The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1865-08-30
(From The State Journal Aug. "a, 1869
The Status'of the Democratic Party.

/ Ihe status OF the Democratic Farty.
/ There is appointed to be held in this
City to-day, Convention Of what calls
itself the Democratic Party. We deem
the occasion opportune for looking into
characteristics of that party, to see
wherein it differs from the other portions
OF the community that do rot attach
themselves to that organization or SYM
pathize in their action. We propose this,
to the end that, in case that party shall
be found distinguished above the Others
for the wisdom of its principles or the pu-
fity Of its actions, its precepts and prac-
tice may seem as model for others to
emulate its excellence.
No one will question the fairness of
judging the Democratic party now, by
the action of its recognized leaders in
past days. Indeed it is The boast Of that
party that it is governed by principles,
and that its principles are immutable.
Let us then look at some of the antece-
dents Of this Democratic party, that we
may the better judge Of its pretensions
and its quality. We grant, for the pur-
pose Of the present inquiry, that what
the Democratic party was twenty, ten, or
five years ago, it is the same to- day. "-Men
change-principIes never"
We go back, then, to the early months
of the year 1861, and inquire for the
democratic party; Where was the dem
ocratic party about the middle Of April,
1861? Fully one half of the party had
sloughed off from the remaining half,
and from its duty to the nation, and was
actively occupied in setting up apretend-
ed government of its own, in defiance Of
the national authority. in utter disregard
of constitutional provisions, and in con-
tempt of the voluntary oaths resting upon
their souls. They seized the forts, arse
nails, magazines. navy-yards, mints and
custom houses in their vlcinage, and
displayed strange and hostile ensign
over their stolen acquisitions. They
fred upon the flag of their country as it
approached citadel with provisions for
its garrison. They omitted no act in
their power to perpetuate, to manifest
their deep hatred Of the institutions and
government Of the country. These were
Southern democrats, and they bore sway
in every State that was involved in Sc
cesson.
And now, we demand, in what respect
did Northern democrats differ from those
in the South ? True, they did not take
up arms to overthrow the government ;
but they were throughout the long and
bloody contest, the allies and abettors oi
the rebels who did.
Southern Democrats fred upon and
murdered our volunteer soldiers in the
streets of Baltimore, while on their way
to the defense of the National Capital
and Northern Democrats said, Well,
the volunteers had no right to +" invads'
a sister State p
On the 23d Of January 1861, when
the spirit of treason was running wanton
through the land, there was an assem-
blage of Ohio Democracy at Columbus
to "send greeting from 100000 demo
cratic voters Of Ohio, to their brethren
North and South :" thus pledging thc
whole body Of Democracy to sustain the
reasonable designs of the Southern lead
ers.
When the NATIONAL capital was beleag,
J ured, and the President called for rs, ,00C
volunteers to prevent its falling into rebeI
hands, Northern Democrats cavilled al
the measure the number was extravaga'
gant--and besides, the President had nc
authority to inaugurate war measures
that was the prerogatve of Congress.
When the magnitude of the rebellion
E had begun to develop itself, and meas
ures were proposed in Congress for it
suppression, these measures met uni
form and indiscriminate opposition from
, the Northern Democrats.
! While President Lincoln and his Cab
net were spending anxious days and sleep
less nights in devising means for th'
! salvation Of the country from ruin at th'
t hands of Southern democrats in arms TO
r its overthrow, Northern democrats mad