Year: 1863

A CHOICE MUST BE llADE.-THE RING OF THE


TKBE OLD DEMOCRATIC METAL.


CEfon eds ChisisO Fo.i-The issdiHg democratic pa


per OF nIinois.l


THERE is no doubt but within the great
Democrats party at this time, there is a
difference Of opinion as to the proper
policy to be pursued respecting the fur
ther prosecution Of the war. This does
not arise from any lack of patriotism, OF
devotion to the Union but is the result
of the mad and reckless teachings Of a
few desperate political leaders and news
papers, who, seeking nOtOriety, preferring
even the most disreputable to the quiet
8 sslf-approyal which al men feel they
merit il doing their duty 70 their eOun-
try. The interference and vindictivenass
of the Republican press has helped these
demagogues extremely.


The Democratic masses are loyal to
the hearts core; there may be excep-
-tions, but they are Outnumbered ten to
one By individuals who are traitors at
heart, yet in full communion and holding
Office in the Republican party. The
Democratic party has been the war party
Of this nation from the foundation Of the
Republic, and cannot be anything else,
without first repsdiating every honest
principle for which Democrats have strug-
gled, and embfaeing every dishonest prin-
ciple of every dishonest party that has
raised its leprous head STAGE the adoption
of the Constitution.


Thare is a newspaper IN this city call
ed the Chicago Times, which holds itself
forth to the country as the authorized
organ Of the views and sentiments of the
Democratic party. For one year passed,
the paper Of which we speak, has been
Iaboring with all its industry and means
to educate the Democratic masses into
rank rebellion against the principle of
their party, and against the great prinei-
Piles of American constitutional liberty
How far It has succeeded, supported, IS
it has been, by some half dozen sheets in
Ohio, one in Michigan, and three of four
others, scattered over the northwest, is
fully understood by the public. We have
been DemOerst always; We have done
some service in the party, and though we
may not have the power to correct the
evil, or avert the results, we have deter
mined at least to enter our protest against
having the Democratic party converted
into mere tribe Of jayhawkers, acknOwl-
edging no allegiance to the constitution
and laws, but subject to eut-throat's
order to make war on friend or foe.


We have seen very little in Mr.. Lin
coins Administration to approve or en-
dorse. We think his military and civil
administration have been gross fsilures
but this is no reason why we should join
the enemy. During Mr. MadisOn's ad-
ministration, owing to the imbeciIity Of
the Secretary Of War, the ineficiency of
the commanding general, and the general
know-nOtbingness Of the administration,
a handful Of British infantry, BY slow
and easy marches, entered the Federal
capital, put the President and his cabinet
to fight, took possession Of the public
buildings, and after burning all that they
could not take away, leisurely marched
out and let the frightened administration
return to the Federal city. Could there
have been a more appalling degradation
than that-the result Of administrative
stupidity, Ignorance or treacherY2 Yet, |
we may search the records Of the coun-
try ip vain, to find Democratic meeting, |
aDsReoratie convention, or a Democratic
newspaper, that proposed as q remedy for
the evil either 3 cessation Of hostilities,
an armistics, or commissioners to treat
with the ensmy. From one end Of the
Union to the other, the Disaster invoked |
from the Democratic people of the nation,
patriotic, honorable and Democratic sx-
pressiols Of devotion to the Government.
The very weakness of Government is
the strongest reason why Democrat
should give It his whole support. This
is the history Of the Democratic party in /
times gone by, and in it there is nothing
Of which man ought to be ashamed. I'll