The Portland daily press., 1864-08-20
The Keynote of True Democracy"

The Argus commends the New York Day
Book TO the Democrats of the State as a sui
able campsign paper, aud says, in editorial
commendation, that Its rapidly increasing
circulation is sufficient indication that ii
strikes the key note Of true democracy"
IL becomes interesting to know what par
ticuar feature or element is possessed by the
Day Book, not common TO democratic papers,
that should secure Tor 1t its rapidly iucreas-
ing circulation" for by knowing this we can
tell what Is ''the keynote of true democracy"
which it has so successfully touched.
1t is not difficult to gain the knowledge de-
sired on this point The Day Book has Pc
culiar character. 1t advocates peculiar doc
trines; doctrines advocated by no other paper
in the free States. Indeed, we are not sure
that another paper, North or South, can be
found that occupies the same ground. II as.
seris the interiority of the negro to the white,
but this is no docuine peculiar to it, for many
other papers do the same. II denies the RICH,
of the negro to any OF the privileges of cili-
zenship, but In this 1t is not peculiar, for other
papers hold the same proscriptive idea. II
also insist that negro slavery, If not divine
institution, is according to natural laws, and
that the moral condition of the negro is that
OF slave. and that In freedom he Is out o.
his proper place in the scale of creation; bu
even such notions as these are not peculiar to
the Day Book, for they have been and art
echoed by paper of our own city.
What then does render the Day Book pc
culiar paper, or what doctrines peculiar to il
give 1t such a hold upon the faithful" and
the eLunciation of which is the touching OF
1.-The key note OF true Democracy"
Answer. The Day Book asserts that the
negro Is simply an animal; that he is not
a human being; that he does not belong TO
the rational creation; that he is simply an
ape or orong outang endowed nth speech !,
More than this: the Day Book insists upon
reducing the free coiored people of the United
States 10 slavery as the true solution of the
negro problem, so that no relation of the ne
gro race shall be recognized in this country
except that Of slavery to the white man.
This Is the unblushing, out-spoken, undis.
Z
every number, perhaps, but still asserted, as
/ all who have carefully read II for the last four
or Eve years well know. This is what renders
I 1t peculiar. Such doctrines have rendered II
offensive even TO Fernando Wood. Such doc
I trincs alone make it different from most other
democratic papers. Such doctrines give /. Its
wide circulation And such doctrines, so the
Argus virtually asserts, are the keynote Of
true Democracy! And il is such a paper,
holding such doctrines, that the Eastern Ar
gus commends 10 the Democracy of Maine, as
fitting campaign sheet.
Democrats OF Moine! What say you to the
"key note ?" Christian Democrats, who be-
lieve in a common Father and q common
brotherhood, and who profess to believe God
has made of one blood all nations OF men 10
dwell on the face OF the whole earth, what say
you TO the doctrine that the negro is a mere
animal; mere speaking ape; a mere beast OF
burden; born with q saddle upon bis back n-
wiling every tyrant to mount him with whip
and spur; that he was crea,ed for slave as a
morse Is TO draw load, and that every free
black should be sold into and perpetualy held
in bondage? What say you to this, ye who
believe In God OF Love, and a Savior who
died 10 redeem men from sin? Is this the
keynote of true Democracy? So intimates
the Argus. showing that il is prepared to go
TO this extreme length.