Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-03
THE "ALLEGED CORRUPTIONs OF
THE DEMOCRATIC PARITY

1t has become fashionable of late among the
opposition presses to attribute their successes
and the defeat of the Democratic party TO the
corruptions Of that party. These presses do
not condescend to tell us in what those alleged
corruptions consist they do not condescend to
cite any proof, but content themselves with the
general charge that such corruptions exist, and
are the causes Of the disasters that have be-
fallen the Democratic party in some Of the re-
cent elections in the non-slaveholding States.
Now, we have all along contended that the
case was very different and that the defeats
we have experienced were attributable to the
corruptions of our opponents. Nor have we
contented ourselves with the mere fippant
charge, without stating the facts on which our
opinion is based. We have, time after time,
pointed out the dangerous principles and hurt
full heresies they profess. We have, time after
time, exposed their corrupt practices and their
unprincipled coalitions.
But as they have thought fit to retort the
charge upon us, we viii even meet them on
their own ground and repel their attack.
Can the best and the ablest Of these assail-
ants tell us in what the alleged corruptions of
the Democratic party consist? They have not
done SO yet; and we cannot, therefore, speak
on any specific and definite point. We are
under the necessity of meeting the charge in
the gross
From no one principle Of its creed has the
Democratic party deviated. It processes to be
State-rights party, and has vindicated its
claim to sincerity, BY passing through the last
Congress the great measure that asserts the
rights and equality of the States. 1t has sig
nalized itself by upholding in sunshine and in
storm, the fugitive slave law. 1t processes to
be hostile to banks and 10 high tariffs, nor has
it deviated in practice from these professions.
1t processes to be opposed to class legislation,
TO overshadowing monopolies, and to every
ism and irregularity. II can point proudly to
its career in proof Of its honest adherence TO
these professions.
In the rankest Abolition States, and in the
most perilous exigencies, when all other parties
have faltered and fallen, il alone has breasted
the storm. That some who called themselves
Democrats have fed their ranks in terror, we
will not deny, but we say, and say truly, that
wherever theregular and recognized Democrats
are found, whether in the Senate, or in the
House of Representatives, in the South or in
the North, in Abolition or in slaveholding COM
munities, they have kept the faith and battled
for the Constitution.
But it is particularly Of the Democratic party
that we speak, We are not the organ Of
those In power Their defense we leave where
it belongs. Our aim all along has been, and is
to-day, to be the organ of the Democratic party
Of the countryside masses-the true, uncor-
rupted, and incorruptible Democracy.
1t is idle to talk about the corruptions Of the
Democratic party, and it is unjust to prefer the
charge without producing the proofs. That
party, even in these evil times when men are
carried away by every wind Of doctrine, has
carried the elections in those Southern States
in which elections have been held. IL il was
corrupt, would not its corruptions have brought
odium upon il in those States, or are We 10 in
fer that the South tolerates the corruptions
that disgust the North2 Are We to suppose
that because Massachusetts and some other
States in which crimes and heresies abound
have triumphed over the Democrats, that, there
fore, the Democratic party is corrupt Far
from it. We rather suppose that our defeat in
such States is caused by the corruptions Of
their people, than BY the corruptisps Of the
Democratic party The Democrats have moi
only bad to contend against every ism but
against Q combination Of all these isms, and
we can say truly and proudly that i Is the ONLY
party that has not changed its ground and
falsiRed it's professions,