Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-10-14
The Democratic Party Then and
Now.


party machinery and its prominence
of party aims, cannot but excite
memories that are instructive to all
who cherish an abiding love for their
country and their country's honor.
Can any one forget the thrill OF in
dignation-the pang of wounded ma
tional pride--that swept over the
nation when the old flag was shot
down at Fort Sumpter, and the
brave little garrison was obliged to
surrender to the arrogant demand
of early treason? Were we parti-
sans then? Did men stop to think
whether they were republicans or
democrats then? In that glorious
response to the call for volunteers
which followed, did men stop to
pronounce, or to think of, the names
by which they had known them
selves as politicians? No. Parti-
sanship was swallowed up by patri-
otisnl. All were bent on avenging
the insult offered to the flag, on vim
dicating the national honor, on put
ting down the power Of treason, on
re-establishing the Union by the ex-
ercise of the power of the govern
ment.
Was this right? Were the feel
ings then exercised honorable and
praiseworthy Were not the emo
tions of the tine sue h as did ever
lasting honor to the nation Was
not the action of the time the plain
est dictate of Christian patriotism =?
Is treason any better now than it
was then? After it has drank the
blood of half million of our noble
boys, and plunged the nation into a
debt that it will take a century to
pay, and clothed the land in mourn.
ing, does it deserve milder treat
ment than it did then? Are the
aims of the arch traitor changed p
Is there a democrat in the land who
does not owe to treason just as
much indignant hate to-day as he
did when democrats rushed to arms,
and democrats cheered them on p
Why then this change? Why does
Abraham Lincoln come in for more
denunciation than Jefferson Davis =?
Why is the candidate of the demo-
Gratis cheered by the rebels as they
swing their dirty hats over the
trenches Why do war worn sol
diers groan as they pass under the
Mcclellan flag? Why do democrat
ic leaders conspire with traitors on
foreign soil to further traitor
schemes? Why do we hear cries
for armistice and peace? Why does
the note of victory, as it comes upon
the gale which sweeps the smoke
from Mobile Bay and takes new
strength as it passes over Atlanta,
and breaks into wild huzzas as it
rushes along the Shenandoah valley,
fall upon ears that do not give it
welcome ? Why does national sue
cess threaten party failure ? The
democrats mourned when the news
of the first Bull Run reached U.S.
Democrats shouted when Fort Don,
elson fell. Why the change?
There are two reasons. There
are numbers in the democratic party
who did not mourn when we failed
at Bull Run-who did not shout
when Fort Donelson fell,-numbers
who have sympathized with the re-
bellion from the start. They are
the original peace men, lovers of
slavery, lovers of the slave oligar-
chy, sympathizers with treason
These men are represented by such
men as Vallandigham, convicted
traitor. They have not had q pat
riotic emotion, or done willingly a
patriotic act since the war began
The Chicago platform is of their
construction, and their candidate
for vice president represents their
platform. Then there are other
leaders, "war democrats" who want
power, and who are willing, to get
it, to join hands with men whom
they know to be in active sympathy
with the rebellion. There is a great
deal of money to be handled; they
would like the handling oft. There
are a great many offices to be filled :;
they would like to fill them. There
are the foundations of future party
domination to be laid by a new COM
promise with slavery: they would
like the opportunity of laying them.
And, that they may handle this mon
ey, and fill these offices, and resume
and perpetuate party power found
ed on human wrong and national
shame, they are willing to ignore the
past, with all its dishonor, and all
its suffering, and all its lavish ex-
penditure of life and treasure, and
give to treason an equal or domi-
nant voice in the settlement of our
national difficulties. Can party vice
sink deeper than this =? Can person