The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1864-09-14
The Position of the Democratic Party,

The Quincy (Illinois) Herald says:--
1T 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 Conven-
ton shall adopt 'war' platform, and
others who just as pompously declare
that they will not support the democratic
candidate unless lie is put up on peace
platform. Assuming that these war
democrats mean that the democracy shall
pledge themselves to the prosecution of
this war, which is now q war of abolition,
subjugation, and confscation, and assum-
ing these so called 'peace' democrats
mean that the democracy shall pledge
themselves to recognize the independence
Of the South for the sake of peace, we
have only to say TO them that the de-
mocracy will not but their candidate upon
either war or peace platform. They will
put him upon the platform of the Con-
stitution and the Union. With that
platform fully carried out, there can be no
war for abolition, snbjugalion, and confs-
cation and there can be no peace which
shall divide the Union. The democrat
who demands the prosecution of the war
for the negro, instead of the war for the
Constitution and the Union, is Lincoln
ite, and should vote and act with the par
ty, and no longer hypocritically pretend
to be democrat and friend of the I'm
ion. The democrat, on the other hand,
who demands that no war shall be made
for the Constitution aud the Union, but
that the democratic party shall pledge
themselves 10 divide the Union If they
get into power, should lose no time in
uniting his fortunes with those of jeff.
Davis, since he demands precisely what
jeff. Davis demands.
1t only remains to be added that those
who thus seek to dictate a fundamental
change in the platform aud 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 10 the support and
further prosecution of war for the ne
gro, ut the expense and utter destruction
Of all the best interests of the white race,
has ceased to become democrat and be-
come an abolitionist. So, too, The man
who seeks to force the democracy TO de-
clare themselves in favor of recognizing
the independence of the Southern Con
federacy, and thus divide and destroy the
Union, is no longer democrat, but a
sympathizer with JEFF. Davis, and should
avow himself secessionist. In short, it
may be said that no man is democrat
who sustains or co-operates with either
Lincoln or Davis. They are both enc
mies Of the Constitution and Union.-
Democrats are friends of the Constitution
and Union, and the mission of the DEM
ocratic party is to see that both are
maintained and perpetuated. A war for
the negro has thus far ovorthrown both,
and to recognize the independence of the
Confederacy accomplishes the same pur-
pose by shorter route. The position of
the democratic party is precisely what it
was four years ago. 1t was then opposed
TO war for the negro, and it is opposed
to war of that kind to-day. 1t was
then opposed to division of the Union,
and it is opposed to any such division to-
day. They opposed then equally and
alike the schemes of Lincoln and JEFF.
Davis, and they oppose them to-day. The
democracy then were ready TO make war,
if war was unavoidable, in defense Of the
Union and the Constitution, and they are
ready to make the war to-day. The de-
mocracy were in favor then OF preserving
and perpetuating the Union by a peaceful
and concliatory policy, il that policy
would do it, and they are ready TO do the
same thing to-day. There can, therefore,
be no misunderstanding as TO the real po-
sition of the democratic party. 1t stands
to-day where it always stood. Time has
served only to confirm the wisdom, JUS
tice and practicabiity of the principles
and policy of the democratic party. II
that party should be restored to power,
we shall yet have the old Union and the
old Constitution, and with them shall
have peace once more. The patriotic mass
es begin TO understand and appreciate
this great truth, and in the Presidential
election this fall they will net accordingly"
Boswell once asked johnson il there
we're any possible circumstances under
which suicide would be justifable. "No,"