Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-06-03
Denocraey and Vermont Politics. Re-
construction of the Democratic Party.
The Old Democrats called home.


lFrom the Burlington Sentinel, May 26th.l
We cannot but note some OF the matters
which .erop out, as it were, Individually,
and which to our mind indicate pretty strong
" what 10 to be the future OF Vermont poll
tics. IL cannot but strike the close observer
how largely political influence and official
patronage have, Of late years, been steadily
passing into the hands OF those who were
formerly members Of the old national Demo
cratic Party. The unhappy introduction OF
the slavery question in national politics, as
leading measure in party policies and party
action, drove them away, for the time being,
from their old associates IN the party, without
however changing their real democratic prin-
cIples or lessening their real democratic in
stincts. They have never really ceased to
regard themselves as Jefersonian and
jackson Democrats, though coniessIng
that the course of party action upon
side-issues had driven them TO act tenn
porarily with many who had previously been
their political antagonists. The questions
upon which they thus separated from their
former party associates have now been re-
solved by the progress Of the war, and no
longer furnish occasion for them for affilIa-
tion with any but such as desire and aim TO
have the administration of the affairs of the
nation conducted upon those fundamental
principles Of the old Democratic Party, up
on which for the better part of our national
existence they were conducted, and all the
while so greatly to the sprosperity of the
country As national politics, for the while
disturbed by the sectional questions of slave
~ and anti-slavery, are now evidently COM
ing back more and more upon the grounds
of our original differences and disputes. with
out regard to geographical lines. and the
same great national political questions are
again to be agitated upon which men separ-
AID, accordingly as they were Democratic
II AMID, mocratic in their instincts and
principle, We cannot doubt where these
men, of whom we speak, will be found or
with whom they will go. II true to their
original principles they will be Democrats
sull, and will strive to have the Administra-
tiOn OF the country Democratic too. And
fortunately for the interests Of the Democ-
racy, during their temporary asso-
Citations with others not originally
like themselves Democrats, they have
evidently done much to indoctrinate their
associates with Democratic principles. and
moulding their political action. The force
Of events has naturally constituted them
leaders among these associates; and now on
the great question of reconstruction. - and
of what shall be the ruling policies of the
future of the country, they will be able to
exert large and salutary influence over
them. If it were not invidious. We might
mention many names of those whom We have
thus in mind, and from whom we shall now
expect much for prevalence again of good
old fashioned Democratic principles of ouI
State. And if We Democrats do not foolish
ly follow the noted Bourbon rule of never
forgetting and never learning anything, but
will let bye-gones be bye-gones, it will moi
be long before Democracy becomes, what il
ought always to have been, the ruling polit.
ical power even in Vermont