The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1864-11-30
From abe New York World.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.


THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
The Matiaaal htel7igsnosr pLblishesa let
ter TO which il gives g1saa indorsementl
purporting 10 be written by Democrat in
the Army OF the Potomac, advising shat the
nemocratic party shall make no factious Op-
position to Mr. Lincoln's administration
(which is all very well, and that the party
shall hold great public meeting for the pUr-
pose Of assuring the administration of future
support. This is, in effect, a reoommenda-
ton that tho Democratic party strike its col
ors and surrender at discretion. Ii au ad-
verse vote eould change the nature of truth,
this might be good advice But the Demo
cratic party opposed the reelection of Mr..
Lineoln because they believed his policy to
be mistaken and mischieVous, and that, If
persisted in, it would ruin the counhy. If
these views are sound the success of the Re
publican party in the election is no reason
why they should be renounced Numbers
are no test Of truth; temporary majority
Of any corYmunity may be seized by an in
fatuaiion from which only experience can
release them.
We have only TO look at the state of pub
lie opinion in the Southern States to see that
majorities are not necessarily intallible. Ii
the respectable Union minority which exist
ed in the South at the time Of secession had
not succumbed las it is now recommended
that the Democratic party shall succumb) to
q successful majority. the prospect of an
early restoration would be more hopeful than
it is at present. If the Democratic party
should surrender to the Republicans, and
publicly declare its future Endorsement of
the Republican policy, the last motive would
be removed which can induce any part Of
the southern people to think of voluntary
return te the Union. If they come back, it
will be because they see the possibility of
forming such junction with political par
ty in the North, as will suffice to protect
their constitutional rights. Submission,
under any other circumstances, would be a
surrender at discretion; and the war will be
protracted to the last extremity before the
South will consent to that.
The duty Of the Democratic party to-
ward Mr.. Euceln's administration since his
reelection is very plain. There is to be no
surrender of principles (which would be
base political poltroonery); nor, on the other
hand, will there be any attempt to obstruct
the government in the discharge Of its le-
climate functions The majority of the
people having decided to continue this ad-
ministration in power, it is due to the ma
jority that Mr.. Lincoln should have an
other fair trial. But, on the other hand,
the party that administers the government
is solely responsible for the success of their
policy; and they show an unmanly want of
confidence in themselves and their princi-
pies when they ask us to step in and share
that responsibility. Ii they succeed, they
are entitled to the sole credit; if they fail,
we do not intend to participate in their dis
grace By their success in the election, they
hold complete control Of the government in
all its departments, and can do with it what
they please 1t is their right to administer
it according to their own views of policy;
but it is absurd for them to ask of the mi
nority any other support than faithful
obedience to the laws which it is the priv
ilege Of the majority to enact. Any other
than this would be such an indorse-
ment of their policy as would entangle us
in that responsibility for its succuss which
belongs to its party abetters We wash our
hands of all such responsibility. We will
pay our taxes; we will actively promote
volunteering for the arms, if the govern
ment will accept volunteers in lieu of con-
scsipts we will encourage our soldiers. -
cannot lay the blame of its failures at our
door If it succeeds we will tilch no part of
it's honors; but if time shall vindicate the
there shall be great responsible party ready
to take and qualified to administer the gov
ernment ~.
What spectacle could be more humiliating
than for whole people to surrender all in
dependence Of Judgment, and degrade them
selves into toadles aud parasites OF the con-
fessedly third-rate man who admins tcrs the
government? 1t would not be safe to tell
any man, no matter how great his virtues
and abilities, that, having been elected, he
has carte blanche to do whatever he pleases
without danger of public censure. That is
not the theory of republican government,
which, as Mr. Jefferson truly said lis found
ed on jealousy, not on confidence. " Public
liberty is always in greatest danger, when
the government is clothed with most power
that is, in time of war tits absurd to ask
the people to relax their vigilance when the
danger is greatest. There is most danger
of waste and corruption, when most money
is expended; that is, again, III time OF war
An honest government should be grateful
for the sharp-sented public vigilance which
tracks out and exposes corruption. SO, "a
gain, if military operations are alike lauded
whether we'll or i'll contrived, a chief incen-
tive to good management is taken away
just criticism and discriminating praise,
have healthy influence both on the con-
due. of civil and military affairs; but whole
sale and unconditional laudatien would be
Some shallow and fippant
Journals pretend that the Democratic party
ought to disband simply because it has been
beaten in this election. When we. get toll
cradle complete returns, SO that we can state
the aggregate popular vote Of both parties,
we will demonstrate the absurdity of this
crotchet OF the State of New York we
know already that the aggregate vote of
both parties will be over seven hundred
thousand and that the Republican majority
will be less than seven thousand. The re-
publican majority is less than one per cent.
of the whole voting population A party
which stands so nearly abreast of its anita
gonist, and which would undoubtedly have
carried the state if we had had more poll
ing places, or daylight had lasted to take
the whole vote of this city, has no reason to
be ashamed of the numbers, its organiza-
ton, or its party discipline. 1t is a great,
respectable party, which, though temporar-
lily defeated, is destined to live and be the
main pillar Of public safety. -a gi..n