, 1864-01-09
THE WASHINGTON STATESMAN
SATURDAY MORNING. JAN, 8, 1854.

SATU hDAY Y MORNING, JAN, ., 1854
If hard words, impudent assertions and
JaeObinic threats of ostracism, could destroy
the confidence of the Democracy in their
time honOred principles, the political organ
ization which has furnished to the Union a
majority of all the Presidents, would to-day
be as dead as Federalism or the recent polit-
ical monstrOsity, the Republican party But
there is vitality in Democracy which is in
spired by a love of freedom, submission to
law and regard for the rights of men, com
munities, States and sections the whole
crowned by fidelity to the National Union,
without which all other rights would be i'll
defined, badly enforced and possibly en-
tirely destroyed.
Having had the control of affairs during
the major part Of the years of our national
existence, the Democracy look upon the
Union 'as it was" as properly their own
handi-work and, with all its imperfections,
are proud Of it, Like all successful politi-
cal parties, it absorbed the most considerable
portion of the vicious elements of our popu-
lation but at no time did those excrescen-
ses on the party have the control of its af-
fairs in so large degree as the same class
the same men, in fact,-in the now name
less party, once called the Republican.
Above all other men, Democrats should
be Union-men; for it is only possible for
their ideas to prevail by the restoration of
the Union and the return of peace-peace
which is impossible with two mighty Re
publics lying beside each other To this
end, war must be prosecuted until the Con-
tederate leaders express willingness to
come back into the Union and refer all their
troubles to the arbitrament of the National
Congress and the National Courts, where
justice was never yet refused the South or
Southern men. The terms which the Con-
federate States are to be allowed to return
to the exercise of their rights under the
Constitution are laid down by the Democra-
cy to be, that the South shall support the
Constitution Gas it is and in return they
shall have all the rights, privileges and i'm
munities, formerly held by them they bear
ing their own losses of all kinds during this
war-a light punishment for their attempt
to destroy the indissolnble union of these
States
To be Democrat is to be lgVer of the
just rights of all sections-to bs an enemy
to sectonalism, and fanaticism, let it come
from whence it may-to be lovet Of human
liberty regulated by law, and of eforms in
augurated after due consideration of the
rights of all parties in interest
Despite the attempts made 70 cast con-
tempt upon the Democracy in the present
StruOUln tbav oan ,roudl, 7,Oi,tl+, A. ~,
plOits Of their rank and file, and to their
great leaders, in behalf of the Union, and
challenge their calumniators to Show their
peers amid the army Of Brigadier Generals
which has been appointed from the ranks of
the former Republican party. Never, while
brave men and brave deeds shall Ibe hon
ored, can the names Of Grant, McClernand
Logan, Pleasanton, Buford, Blair, Bayard,
Devens, Kearney, Stevens, and all the brave
nameless but not unhonored host df worth
les be forgot. Strike from the records of
our country their acts, and the war for the
Union would be shameful failure; and if
their deeds had never been wrought the
Confederates would have before this time
watered their steeds IN the Hudson or thun-
dered from Dorchester Heights Nor must
the brave rank and file of the Democracy of
New England and the Middle States be for
got, nor the valiant Western bands, from
much derided Egypt" and from all over
the West where Republcanism was scarce
ly known,-whO have borne the starry en-
sign of the Republic through hundred
battles, with almost unvarying success, and
always with honor
1t has become the fashion to derde De-
mocracy; but when the true history of this
war is written it will record the fact that
one half of the people Of the loyal States
fought first and foremost in every battle for
a Government which knew no difference be-
tween loyal Democrat and an open rebel,
and freely split their blood for an Admins,
tration which contemned their patriotic ex-
ertions. But Democrats do not make war
against the Confederates because they hate
them, or love the Administration; but be-
cause they love the Union more than all
else but Liberty and Eternal, Unchangeable
Justice The Democracy will never give up
the Union; they will never relinquish their
personal rights-wrung from tyrants and
transmitted through thousand years by our
martial ancestors-but will struggle on
through all time to place the Government on
the basis of common consent and mutual
confidence.
The coming Presidential canvass will be
made by the Democracy on the basis of the
idea which we have sketched and their sue
cess is nearly certain. 1t will be the GER
tain forerunner of the restoration of the
Union, if the present Administration has
not secured that desirable termination to our
national troubles before that time; which
God grant it may do.
The Democracy can well afford to let the
taunts of their adversaries pass in contempt
uous silence. The ignoble rejoicings of the
scum Of our people, now, for the first time
revelling in the exercise of power which
they know not how to handle, and the spoils