Smyrna times., 1865-08-30
The QemOcIaCV.

1t would seem that the Democratic party is
trying to atone for the great opposition and
embarrassment-Do to SAY fragrant injustice
to President Lincoln and his administration by
endorsing, or pretending to endorse, the policy
of President johnson under all circumstances.
In every State Convention held recently, so far
as we haYe seen, the President is sustained
on paper, at least.
Had this course been pursued towards tho
late President he would have still been Presi-
dent, in all probability. But the continued
abuse heaped upon him, not only in his official
but personal relations, by the anti -administra-
tom Journals made many persons honestly believe
he was one of the most ignorant heartless,
corrupt men that ever lived. To these bitter
Democratic journals and party leaders is the
feeling that created the hostility toward him
and led to his assassination due.
There seems to be want of fearnestness how
ever i'll this endorsement, and if they have
got SO they can endure the Presidents aboli-
ton, court-martial, traitor DISTINGUISHING policy
it would seem that they are backing down con-
siderably. But there is no hope of this. The
virus of the party is too strong, and in only
one convention have we seen much conserva-
tism" One Of the Maine Convention resolu.
tions characterized the late war as struggle
- for constitutional government The Dem.
Ocrats Of Pennsylvania, at their late Conven
ton, on the other hand, i'll their resolutions
adverted to the struggle as an affair of slaugh
ter, debt and disgrace" The Democrats o.
Kentucky voted with the greatest alacrity fo
the most noted rebel sympathizers, and tn,
Louisville Journal says that if John G. Breck
inridge had been running he would have re
ceived nearly all the anti-amendment votes
These various manifestations of the party il
different localities make it difficult to determine
what are its leading elements. 1t seems to b,
feeling its way for measures of arddiGity rath
er than to establish any fixed principles. 1t
8 line Of operation" is ON the guerrilla plan
The old issues of last year, such as the "wa
is failure, the draft, slavery, habeaS corpus
Nc, by which it was SO badly beaten in tn
Presidential election, and which have bee
5 settled by the party in power, will have to b
} abandoned, and new ones formed. Whatcye
these issues may be will depend on the South
Whatever issues the ex-rehels may make wit
the Administration will form the leading prir
cples of the Democrats throughout the cour
try. Ii the South were to insist on slavery
r a vast majority of the Democrats in the Mort
: would go as hard against the policy of Pres
dent johnson (which they pretend to endorse
as they did against President Lincoln's effort
to crush the rebellion.
But, whatever its issues may be- of one thin
\ we may feel certain: Union army officers to /
r. their candidates for offices will be in great d,
: mand In all the States where elections are
= take place great search has been made. Ne
. York seems to very unsuccessful, SO far. Eve
in this State the soldiers would be called ''p,
: names, " and if they were to become Dem,
= crats" would be treated by the party with :
much regard as if they were returned rebels