The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-06-24
s~The Coppsrhe.d Democracy, . DO

~s~'~-. R0-o~S ~-'6eN"~O @SSSsAsSA
and treason, that fastened itself four years
ago upon the body of the nation and
sought to take it's life, instead of perish
ing, as it should, with the rebellion from
which it sprang, still oherishes its odious
and abnormal existence, and seems to
think that it is about to receive . new
tenure of political power 1t grows jubi-
liant with q recent impression that its
recreancy to liberty and its disloyalty to
the Government is to be rewarded by the
votes and support of loyal men Because
Union men differ concerning the question
of negro suffrage; because they calmly
discuss from different standpoints and
with adverse views issues v hich it is fore
seen may hereafter arise in the National
and State administrations party which
has upon it the taint and odor Of treason,
and which has had the seal OF popular
reprobation and execration stamped upon
IT repeatedly during the last four years by
loyal citizenship and brave soldiery,
now comes forward and asks Union men
to reward personal infamy and party
crime by voting for it and its candidates
Had the Copperhead Democracy per.
ished with the Confederaoy, the triumph
of the cause of liberty and human right,
and genuine Democracy would have been
more complete. But the antagonism be-
tween the universal liberty which is the
mission OF America and the true theory
of our free institutions, on the one hand,
and Of the aristooratic and arbitrary ideas
which make freedom exclusive, on the
other, still ensins. The friends Of human
ity aud Of the great truth of man . cspa-
bility for self-government, must still labor.
Vigilance is the price OF liberty, and the
declaration can never become tfite, or ii
trlte, never the less true for it. African
slavery in the South fostered spirit ad-
verse to freedom and free Government.
1t prated of, Law and the Constitution,
while it precipitated civil war upon the
land and attempted to disrupt the Union.
kindred 10 spirit and allied in sympathies,
clamorous for law and /" the Constitution
as il is" while clasping hands with trail
tors, trying to give consideration and dig.
nifty to treason, and to perpetuate human
bondage, was the Copperhead Democracy
of the North.
Yye do not wish the origin or the sub.
sequsnt record of this anomalous party in
American politics to be forgotten. Both
are so recent as to be easily remembered.
Democracy before the rebellion had
leader-a loyal one--in Mr.. Douglas
Bus the spirit of slave propspandism, she
prolific source FROM which enanated
Southern rebellion and Northern Copper.
beadism had grown upon that party ss it
had upon the old Whig party, and when
rebellion came, disloyalty triumphed over
loyalty. The ideas OF Mr.. Douglas we're
repudiated, ard following the Congress
ional manifesto. headed by Mr.. vallan-
iigham, the sssesh loving elements id the
North were formed into new political
organization. wearing only the name Of .
respectable and patriotic party, opposing
the policy of the Administration which
Mr.. Douglas supported, and in the inter-
ests of the rebellion which Mr.. Douglas
denounced.
The Infamous record Of that party, con-
stituting what we have heretofore called
the crime Of Dem ,cracy (for THE disloyal
one Was the only party wearing, ~ an
prganis alton, the nsmel is too patent to
the public mind to need recapitulation. -
But If there is no Southern Confedefacy,
If Davis is prisoner instead Of Presi-
dsnt, If the Union has not persisted, it Is
because the patriotism and vaIor of the
masses Of the American people have tfi-
pmphed--it is because rebels South and
Copperheads in the loyal States failed ia
their purposes.
We are not surprised at this party ii
Iowa feeling slight elation 1t this prss--
eut. Notwithstanding the fact that its
success depended upon the triumph of "