The Placer herald., 1865-08-12
PARTY INFLUENCE IN THE FUTURE.


which, great many times before this, has
been as confidently put forth. But as it has
not proved true heretofore, so it is natural to
question whether it is true now, and it may
he asserted that the Democratic party is very
far from being dead. and whether fer good
or evil, is likely to survive for n long time to
come. 1t is marvellous that men who pre-,
tend TO deal in poitihs, and to teach il to
their leaders, should tie found asserting such
n simply n"nsensaI idea as this 1t does
no good, lut Iatherdoes harm by misleading
The reader aud conrashng the uulh. We
Il" not now pretend 10 say Whether it is de
slrabIe that the Democratic party should be
dead or not. For The purpose OF this article
II does not conce:n us to discuss whether the
life Of the party has in it danger to the
country, or not. We simply desire that our
leaders should know the uuih, and therefore
We warn them not to he uised hy the fool.
>h n"ti9n that the ID, mnc,atic party has
ceased to exist, or has cease to ue great
power in the county. The Presidential
election last fall showed no signs Of weakness
IN the party. Their defeat was not so great
as TO give any grounds for The idea that they
were denorallzed. On the contrary, the
remarkable fac, stands out, tha. with the c-
nanlic powers welded hy the Administration
patty, with more than Il million voters ac,
'ually under the military control, or in the
paid employ of the Administration. the
Democratic party nevertheless polled very
nearly one hat of the enliie vote If The
Io>aI States. This does not lock hike a
dl ing dead political party. lie will
count Without his host who omits in the
reckoning Of American affairs this very i'm.
porlant i&ct.
We cali it important, and it will appear
so il carefully examined. We beg he read
tr TO disluiss irom his mind any idea that
we are writing in favor of the Democra,ic
party. We snplseseek to impress lrulh
on all men who are locking TO the future,
and we are content, for this purpose, to adj
nit as facts anything and everything that
may Le said against the Democrats AS
party. In point of fact, if We could have
our own way, we would sweep all political
parties forever from txstence. and forbid
them to raise their corrupt forms III the lauG.
But this cannot 'be done. Hence the inn
rortance Of knowing and estimating the
ruth in regard to the Democratic party
During the past four years the opw slion to
lhat party has been conducted on The prlnci
pie that the Democrats were in sympathy
With the rebels at the South. Now if this
assertion were true, what would he the press
-nt state of i.tfars! The Amnesty Irocla,
nation has already restored to voting powers
enough men to swell the Democratic vote in
the country to an immense majority over
The R-pubIiran vote Of last fail. To meet
this very idea party now seems deter
mined to introduce negro suffrage in the
South, SO that The sDen"rlaic miJoii'y will
be defeated. But is not this idea rather
dubious? Wha, is likely to be the influence
over negro voting? Who that remembers
Yroes are very apt vote with their mas
,er>? Men who imagine that there is to be
a negro will be an independent voter, acting
on high moral principle, uuswayed 10y sordli
aud worldly Influences are very foolish men.
II the issues in the future were 20 be the old
issues of the past, then possibly there might
be an array of negroes on The one side, all
Of one side against slavery and slave l'olders.
But those issues ara gone bv. And this Is
l"leral'ly certain, that the principles OF the
Democratic. party are very likely TO be adopt
ed hv the mlo, ers of labor at the South.
1t is highly probable that the most terocous
New 'Eu1 Gland Abnlitionist should buy IA con
ti>caled plantation in South Carolina and
settle on it, he would, in less than three
years, he an ardent, old: d:fashioned. hard shell
Democial, voiing that ticket and carry ing
bis whole negro vote with him. For the
negroes at the South, if allowed to vote, will
be no purer and "unihf,,eDced" than the vo-'
ters AT the North. On the contrary, they
will, OF necessity, vote as their employers
vote, and as long as they are dependent
race, they will follow, and not lead. More
than this, will the Democratic men, who
favor negro suffrage as a means of keeping
down tn ID mocralic party, please explain
on what principle the negro at the South,
who votes on independent principles, can
possibly vote for any other party than the
Democratic. Can he he persuaded that
HIGH protective tariff is for his good9 Can
he be taught that paper money is better than
Aa,d dollars? Can he 10 initiated into the
NJ, sl.ries Of National Banks? This is worth
thinking about. The negro suffrage idea must
not be adopted 10y men in haste, to erect
an antrD.mocratic party. The chances are
ten to one that the negro. at his own rerWa
neht residence in the South. will vote the
Democratic ticket. For it is simply true
that the Democratic party exists, its organi-
zalion remains The same, it's old machinery
is strong and active, lis willy operators are
wide awake, its spoil seekers are as villain
ousy shrewd as ever, its honest men as
firm in their adherence to the old doctrines
aud principles as they were in the days of
Andrew Jackson, and in short. the party is n
great element in the future Of the country
How much depends on its course in the
future may he seen by a single suggestion.
We heard a conversation few days ago on
the punishment Of treason. Said one gem
lleman, II hope that Andrew johnson will
prove, as he has been said TO be, second