, 1864-10-14
Position of the Democratic Party.

Herald, published prior to the assembling Of the
Chicago Convention, handles the position of
the Democratic party in able and truthful
manner. The position taken by the Chicago
Convention is identical with the principles
as set forth in the article:
''There are two classes who perpetually mis-
represent the position of the Democratic party.
These are briefly designated by defining them as
the enemies without and the enemies within the
party All organizations of whatever charac-
ter or name have those two classes of enemies.
The church has its enemies within as well as its
outside foes. And the same truth applies, to
greater or less extent, to all other human insh
tutiOns and organizations, and it has always
been doubtful question, which time and expe
rience have not yet fully disclosed, whether
political or religious organization suffers most
at the hands Of its enemies within or its enc
mics without So far as the Democratic party,
however, is concerned we incline to the opin-
ion that it has encountered greater injury from
those who profess to be its friends, than those
who are openly its enemies. In an article yes
terday said
'It is not to be disguised that we have in our
ranks men who very pOmpOusly declare that
they will not support the Democratic candidate
unless the convention shall adopt war plat
form, and others who just as pOmpously declare
that they will not support the Democratic can
didate unless he is put upon peace platform.
Assuming that these war Democrats mean that
the Democracy shall pledge themselves to the
prosecution Of THIS war, which is now a war Of
abolition, subjugatiOn, and cOnfscation, and as
suming that these so-caled peace Democrats
mean that the Democracy shall pledge them
selves to recognize the independence Of the
South for the sake of peace, we have only to say
TO them that the Democracy will not put their
candidate upon either a war platform or peace
platform. They will put him upon the platform
of the Constitution and the Union. With that
platform fully carried out, there can be no war
for abolition, subjugation. and confscation, and
there can be no peace which shall divide the
Union. The Democrat who demands tEfe prose-
cution of the war for the negro instead Of
for the Union and the Constitution, is Lincoln
ite, and should vote and act with thatparty, and
no longer hypOcritically pretend to be Demo-
crat and a friend of the Union The Democrat,
the other hand, who demands that no war
shall be made for the Constitution and Union,
but that the Democratic party shall pledge
themselves to divide the Union if they get into
power, should lose no time in uniting his for
tunes with those of jeff. Davis, since he de-
mands precisely what jeff Davis himself de-
mands."
1t only remains to be added to what is here
said that those who thus seek to dictate fun
damental change in the platform and policy of
the Democratic party, are not its real friends
and do not desire its success. The man who
demands that the Democracy shall commit
themselves to the support and further prOsecu-
tion of war for the negro, at the expense and
to the utter destruction Of all the best interests
of the white race, has ceased to be Democrat
and become an abOlitionist So, too, the man
who seeks to force the Democracy to declare
themselves in favor of recognizing the inde-
pendence of the Southern COntederacy, and thus
divide and destroy the Union, is no longer a
Democrat, but a sympathizer with jeff. Davis,
and should ayow himself a secessionist. In
short, it may be said that no man is a Demo-
crat who sustains or co-operates with either
Lincoln or Davis. They are both enemies of the
Constitution and Union. Democrats are friends
Of the Constitution and Union, and the mission
Of the Democratic party is to see that both are
maintained and perpetuated. A war for the ne
gro has thus far overthrown both, and to recOg-
nize the independence Of the Confederacy ac-
cOmplishes the same purpose by a shorter route.
The position of the Democratic party is precisely
what it was four years ago. 1t was then Op-
posed to a war for the negro, and it is opposed
to Of that kind to-day. 1t was then Op-
posed to a division of the Union, and it is op-
posed to any such division to-day. They op-
posed then equally and alike the schemes of Lin
coin and JEFF. Davis, and they oppose them to-
day. The Democracy then were ready to make
the Union and the Constitution, and they
ready to make that war to-day. The DemOcra-
cy were in favor then of preserving and perpet-
uating the Union by peaceful and conciliatory
policy, if that policy would do it, and they are
ready to do the same thing to-day. There can,
therefore, be no misunderstanding to the real
position of the Democratic party. 1t stands to-
day where it stood four years ago, and where it
always stood. Time has only served to confirm
the wisdom, justice, and practicability of the
principles and policy of the Democratic party
If that party shall be restoredto power we shall
yet have the old Union and old Constitution,
and with them shall have peace once more. The
patriotic masses begin to understand and appre-
ciate this great truth, and in the Presidential
election this fall they will act accordingly.
To which the Louisville Journal, paper of
acknowledged influence and ability, responds;
This is as we conceive just statement of the
position of the Northern Democracy. We need
not add that it is as we conceive a statement
of the Just position. 1t is the conservative po-
sition.
There is in the North, besides the abolition
lists, but set Of persons that reject this posi-
ton. We mean of course the peace factiOnists
proper, of whom the bulk affirm the right of Sc
cession, and deny the right of coercion In
other words the bulk of the peace factiOnists
proper believe the South has the right side IN
this contest and desire to see the Southern side
triumph. They are secessiOnists in principle
and rebels in sympathy. Such is their position.
which is indeed the only position that can be
assumed consistently by one who is willing to
accept peace on the basis Of separation rather
than the briefest war for the supremacy of the
constitution as framed and interpreted by our
fathers The conservatives of the country have
nothing in common with these factionsts, who
shape their action with the view of promoting
the success of the rebellion, and whose natural
allies are the abolitionists. The peace faction
lists proper are the deadly enemies of the cOnser-
vatives, who seek exclusively the preservation
of the Union of the Constitution, and will sub
NIT to nothing less, resolved to employ so much
war as may be NECESSARY, and no more than may
be necessary, to secure that end. ''I tell the
Senator, and tell other gentlemen" said the
gallant Richardson in his place in the Senate
Just before the adjournment of Congress, "that
as soon as we place a President in the White
House on the Fourth of March next, we shall
receive whatever propositions the people of the
South send to us; we shall make to them the
proposition of coming back to their duty to the
old Constitution and the old Union as our IA
theirs made it; and if they do not come back, we
will enforce it against them" This is the meas