The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-10-22
Coming Down Handsoneiy-Th
Assertions and the Evidence.

Assertions and the Evidence.
One of the clique who writes the edi-
torials which the editor of the Journal
fathers, gives the evidence upon which he
founded certain articles in the preceding
number, and which ne commented on il
pretty strong language. lie still fights
from behind the editor; lis articles being
published as editorial He uses a little
more fairness in one particular than any
one writing for that paper: he quotes cur
article instead OF garbling extracts from
it. For this reason it is unnecessary for
US TO make lengthy notice as his utter
failure to prove single proposition is
equivalent to confession of our charge.
He declared that the Democratic party
had imprisoned men in Kansas for utter
ing sentiments contained in the Declara-
ton of Independence and to prove it
what does he do? Quotes section Of
what purperts to be Kansas law! He
don't attempt to show that anybody was
ever imprisoned for violating it. His
logic is this: there is law in Kansas
prohibiting certain persons from denying
the right of men to hold slaves, therefore
"men have been imprisoned in Kansas for
uttering sentiments contained in the Dec
laration of Independence, knowing well
that no one had ever attempted to enforce
that law.
To prove that the Democratic party is
in favor of acquiring Cuba peaceably if
it can and forcibly if it must, he quotes
what purports to be an extract from the
Ostend Manifesto. He knows that that
Manifesto was never acted on in any way
by the Democratic party; and he knows
that it was written at a time when there
was inlinent danger of war with Spain
about certain outrages committed upon
A merican citizens in Cuba.
For the next two he has no other evil
dence than mere extract from news
paper, the genuineness Of which is very
questionable. Because single newspa-
per may make an extrsvagant expression,
is that conclusive evidence that the entire
party to which it may happen to belong
endorses and favors its sentiment! If not
then this clique writer has sigpally failed
to prove either of these propositions
The only evidence he gives for the last
is an extract from a speech made by a
South Carolinian. We say of this as of
the preceding two, that it is dishonest to
charge that party is responsible for eve
rything said or written by each individual
member of it. In conclusion the writer,
with the honesty characteristic efhis party,
quotes language as coming from US which
we never used.
So much for his defence. 1t is a COM
p]ete coming down, after the, fashion OF
Creckett's coon. Instead OF waiting ior
us to prove that his statements were false,
he does it for us by his utter failure in his
attempt to prove their truth. 1t reminds
us of an anecdote which we have heard, OF
darkie who was famous for telling eX-
travagant yarns lie came running to
his master one day saying:
,"Master, / jis seed thousand pole
cats" =
"Oh no." said his master, "that can't
be possible"
"Well seed hundred, any how"
"No, no, Ned, there are not that many
on ten, plantations.
"Well, den, seed ten, sartin."
"Too mahy yet, Ned; they don't go in
such large gangs"
t"Well / seed one; l swear to dat"
| aeYeu have told SO many ibs about it
1 don't believe you saw any"
"Well / did smelt something as
cumd over de bridge, anyhow, and amt
gwine to fall another pole-cat."
This clique writer came about as near
the truth in his first statement as the
darkie did.
For the Esprit