Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-08-01
NFr Groesbeck.s Letter.

Ohio is the land of political utterances
and experiments There was it that poor
Mr.. Vallandigham prematurely suggested
his ''new departure" Thence, no doubt
came the impulse, though it encountered
very effective local opposition, which
sought to force Mr.. Chase on the Couven-
ton 1868, an experiment which, in oul
judgment, whould have failed; Grant be-
ing our doom. In Ohio was it that LIB
eralism" had its short CESSATION and It's
monstrous birth. There Greeleyism was
born, only to survive its Democratic bap
tism, and not the diseases of infancy. Ohio
claims the recent parentage of the Aller
county departure! And now we have Mr.
Grosbeck's eloquent and impressive lettel
of counsel to his political friends, which
not only its intrinsic merits, but the pure
and high character of the writer widely
distinguished from all antecedent impo
tencies, such as we have referred to. II
saying that this letter is impressive
not conclusive-w seek to describe its eff
feet on minds resolute, as ours is, not to &C
cept the counsel which it gives. Words
so precise and measured, uttered with q
sincerity so genuine and melancholy, can
not fail to be impressive. They sound like
the words of the mythical if not the actual
red man about to leave the cabin where he
was born, and where his manhood was
spent, driven away by mercenary adven-
lures. He will 60 if his tribe, and his
family, and his companions, will go with
him, and if not, he will cling to the an
cient hearthstone, and meet whatever fate
is in store for him. There is, if we may
be permitted to say so, logical incohe-
renee between the beginning and the end
ing of Mr.. Grosbeck's letter; between his
counsel to leave what he wrongly thinks 8
sinking ship, and his heroic determination
ifthe rest of the crew say so, to remain on
the old deck, with the ensign down, ano
the rigging in ruins. While we admire
his noble resolve, we do not share his ap
prehensions. The good ship is not sink
ing, or in danger of it. Her timbers may
be shaken, and her sails weather-staineo
and worn, but, with a willing crew
she can be so handled as to ride out Sc
curely the storms that have so long buf
feted her until, with favoring gales, she
reaches triumphantly her destined haven
Why then should we take to the Liberia
raft, when common aims and a common
danger invite the weaker Liberals to join
company on board the Democratic ship
and share in her lesser peril and profit e.
qually by her deliverance?
Take, we would say to- Liberal Republi
cans-to the vast masses fearful OF Caesar
ism and disguised with Grantism-takt
the summary of principles which Mr.
Groesbeck enuncntes, and Liberals anc
Democrats will find themselves nearer com
munion than theyever thought they coulc
be-oppositiont o'monopoly in all its forms
opposition to Capitalization in every phase
the thorough maintenance of local and mu
nicipal integrity Ihome government in it,
pu8st form on Questions of finance ano
economy as near an approach to freedom
as IS practicable, ind absolute antagonist
to special privileges; and, above all-and
this is the gree keynote, the trumpet
blast which, Rs can, will summon
Democracy Ader's side-the
7 doctrine Of strict construction Of the Fed
eral Constitution! This letter we under,
stand to be addressed, not to Democracy
except indirectly, but to Liberalism. But
let it be remembered it is a Democrat
tried and faithful, who speaks. Itsemains
to be seen how it will be listened to-
Much may depend on this. In thus com
menting, desultorily, we have sought to
promptly and frankly state our opinion
If we may be allowed to mix metaphors
The old homestead of Democracy, which
Jefferson and Jackson built and tenanted
Mr.. Groesbeck admits is not pulled down
yet. Its foundations were laid pretty deep
Its bannerless walls are very thick. It is
home which may be reftted. It is a
fortress whose guns may be remounted
and if our Liberal auxiliaries will come to
our rescue or our support, under the lea
dership of such veteran engineer, we
promise welcome and we promise success.
Bait. Gazette.