Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-05-12
The New STYLE of War Democracy.

cups no confirmed tobacco-chewer1 IN the hrst
pangs Of an attempt to abstain from the weed,
no opium-eater cut off from supply of the
potent and bewildering drug, ever. exhibited
such signs of affection, or manifested such
an appetite to return to the demoraEzing in
fuences of his pernicious indulgences, as
is shown by the old Democratic politicians to
enjoy once more the honors and emoluments,
the pickings and stealngs of office
All their fine talk about the Constitution,
their suddenly enkindled affection for the
writ of habeas corpus, their soft descants up
on the delights and lovelness of peace, and
their pretended fears of the centralizing ten
denotes of the present administration, when
simmered down, are simply the outgrowth of
this passion for the sweets of office and power
If they sympathize with the rebellion and
are enamored of the system Of human slavery,
it is because Of their darling passion for of
fee since without slavery and the triumph
of the rebel arms they have hitherto been
unable to see their way clear to a restoration
Of their party to power. BIT they are now
beginning to despair of discouraging the
people of the North from prosecuting the
war, or inducing them to surrender to the re-
bellion and adopt JEFF. DAVIS as their Pres
ident and the constitution Of the bogus Con-
federacy as their fundamental law. A new
policy is limited at. The Harrisburg Patriot,
the central organ Of the Pennsylvania Cop
perheads, mindful of the result of the last po-
litical canvass in that State, advises change
of policy. 1t is amusingly frank and naive in
its advice to the party leaders. After stating
that the old political issues are extinct, it
says:
The best plan is to recognize the fact,
and strike 6otdty for popular tavor aCM the
aOeapons which are readieSt for o1n use. A dec
laration for peace in the advance of a success
full campaign, or in the midst of it, would
bring, for example, nothing but derison
about our ears. The country is demoralized,
and sce must make tie best of IT, Whatever IS
aVaiabte to political success IS hat most re need
Until we have the power in our hands we can
do nothing but chafe at our weakness.
We should ike to see the leaders of the
Democracy take Il step in advance of old
limits Let those at Chicago give us the
most a0aiiabLc man and a PLATFORM dictated blythe
same principle. The idea Is to aCie, and Uin 9ce
mast, or age are all lost and all hope of saving
the country gone. If it needs be a successful
military chiettain to overthrow the champion
of Ab0ltiOnism, whoever he may be, Lincoln
or any other man, let US have him. If we
must cry war to elect him. let us cry it as
Justify as our opponents. In word, the time
has gone by for standing on nice points, if
IN
ancy and looping ground for the salvation
of the nation.
& When are hare once tie pO'0e' n. Our hands
ece ca, mould the policy Of the future as may
seem best; uttiHen we can do nOhutg IhiSgo
ing against Wnd and tide has progcd bad bust
ness; let us see it we cannot tack the political
craft so as to get her off the shoals and out
with the tide"
The substance of this advice is that the
party should adopt any profession of princi-
ciples likely to bring it into power. Success
is of prime Importance. Much as they detest
tho idea of making war on their southern
friends, yet, if it is the only way to carry the
election, they will cry war as Justify as any
body. If by these means, they can secure
the success of Democratic candidate they can
then return to the peace and surrender policy,
betraying those whose adhesion they secured
by Justify crying war" Truth, honor, prin-
ciples may he sacrificed, but the party must
be preserved. That seems to be the central
idea of the partizan Democracy.
The difficulty will be to deceive the public
There has been somc.ittle experience already
A. Il, Il, ,fn
ustily " before elections, but stick to the old
party organization. AS far as it goes that
experience has not been of a nature to en-
courage further experiments in the same di-
rection. A case in point is afforded by the
example of the first Congressional district in
this State The Democrats there adopted the
policy recommended by the Pennsylvania ed
itor. In calling their district convention
they adopted the language of the calls used
by the Republican and Union committees.
If they failed to announce platform of
distinctive principles, their candidate called
himself War Democrat, and " cried war lus-
tily " till the election was over. He has since
taken his seat in Congress and voted and act
tu'SCHcidll Win but NopICIItdilS L lie same
game was played in other States.
Even LONG, of Ohio, who now advocates
recognizing the independence of the South
was elected as a war Democrat No one
heard any expression of opposition to putting
down the rebellion from him while he was a
candidate before the people. Such game
may be played successfully once, but it can
not be repeated. The people will elect no
man President who is not thoroughly and earn
estly for suppressing the rebellion, and en-
forcing obedience to the Constitution and
laws OF the Union in all the States and Ter
ritories.
a Formidable CUsToMER.-A Newbern let
ter describes the rebel ram which assisted in
the recent capture of Portsmouth as about
lao feet long, with an oval roof, much like
the back Of turtle, and so strong in timber
and plating as to be impervious to hundred