Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-09-04
From the Luzcrne Union
The Democratic Party and the Country

| The Old issues that divided the Whig
and the Democratic parties, as national
organizations, have pretty much become
obsolete, and the whole tendency of par
ties for years past has been towards radi-
calism, or erhaps we should say, ultraiS0
upon sectional questions-every day mare
rowing down the differences that former,
ly divided conservatism, till of late, those
who formerly differed most earnestly
have found themselves acting together
upon an entirely new political basis -
-Four months ago found us in new pos
itlon, because IT found tie country launch.
Ell out upon the untried and untrodden
pathway Of civil war. The Democratic
party had long predicted that such would
be the result of a persistence in slavery ag-
itation 10y the two sections Of the country
had proclaimed it from the rostrum,
from the press, and in fact, through ev~
cry avenue by which il could reach the
public conscience, but its admoLtions
were unheeded and the shock came at
last like thunderbolt. Trne still to its
instincts when the shock came, the
Democratic party of the north rallied to
the support of the goveinment-a gov
crnment that Was then and is now pro,
scrlblng Democrats for opinions sake -
not that they loved the administration,
but because they loved their country and
the Constitution.
Flushed with political success and in>
iatuated with the ilea Of sectional subju,
CATION, the party of the administration
would tolerate no difference of political
sentiment OF action. They inaugurated u
reign OF terror and promulg gated the su
premacy OF mob law wherever the actions
of tue administration were questioned by
the press, 10y public meetings or by indi,
vidual opinion. A determination was
evinced to accomplish by violence, if
necessary, what political acton never had
accomplished, the destruction OF the Deri.
ocratic party of this country. For time
the timid ialtered, but those whose con-
science told them that the Democratic
porty was right, and who haG the boldness
10 stand by their convictions still stood
firm, appealing with all the eloqueIce of
patriotism and of national history to the
traditions and doctrines of their fathers
foi the rectitude OF their purposes and the
correctness OF their doctrines.
Four months have rolled away and be-
hold what a change Democrats now
has been right heretofore. Every step
that has been taken by the State or Ma
tlonal Administration since this war COM
menced has but revealed the ncumpeten-
cy or criminal corruption of those who
have the desiinies If the country in
charge. Millions of dollars voted by a
generous and loyal people for the support
OF the government have been squandered
On Spectators and political robbers,
while the soldiers of the Union, for whose
comfort and efficiency this money was vo-
ted, have been forced TO subsist on bad
food and fight in rags. The merest pOlit-
cal hacks, who never saw militia mus
and had no idea OF service ON the field
have been made commanders Of tens of
thousands of gallant men, over the head
of the tried generals of the Republic, on,
ly to march them into the Jaws of des-
truction and leave them there, while they
saved their worthless carcasses by timely
retreats and the superiority of fast horses
over human locomotion. Hundreds of
millions squande:ed, thousands of gallant
lives lost-widows and orphans multiple
ed-commerce destroyed, industry para
lyzcd, laboring men by the thousands
turned out OF employment and their
families starving g,every int of the country
Frustrated and the Union dismembered-
such are the fruits of the last four months
OF the present non compromising civil war
administration of this government. And
then how dark and gloomy the future =
Who can prophecy or tell with certainty
where these things shall end?
: Such being the case, We ask in all pat
/ | -. 4, Hn1
= that there is q. necessity for the Demo.
cratic party? With all this accumulation
: Of disasters, is there not need for the con-
servative counsels and administrative ex :
perience Of that party that carried the
country triumphantly through the last
= war with England-the war with Mexico
and in fact through all the great tribu-
lations of tho government since its organ
zalion until this present time ? The
heart of every honest man tells him, yes.
TIE great conscience OF the country has
responded to this sentiment like one
great throe of distress for the last three
weeks-Lhat after all we have fors lken
the gods of our fathers, and plunged head
foremost from the rock of our safety into
: the billows Of discomfort and disaster. -
} How shall we recover IS row the ques-
tion-tbe anxious question of every patri.
otic citizen in the land. We answer only
: by unceasing effort, and by the strictest
pre- ervation Of our Democratic organiza.
zion and discipline; and now is the time
10 com nence. The administration party
must be arrested in Its blind and reckless
career this very fall. So far as State ad-
= mnistrations can be controlled it must be
done-legislatures must be elected with a
view-for instance in Pennsyh ania-ol
: exposing the robbery and corruption and
Of bringing the guilty to punishment
!, /, Every department of government that can
be reached must be filled with honest un'
swerving Democrats, and thus gradually
we may acquire power to take the diff
culties Of the country into safer hands and
bring about an honorable and lasting
! peace-a peace that shall perpetuate the
Union and re establish the govern ment
1t may be too late, but it is worth the tria
the people are with US. Democrats, on
? ward to duty.