too, demand that we
hould take them. 80
WIZ, the overthrow Of the present
lynasty, putting the seal Of popular CON
lemnation upon its destructive policy,
would fire the patriotic heart of the coun-
ry Will q bound1ess energy, which would
ender it Irresistible !; and although we
nay have to assist in the election Of one |
Vho has shared in all the misrule we de-
lore, yet, in the fact that he stops short
n the mad war upon our people and our
and not only refuses to 20
urther with his associates, but adopts a
Platform for his guidance, if elected, full
f the doctrines Of orr creed, we see
'lainly marked out for US the line of
luty. BY which we, the Democratic
'arty, must be governed, if We respect
ourselves, believe in the soundness Of our
doctrines, and love our, county,
Whoever votes for those now in power
Ddorses their notorious corruption. their
lagrant usurpa'ions, and their oppres-
ions, SO wanton and wicked, that every
ust and humane man should cry aloud
or vengence. 1t is difficult to believe
hat any true man. any lover of the ooun-
~, any Democrat. can do this thing ~
nd I Al