Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-12-07

Virginia Resolutions of 1898, and in tn,
Dred Scott decision of the Supreme Cour,
or the United States the one affirmipf
the sosereignty Of the States, and the othel
the supremacy Of the whits race. On these
grand ideas hang all thelaw and the pro
phets OF Democracy. To renounce thes,
is to renounce Democracy, aud to repudi.
ate the work OF Washington, jefferson
Madison, and al! the patriotic founders o.
the Constitution. From 1898 to 1860 ths
Democratic party, with undertaking fidel
ity' stood upon tho platform of these
principles. On this platform il won al
its proud triumphs, and conducted the
Republic through more than half cen,u
ry Of prosperity and honor. BY sorsakine
these principles, it has become the ally
OF stupendous Abolition revolution, and
assisted in plunging the Republic into the
gulf OF civil strife, if not of irreparable
disunion.
Is ii not evident that there is no hope
for Democracy, or for our country, but in
the immediate return of the Democratic
party to an honest and firm support fits
ancient patriotic principles? There is no
doubt that the honest masses OF the
party have, in their hearts been right all
the time. They have abhorred this war
They have known that it was without
foundation either in justice or the Consti-
tutional compact. Why should not these
patriotic masses move, al once, to express
their sentiments, and lay down their
course of action for the iuture2 Why
longer abandon their principles and their
party to policy which has brought only
defeat and disgrace upon u.s. Has not
the time arrived when some definite prin-
ciples should be adopted! We hear a
great deal OF incohereut defamation from
stump orators and mere party organs
about the time-honored principles Of the
Democracy" But such vague exclama-
tions mean nothing. What ARE these
=" time-honored principles wrapped up
ir this ambiguity! Something distinct
and delnlte must be preoentod TO tho
people for their adoption, and sufficient
reasons given WHY they should be adopt
ed. AS has been already stated, Mr.. JEFF
ferson's resolutions Of 1898, defining the
rights of the States, and the decisions Of
Judge Taney, affirming white citizenship,
have been the principles upon which this
government was administered for seventy
years. These principles have been repu-
dated by the present administration. A
majority in the North apparently endorse
this Reputation, and if this be the delib-
crate opinion Of our people, then all hope
OF Union is at an end. But on the con-
trary, the very moment the northern peo-
pie accept these principles as the basis of
our federatve system, that moment all
causes of conflict cease, and union and
fraternity are restored to our torn and
bleeding country. There is no other way
given under Heaven by which the Union
can be restored. No party, unless based
upon these principles, is competent to
save our country, hence there is no use
for q" Democratic party" unless it stands
firmly upon those cardinal doctrines
those ancient landmarks of the Democ-
racy. The thing to be determined, there
fore, first Of all is, can a party be formed in
the North upon this basis, in other words,
can we re-organizo the Democratic party
and bring il back to its old principles' 1t
is believed that this can be done. The
masses are right. and always have BEEN
It is politicians without ideas who have
ruined US. Men whose comprehension
was never sufficiently strong to grasp the
philosophy Of our politics, have sent the
country, with their expsdiency quackery,
reeling into an abyss of blood. Men
whose power Of intellect was just about
capable of comprehendiDg ward politics,
have assumed to understand the ideas
which influence men and shape human
destiny. Hence Democracy has been re-
duced to string of unmeaning general.
ties, until it has become laughing stock
among men Of intellect and genius. What
we need is to lift 1t from that Slough OF
Despond-to rehabitate i. In the cast of
vestmepts of its ancient faith-to invigor-
ate its PROSTATE body with new impulse
to breathe into its nostrils the breath OF
life.
For this purpose we must hold alofl the
ideas and principles which save our coun-
try. We must find out how many there
are among US willing to adopt them, and
those will form the Democratic party, and
no others. Let every man, therefore,
who expects to call himself a Democrat,
take bis stand upon the two great funda-
4 r In ~vh,nh