The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-09-06

The Gathering Of the. Clans


The De nocracy of the North are arning
for decisive conflict. From Ohio, Penn
syIvania, Maine, and ever faithful New Jer-
sey, is heard the sound OF preparation, and
everywhere the organizations are throwing
off the trammes of expediency, and resum-
ing the broad and well-defined principles OF
Jeffersoniau Democracy. The Radicals have
pronounced our party dead; but they took
counsel of their fears, and their wish was
father 10 The thought. They dreaded the
hour when the caucelmsnt of war issues
should give their opponents the opportunity
10 prove their vitality and TO demonstrate
the Immortality of their doctrines. That
hour has come, and as the foundations OF
the fabric of military government crumble
under the Influences of peace, the people
become aware that fair field is opening for
the determination of political ascendency
by the free exercise of the elective fran
chise.
Ii was natural that Democracy should re-
main under a cloud during the period OF
civil strife. The party was not formed 10
conquer supremacy with the sword aud bay
onel, and it Ianguished in the atmosphere OF
internecine war. The reign Of violence that
gave strength to unscrupulous fanatics aud
unprincipled demagogues weakened and
paralyzed those organizations that depended
upon The calm judgment of the people. 1t
was impossible for Democracy to achieve
political triumph while the ballot boxes
were under the "pro ection" OF the War
Department, and the destiries Of The Re.
public were being measured by the for
tunes Of an intersecIional war. AT such
time, the faction that controlled armies, and
held the national purse, the keys of Bas-
tiles, and the privilege OF distributing
boundless patronage, had every facility TO
dictate political results. The Democracy,
during that rude ordeal, was shacked, rem
dered comparatively inactive and powerless,
but vas not dead That il struggled at all
against such disadvantages, is best proof
how strong within it were The elements of
life. To have stood in fearless opposition
10 War Administrator, self invested with
absolute war powers, and in the face of
provost matshals, and legions Of office-hold-
ers and war speculaiors, and millions of
"secret service" money, 10 have polIed
within three hundred thousand of the fig
ure O: the adverse vote, al an election which
eleven Democratic States were unrepre-
sented, was one Of those defeats that give
promise of sure victory al the Eext en-
counter.
But now The political campaigns will be
fought under different auspices. The DEM
ocratic rary is not dead, but the war issues
are, and upon them chiefly the Radicals
have depended for their political capital.
The Democracy are conscious of their re-
invigoration, and braveIy are they advanc-
inc to the line OF principle traced BY the
founders OF their creed. We hail with de-
light the manifestations OF a settled pur
pose to stand by the true and time hoaored
doctrines of The faith that Jefferson ex>
pounded as The true definition OF republican
ISM The Determination 10 uphold the
sovereignty OF States, TO check the encroach-
menis OF the central power. TO insist upon a
strict construction OF The Federal Consiitu-
tion, 10 sustain the sentiment of The Virgin
ia and Kentucky resolutions of 1898, TO de-
mand the acknowledgment Of the exist
ence OF all the Southern States as soVer-
eighties OF the Republic, to claim for each
State the right 10 determine for itself the
qualifications of its elections, to dePrecate
the idea of national debt as permanent
institution, TO maintain the necessity oil
economy in public expenditure, 10 protect
the freedom of speech, of the press, of the
elective franchise, TO vindicate the privi-
lsgs OF habeas corpus and trial by inry, and
TO assert the doctrine that the Government
was made for while men and shall be up
held as such-,hose are the principles in
behalf of which the Democracy have en-
tered the arena for future campaigns. 10 do
ballIe after the fashion of our fathers.
A ToucH OF NATURE "A car full OF pas