The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-29
APoSTACY OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.

The true source of the power and long-con-
country is to be found in its adherence, through
all its mutations and changes of Administration,
TO the idea of equal rights. This is the one
thread that has been wrought into the texture
Of every Democratic Administration till now,
and upon which, like the counters upon bill
lard wire, has been strung the various meas
ores of public policy which have marked
tdose Administrations. In the free States, the
E.arty has always made this idea the foundation
Of all their ppeals to the masses for support !;
whenever Il has been run upon any special
measure that bore heavily upon a particular
locality, its supporters could always be rallied,
on the grodnd that the party was at least the
party of equal rights a genuine Democratic
party at the bottom.
This idea should never be lost sight of in our
assaults upon that party, and never forgotten in
considering the method to strengthen and en-
Urge the foundations of the Republican party.
Il should be among the first and greatest of our
aims to expose the late great regeneration and
spostacy of the Democratic organization on
tsis fundamental point. The criminality and
blly of its leaders have delivered that organiza-
ten over to the support of the opposite doc
t ines Instead of the party being the champion
cfGod-given rights, it now takes the low ground
ot denying the existence Of any such rights, and
holds to the old doctrine of tyrants and Cypress
ors, that some men were born to be servants,
ard some to be masters. 1t has abandoned the
purity and simplicity of lofty and inspiring
idea, looking to human elevation and improve
ment and gone to browsing among the chat
ard stubble of past ages, chattering about dis
tRctions of races the inferiority of this and the
!. superiority of that, and undertaking to learnedly
a(portior the precise amount of liberty that each
is entitled to. From a party Of clear and sim
pl3 principles, looking to the good of all man
kj ID, it has set itself to work to argue that
some men ought to suffer, ought to be Cypress
ought to be trodden under foot, and oil
tsessity that certain others ought to be the
agents in this work. Of course, it takes care
tt hold that the members of the Democratic
P.Sty in this grand role are to hold the place
o the oppressors.
Such is the attitude Of the Democratic or.
g,Vlzation in this country to-day. Just as soon
az he Democratic masses of the rural districts
sfis4l have the facts of the case driven home
u2on their understandings, they will instructive
/ " recoil from this shocking creed. But as YET
| they have not all unlearned their old lessons
As yet, they run in the old grooves. AS yet
they live upon the souvenirs Of the past.
| 1his great apostacy cannot be too persistent
| ly exposed. 1t is the proper work of the Re
| lblicans, in season and out of season, in nook
/ AID corner, as well as from the press and the
| stmp, from Legislature and Congress. to ex.
7 eist OemOcrauc party no longer even Processes
to be the party of equal rights. 1t is no longer
tie party that advocates the cause of freedom
ard humanity. 1t is no longer the party that
bases itself, even in theory, upon sentiments OF
h.sman fraternity, or advocates equal and uni
verssl justice for all mankind. 1t has become
a@mere machine in the hands of humanity
m3ngers and slave-drivers, who weigh human
arts and human rights in scales where the
almighty dollar is the standard The exposure
of its treachery and Ealsehood is the duty OF
every friend ofhis race.