Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-09-27
Democratic pIslresses.

Pierce ana Buchanan, when they posses
sed the land, and waXed fat on the milk
and honey of office wherewith IT flowed
They remember that it WAS through the
alliance and helping of their Southern
breathern that they had entered into
this gOodly heritage, and they long for +;
renewal of the fraternal alliance which
shall restore 1t once again 10 them. They
seem to have forgotten that ii was
through the treachery Of those very allies
that they were thrust froii their paradise
into the cold outer world. and that they
see its gate
with dreadful faces thrOngcd and fiery arms
whenever they cast a lingering look back
ward toward its portals-now. alas. closed
against them And they fail To discern,
1t would seem, what Il different world
they live in from that Of five years ago;
how completely the fiery tide of war
has swept away the old landmarks OF
parties, and how impossible it is tn set
them up again rs of old. The restoration
of the BOrubons was failure, heacuse
the French nation had remembered
everything. while it had forgotten moth
ing; and the restoration of the old DEM
ocratic party is am iIGpossibiliLy, because
the American penule have also excellent
meories, and intend 10 apply them To
equally excellent uses.
The proceedings of the Democratic con-
ventions in several of the States, lately,
have been full of proofs that it is impos-
sible for inveterate politicians as for in
veteTate potentates to understand that
times change with them. To read their
platforms one might infer that there had
been considerable riot some where in The
Southern country, which they had helped
TO put down, but which was not of cOnse-
quence enough TO justify interference
with the regular exercise of their polit
ical rights by the rioters; that, in point
of fact, the riot would have been prevent
ed had the Democracy remained in power;
and that it was the success of the party
now in possession of the Government,
that brought the disturbance about
They affirm that the revolted States have
never been out of the Union, and that
they are entitled to ali their reserved
rights and their due representations in
Congress" They agree as to horrors that
would ensue from the admission of the
negroes to citizenship, and the entire sub
lection of the white race to the black in
the event of such a catastrOphy. And
they are unanimous, we believe, in max
ing love to President johnson. and trying
to entice him TO barter his position as the
head of a great nation for that of the
leader of a desperate faction. 4 good
symptom of general public health may be
discerned in the zeal they all profess for
the maintenance of the national credit
and the payment of the public debt-a
vaal IovSll,r 70, l.,
shared by the prodigal brethren they are
inviting to return from the husSs of re-
bellion to the old Democratic homestead.
All, we believe, unless it be the split Con-
vention held at Columbus, Ohio, which if
we understand the abridgment of its do
ings that we have seen, went squarely
against the debt and in favor of free
trade, end flatly denied the right Of the
the Government to emancipate the slaves
"a question which the more responsible
bodies either avoided entirely or touched
only inferentially.
We suppose that the hackneyed poliIi-
clans who made up the mass of these
are beyond the reach of
grace. They must be given over to n repro
bate mind, to the idols to which they are
joined. Like old drunkards, their case
is hopeless; but we would uplift warn
ing voice to the young who are just en-
tering on the devious ways of politics,
and bid them beware of casting in their
lot with those broken-down tempters.-
The whole ground on which they used to
stand, as if established forever, has been
utterly cut away from under their feet by
the sword of the nation. The whole state
Of public feeling is radically changed from
what it was then. The revolution in
public opinion which, having begun. was
sure to go Oh and ultimately prevail, has
been hurried forward half century by
the suicidal hands of Southern Democra-
cy, and it is one that will never 90 back
ward.
Up to the time of the election of 1860
The nation was at ease in its possessions.
making money, growing in population.
lightly taxed, and having all the substan-
tial elements of material prosperity in
abundance. Ii shrank from any disturb
ance of its Tepose. Above all, it shudder-
ed at civil war and intestine strife. LII
was content TO let the Democratic party
Of the North, with the assistance of South
ern shareholders, rule and revel, provided
It could enjoy tranquility in its borders
Ior the time, and have the evil day post
poned. The bullying of the shareholders,
though only half believed to be earnest,
was allowed to shape the policy of the
nation, and keep the party which incar
mated 1t IN power. But the bullies were
not content with this dispensation. Like
.he boy in the fable, the diurnal egg of
gold was not enough for their greed; they |
must needs hew the Democratic goose in |
,wain, in hopes of securing an inaxhaust- !
bic treasure at the stroke. The result
We know. The old Democratic party, !
.hus slain in the house of its friends. it /
S in vain to endeavor to galvanIze into a |
,astly show of life again. Its particles !
must live in new forms and under new /
or suffer political annihila- |
ion.
The people, rs we have said, have the !
pest Of memories. They remember we'll .
he rule of the Democratic party under /
he nominal headship of Pierce and Bu-
,hanan, but under the real dictation of
he slave power. They remember how /
he rebellion was contrived, and all the |
of the plot arranged under
hose auspices. They have not forgotten
he disadvantages under which they
therefore entered into their struggle for
ife. Their dangers from false friends, all
# the Democratic brand, are fresh on
heir minds. They bitterly call up the
ruel cost in the blood of their best and
'ravest at which their freedom has been
rIrchased. All of this will not be blot
ii from their memories by the glitter
ng generalities" or the common places
f the Democratic party The people
ave learned, further, shat they can ex-
st without the help of the South-that
hey cannot only exist, but thrive and
row rich, and increase in goods. while
is the South that is one great almhouse
Imported by their charity The old pres
ige of slaveholding wealth and chivalry
gone forever. The nation does not in
end that its paupers shall govern it Just
ct, and it will take all needful precau-
ons to hinder this consummation so de- I
outly wished for by hungry Copperheads |
yes, even if one of them be to erect I
ne loyal negroes into citizens, to guard
y the ballot what they have won by the i
ayonet.
And this it is our painful task to assure /;