The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-30
Ths democratic Issue.

When the kossUrH mania began to decline
in this country, we were taken to task by our
Democratic neighbor for asserting that inter-
ven,ion had been made a Democratic issue
The dena! did not alter the fact, which was
abundanily established by the speeches of dis
tlnguished Democratic Senators and leaders at
Washington and elsewhere, and by the formal
resolves Of Democratic meetings and bodies in
New York and Ohio.
The proposal then was to intervene between
Austria and Hungary, and between England
and Ireland But it turned out to be failure,
and signal one. The Intelligence Of the
country revoted at the idea, and repudiated its
authors and advocates as dangerous if not dis
honest men.
The exigencies of the Presidential campaign
have revived the issue in another shape. 1t
comes up now In the shape of Judge DOUGLASS
scheme for the forcible annexation of Cuba;
and in that shape it is emphatically the Demo
cratic issue in this contest.
We are aware that the orators of the party
occupy much of their time with arguments on
the Bank question, and on other topics which,
like it, have no more bearing on the pending
election than on the politics of the moon. The
tone of the speakers, while dealing with these
subjects, exhibits their consciousness Of the
fact. They are as lifeless as the subjects them
selves. But when they come to Cuba the
whole aspect Of things undergoes change.
They refer to it as topic which overrides all
others in importance, and upon which this contest
is really to be 3hcded. 1t is descanted upon as
an act of duty to relieve the Cubans from the
wrongs inflicted by their Spanish rulers, and
as an act of interest in regard to the future of
this country. owe want Cuba and must have
it," is in substance the Democratic declaration
Of the day; and the advent of General PIERCE
to the Presidency is pointed to as the certain
precursor of policy which shall add vastly to
the territorial possessions Of the Union-if ne
cessary, at the cost Of war.
So long as this movement was confined to
LOPEZ organizations and Lone Star societies,
it was comparatively unimportant. But the
progress of the Presidential contest exhibits it
in another and much more formidable aspect.
1t comes before US now as the pet project-the
one idea-of Judge DOUGLAS and Young
America" by far the most active section of the
Democracy. 1t has compelled General CAss to
bow before it. 1t is the most effective theme
handled by Senator WELLER in his stump
orations. 1t is warmly advocated by leading
presses of the party, and by minor men in at
least dozen States. And what is not less
noticeable is, that it is not rebuked or repudat-
ed by leaders or presses of equal. or Of any
importance. Not one Of General PIERCE's in
innate friends and counseIors has dared to de-
nounce the fiibustering scheme, or to refuse
the support it is intended to secure. We
charge, therefore, that the party, as party,
are committed to it, and that is in reality their
most prominent if not their only distinctive
issue.
The South, and conservative men every
where, will do we'll to ponder the consequences
involved in this the latest phase of partisan
Democracy.