Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1858 — The Sentinel. [ARTICLE]

The Sentinel.

[The following'Article is translated from the Indianapolis Volksblatt, a German Democratic paper :] The Lecompton swindle organ, the paper which at first denounced the Lecompton Constitution as a tyranny and an outrageous fraud, and afterwards Supported this tyranny and tliis fraud, the inventor of the priceless definition, according to which Democracy consists in voting for a ticket which is labelled Democratic land has been nominated by a parcel of politicians, calling themselves Democratic, this modern chumelion is lecturing us on Democracy. Its text is our recently repeated d#Claration, that we would not support any Lecompton** swindler for Representative in Congress; and an essay, odorous of rottennejss and corruption, on the scheme that Democrats ought sooner to support a scoundrel and a traitor to their principles as a candidate, provided he (carries the name of their than an honest opponent, is thrust under our nose. We do not now-a-days become easily astonished at anything. To hear the Devil rebuking sin, or the greatest political changeling eulogizing [consistency; to see how two-thirds of our party, at the bidding of the President, sell and betray their principles, which they had defended for years, their convictions, which they had but just declared in the strongest terms, and maintain the reverse; such trifles now hardly appear singular to ns. |

Such parasites, however, like the present I editor of the Sentinel, have the ’ advantage I-• ■ ” ■ over us in this respect. They still have it in their capacity to become astonished, not indeed at any treachery to principle or honesty, or any special barefacedness in disregarding former promises or declarations, but when th "y see that a man, especially if he be a politician, is honest or consistent. Tins is the case of the Sentinel man. Immediately! after the adjournment of the Bth of January convention we placed on record our understanding of the platform, and most especially of the last resolution. At the same time we declared that we must and would insist on having t'his resolution carried out. We warned our Representatives in Congress that they- hud to carry out that resolution, which expressed the wi]L and the principles of the people of Indiana. We threatened the vengance of-the people in case they refused or failed, and promised to dolour best to make this vengeance? effective At that time our declaration was all right. Nobody objected to it; even the Sentinel published our article at the time, and complimented the Volksblatt as.the German Demo- ■ cratic organ, “edited with great energy and i ability.” Since that time four months have - elapsed, and the tune draws,near when we ! must either take back or carry out our declam tions. We said wq would do the* latter. And no>v the Sentinel gets astonished, if not in- ’ dignant. What are such declarations for, if not to take them back! What purpeses are : served by profession of principles besides bartering and selling them -away! What need of words, if not. to’ Ride your inf Hitions from the people am! !•> deceive them! Thus, ; undoubtedly argued this boot-black of the Lecompton politicians, and immediately he jum'p.s at the conclusion that the Vclksblalt, which kept cool during four and a half long months, which speaks to-day, will ct rry out to-day what it, did then, only conceals some great t illiany thereby. IL- is astonished at .the deep calculation displayed by this devilboy, by means of which a paper may keep consistent for so long a time, and he waxes indignant at the idea how well, probably, such cunning rascality will be paid,-while his own course, according to th'e directions of his own shallow brain, has been rewarded by so many kicks,cuffs, and similar caresses and dog poor pay. Exasperated, driven almost t« dis jair, he leels a sudden fit of courage, and we receive an exhortation. H>w can we dare to prefer a Republican like Mr. Defrees to a Lecompton swindler, to a rebel against the platform of the Bth of January, like the Hon. Air. Gregg! Was not Mr. De frees formerly, or is he not even now, in favor of a Ala n Law ! Was he not an enemy of Gov. \Vright? Did he not abuse him and also Judte Douglas! Was he not opposed to’the principle of popular sovereignty ! The poor devil is evidently afrt id that Air. Defrees when in Congress will get a temperance law fur the State of Indiana passed; that in tile year 1859, at which time the Administration will send Gov. Wright’s nomination to the Senate, Defrejes will smuggle himself into it, and aftei due instruction from Jack Calhoun, Will cast at least one hundred fraudulent votes against Gov. Wright’s confirmation, so that ourernbasstdor to Berlin will finally be forced to come home anyhovv! Audio regard to Judge Douglas and the principleof popular sovereignty, the Sentinel man declares it inevitable that Air. Defrees will do precisely like Air. Gregg; that before the election he will declare himself in favor of the soverejgntv of the people, and afterwards act against it; that previous to the election he will maintain before the voters that the people of a territory must be allowed even to throw the weight of slavery upon their necks, if they so desire, and that afterwards he will vote in favor of burdening them with slavery, KnowNothing -institutions’-and other beauties, against their will; that before, he will flatter the people with tlieir absolute sovereignty, and afterwards, like Senator Bright, declare it a vicious heresy to allow them to vote on their own constitution; 1 that he will carry Mr. Douglas all over Indiana for securing his eleetion, and that afterwards he will go over to Illinois to incite a bolting movement against Air. Dongl s, and prevent his reelection. But we will no longer picture the fears which the Sentinel entertains of the.election of Air. Defrees. * For the benefit of the politicians, however, for whom the Sentinel was to get.the chesnuts out of the fire, who regard and treat him as mere cannon food, or, as Senator Hammond elegantly expresses it, as “a mud still,” and who would like to get a pick at us, we will upon the very next occasion define our position still moro specifically.