Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-01-16
Democratic Morality.

OomOCIhJlC mOIdllJy,
That the end justfes the means seems to
have been taken for granted by the democracy
Of the present age. Whenever there is any
capital to be made either TO party or 10 ndvd-
uals, whenever there is measure that promises
success to be insligated there seems to be no
lack of expedients. So that party designs
may he ultimately successful the intervening
stages and processes that lead TO its accomplish
ment are Of no further account than as they
presage victory or defeat. If the former they
are pursued with unrelenling periinacity if
the latter they are at once discarded. Success
sanctiiies all instrumentalities, and is pointed 10
for Justification of whatever conduces to It's
attainment. A bare recurrence TO several
prominent passages of demncratic craftsmanship
will serve to make this fact apparent.
Less than dozen years since it seemed de-
sirable that southern nstitutiens-always a
darling pet of the modern democratic party
should be strengthened by an addition to our
territory. This desire could not be accom-
plished without making war upon a weak sister
republic. 1t was sometime before any sort Of
pretext could be found. But democratic
ingenuity, never at loss for expedients, con.
trived plan as fraudulent as it was eflectual
The United States government, then in the
hands OF the democratic party, stationed troops
on our southwestern border and in disputed
territory, Ostensibly for the protection of our
frontiers, but really TO harrass our neighbors
into committing such aggressons as should BY
ingenuity be tortured into acts of war. The
plan was successful. War was soon after
wards declared to exist, and the dismember-
ment of Mexico was the result AT the same
time our claims, which were pronounced by ex-
ecutive authority to be ''clear and unquesiona-
BILE" to territory claimed also BY the most pow
erful nation on the globe, were quietly reln-
quished. Fortunately through the energy OF
free slate emgrants the territory thus acquired
proved barren sceptre of power.
The next movement Of the democracy for the
benefit Of Slavery was the opening of free ter
riiory for its introduction. Under the specious
guise of popular sovereignty, which is now
construed by the highest democratic authority
in the country TO relate only 10 Slavery, the
time honOred compact known as the Missouri
Compromise and which guaranteed Freedom Ia
ali territory north of SO degrees 80 minutes
Kansas. a prominent portion of that territory,
left to fight her way against the administration
against Slavery, and against the democratic
party, into the Union as Free State through
every obstacle that this combined opposition
could suggest. Slavery demanded the terri.
tory and every legal and constitutional barrier
10 its introduction must he and was removed.
Again: Slavery wanted Cuba. This 'gen
of the Antilles" could only be obtained by con
quest. Spain declined repeated overtures fol
its purchase. Hence some pretext must be
sought for war with that distracted nation
Her attempts to prevent the landing of fllibus
tiers IN Cuba were tortured into aggressions up
On our commerce and would have made sufi
cient occasion, had il not been for the attitude
assumed by England and France, for Wrestling
this coveted island from her possession.
These and other notable instances of the
ready means the democrats have on hand fol
justliyng their foray for the extension of Slav
cry are brought to mind by an article in the
Washington Union of Saturday in which the ac
QUESTION of Central America is discussed The
means adopted by Walker are repudia,ed, bu
the project by another process is favored !
says:
"To acquire the privilege of constructing railways
canals and roads the sthmus to settle region
of country traversed by these routes, with peaceful
tradesmen, farmers, mechanics, etc, would seem thu
only sure and intalble mode of planting our nstitu
lions permanently III those regions. If, however W,
must plant our institutions in regions south of us b'
the strong arm, let 1t be by open and honorable hosti
y conducted under tine auspices and authority of thu
Government. NWlting can be easier than 10 find a
cause ~ national quayTet Nth the Central Anieyica
States and the Spanish Government II are set about seek
ing ii. If, contrary to our national policy we mus
needs extend our institutions southwark BY force lie
it be done by honorable warfare and not by politica
toray"
''Nolhing can be easier than to find caus
of national quarrel if We sci about seeking it y
Evidently NOT. The past history of the part
fully warrants this conclusion Blu, that con
lest thus begun, and waged for the purpose Q
Selling upon the territory of neighborin
Stale, should be called honorable warfare.
passes the comprehension of all making an
pre,ensions to such moral distinctions as riel
and wrong. That it is on par with the den
ocralic morality of the present day we will a,
nit. II is but part and parcel of the meal
used 10 disemmember Mexico, force SLAYER
upon Kansas, and annex Cuba. We have to
much confidence in the moral sense of our coul
rymeh to tbelieve that such means will ALWAYS
successful.