The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1875-12-30
rFor the M
THE PRESIDENCY.

IIeSluoAcy 10 1ihoiJ W OO hoIpOtoDiO
for its ferceness, and all candid
minds are free to admit, that indica-
tions involve the result in much
doubt, neither party daring to prom
Use itself an easy victory. The stake
is of immense magnitude to the peo-
pie, and Herculean efforts will be
used to win.
To our mind, no election has ever
heretofore transpired so vital to our
country, involving, as it does, the
very life of our nation. 1t may in
truth be said to be The trial, TO test
whether we are to continue as ssG-
tioas of earth beyond the period of a
single century. I am no alarmist,
but it does seem to me the approach
ing election contest involves the
question, whether we are really A Ma
T1oN, or only Confederation of pet
ty sovereignties, strung together like
a rope of sand, and liable to fall to
pieces in any storm
State Rights, the Pandora's box
containing our national woes, when
carried to it's ultimate by those main
tanning that heresy, is a cardinal,
basic principle of the Democracy. It's
tap root grew out of the Resolutions
of 1898, and has been stoutly cher
ished by the politicians of the South
ever since. This idea is utterly sub
versive of nationality. Its fruit is
Secession, and the first full crop was
that fraternal struggle, which bap-
tized our country in blood, blackened
our towns with the fire of desolation,
strewed our fields with human bones,
and carried mourning into every
house.
This idea that men are not citi-
zens of nation, but Georgia'es and
Virginions, owing paramount al
legiance to their States, caused, our
Lees, Stephens, and hosts of others
to be found in reasonable array
against their country, fighting the
stars and stripes beneath the folds of
strange, piratical rags. We are not
aware that they who thus acted, have
ever made any recantation of their
heresy, but maintain even yet that
they were right, and waged a justif-
able, but unsuccessful war against
the Union. The logic of power ex-
torted the admission of defeat in
battle, but, so far as we know, they
still maintain that the idea for which
they fought was right, and they only
succumbed to superior military force,
without any change of heart or con
viction. AS we understand them,
they still adhere to the heresy of
State sovereignty, and were they to
elect President we have no guaran-
tee that the flag of rebellion would
not be again thrown to the breeze,
and the struggle for Southern Inde
pendence re-opened.
The "LosT CAUsE" only sleeps-the
virus still exists. Hence, we feel
justified in the opinion that the very
life and existence of the Union is
suspended on the result of the Pres
dental struggle in 1876. The sword
of destruction, like that of Damocles,
hangs by single thread, and may
fall on our heads at any time. The
contest embracing this vital issue, it
behooves us all to arouse ourselves
to full realization of it's magnitude,
aud the Importance of using all ra-
tional means to avert the calamity of
State Rights triumph.
Good faith and fair dealing, re-
quires of each party a frank and
clear avowal of principles. Each
should promulgate squarely and
without prevarication it's views on
this cardinal question, whether the
citizens first allegiance is to Nation,
or State. Is he a citizen of the Uni
ted States, or Delawarian ? Goods !
can" American patriots '1ong de-
bate?'
The masses of all parties are equal
ly honest, and only tricky politicians
by trade would seek to avoid full
and free expression of principle on
all leading questions. Men who
shrink from and skulk this, are un-
worthy OF trust or confidence from
any party. They should be discard
ed and secuted from all honest par
ties.
Now, I know full well the Repub-
licans are sound on this question,
and it is almost equally certain that
Democracy is rotten to the core
They adhere tenaciously to State
Rights, and if either National Con-
vention fails to denounce the heresy
it should be held as for it.
The shaping up of the approach
ng campaign will depend much on
the action of this Congress. We ex-
pect much political maneuvering in
order to gain the inside track. We
want fair race-no tricks, no false
issues, but an honest presentation OF
issues and honorable discussion OF
principles.
With the great body of voters the