Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-09-01

ST. GlairsvilIe. Ohio, Sept. 1.
Reasons why the. Democratic
Party Should be Abandoned.

\
and arguments. Fit be the truth, let it b
entertained with candor:
LINDEN Grove, Iowa, Aug, 1864
DgAR SIR: You and i we're old friend
and schoolmates: and from our earle.
boyhood, by Christian parents, trained to re
spect religion, morality, patriotism and tn
old Democracy Of George Washington AM
Andrew Jackson. We were trained to vene
rate the principles Of the Declaration Of In
dependence, the sacredness of human lber
ty and the sacredness Of the Union Of thes
States, bound together by the Constitution
fthe people in one true, real nationalit,
and Government supreme and forever in
dissoluble-a Union perfect and for perpe
tuity.
We were taught to believe the Democrat
ic party the true party of the Union, anC
like immutable catholicism, UNCHANGED anC
uncbanpesble- faith, its creed, its meas
ures and aims the same yesterday, to-day
and for all time future. Well we remem
her the talismanic charm ofthe very name
Of the Democratic party" We remem
Der well the old yeneration for the flag oI
the Union. the Stars and Stripes, the ami
yersary Fourth sacred to the nations birth.
Were we superstitious? Aud more, we re-
member still the hickory poles, the unfurl
ed bnnting, streaming high upon their tops
proclaiming the unbenling will of the old
Hero who thr0ttlel nu lifcation, and threat.
ened BY the Eeraalp the neck Of the
great nullifier. But how changed the times
How fallen the men and changed the priD-
ciples of the old partyl How different the
leaders, and the mock Democracy ofto-day,
having not one good thing left but the name!
And ike the poor mans bird--"ror ct
pr9terea nihiI" In the name of candor,
my dear sir--what have the party that
once gave it character and moral power?
You ask me in your last. "why have aban-
doned the Democratic party--the party of
peace" You wonder how il is that, since
leaving my native Short Greek hills and
taking my abode in the Prairies fthe West,
| can so soon lie converted from the faith Of
my fathers. You wonder that my regard
for religion. morality and sound Democracy
has not held mo fast to the time-honored
party" Why. I'm the time of its trouble
| have deserted its ranks?" I.t .
SirL-I shall endeavor, in candor, to an
swer your very pertinent questions, and give
you reasons which satisfy my mind in re-
gard to the Righteousness, the morality, pat
riotism and soundness Of my course.
abandon the dead carcass Of the Democrat
ic party for the following, among many 9TH
or reasons. ~
]. 1t is now party toithont 7,raRciple; |
mean to say, without one rifdl principle.
moral poht5cal national patriotic, gener
Gus. noble. W hat is the daipus ef your
party now? Mere negdtion-oppositi0n to
every noble principle OF liberty and JUST ce,
giving character to the symbols of our ma
tionality, and which characterized the faith
ers If the Republic. q
What nOt0 are the symbols Of your party?
What noU emblazons your party colors2--
Sir, read to-day these miserable Democratic
negntionis.1 without principle aud without
sou upon your party flag. "NOnegro equal
it," No miscegendtioa mo coercion of
Organized tredson" mo hands upon the
abtttors oftreasoa." "Not a man or a dol
lar for the suppression of armed iasurec
Hoa,. ~ And the ground work OF your flag,
on which these negations are emblazoned
is blackened with two filthy ingredients
the better to give some shade of brightness
to the livid eniblazonry of the party notices.
Oue, che low, the obscene, the vulgar ap-
peals made to attract the very scum of So
ciety. The other, the vile, the loath
some, the unpatriotic sympathy for treason
and traitors, making your party mean
auxiliary arrsyed in the rearthe better, with
safety, to aid armed rebellion. f.1 e..
This Is the unprincipled Democratic peace
party; now when the nation isat war against
rebellion in arms-too eowardly to step over
into the ranks of their friends and dear kin
dred spirits, when their hearts are too trai
torpus to aid the Government in the sup
preston of murlerous rebellion, and in
her struggle for national existence Sir, 1
cannot, now that my country is in peril,
identify myself with party without one
distinctive principle that can for moment,
by its most powerfully applied appeals, stir
the blood OF noble an intelligent patriot
ism. Neither truth. right. justice, honor,
patriotisnl-- national safety, strength. pros
perity, true glory --nothing bat what must
sends chill through the soul OF every noble
man. ua03 ll,i ..!rc- ...-g g,
a,2 9. Because il is Janus-faced party, sus
tanning itself by chicanery. hypocrisy, false
hood. In lS4S il passed resolutions as anti
slavery as did ever the Republicans. This
was at time when liberty was shaking ev-
cry throne in Europe. and the echo affect
Ing this country. The party seemed to an
ticipate the universal popularity of univer
sal liberty. Soon appearances changed; ar
istocracy revived. The party became in
tensely pro-slavery. And now it is for war