Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-03
The Last stems in me Decline OF the
DenloeTaffe Party.

Political organisations, in order to live
As permanent institutions, must have at
their foundation certain great vital prin-
ciples which are essential to the welfare of
the people. So soon IS they abandon this
lofty ground, they lsy the foundations Of
their own ruin. They plant the decay in
the organic structure of the party, and
sooner or later, the penalty must be paid.
No more signal demonstration of this doc
trine can be found than is offered by the
shattered and disorganized Democratic
Party of today. Having abandoned the
distinctive features cherished originally,
those of liberty and justice and local self
government, it has gradually degenerated
into a halfsympathizer with treason, and
has Just added new infamy to its history
during the rebellion, by an effort. to sbet
crime and Perpetuate the last great monu-
ment of barbarism which the progress of
civilization had left standing. 5educed
from its old principles, by the wiles and
Establishments of the shareholders of the
South, it abandoned freedom to become
the apologist of slavery, it merged the
cherished doctrine Of State rights into that
Of Stste sovereignty as now advocated in
the South, and finally its last representa-
sives had the ignoble honor of endesvoring
to defend slavery in the very last refuge
WHICH II ceuld PdssIDly seek.
From the time when it thus began to
wander away from its old allegiance, it be
gan its downward progress. The homes
working men of the country, whose cham
pion it professed to be, began TO suspect its
pretensions. Courageous and eonscien-
tious men abandoned it. Its votes began
to dwindle amazingly. In 1886 If was al
most ousted from power; in 1860 it was
completely ousted, and in 1864 the nails
were driven in its coffin. 1t has but three
States, two of them among the smallest
in the Union. By 1868 it will be as desd
as Aztec civilization. Macaulsy's cele-
brsted New Zealsnder, who is supposed to
be standing on London Bridge, can be
transported to this continent to find scarce
ly a vestige of its ruins, even in the city
of New York.
Before the passage of the Constitutional
Amendment, they had an opportunity to
redeem their lost character. The oppor-
tunity of abandoning their wretched posi-
tion of being, at once, mother and nurse
Of the rebellion, was presented. But in
stead Of this, the few representatives of the
party yet left, sat in grim defiance in the
midst Of the overwhelming applause which
followed the passage of the bill. Their
names will go down to pOsterity as the Sc
rendered immortal for their last efforts in
behalf Of slavery and barbarian. Tho ll9
who voted aye will l-live forever in the
grateful hearts of redeemed people.
So dies the Democratic party. Men
who saw its inevitable drift under the
guidance of the miserable factionists and
traitors who had obtained its leadership
abandoned the sinking craft months since
A strong reaction has taken place in the
party. Prominent journals and public
men, who were identified 3 few months
ago with the party, have already begun to
look about for new basis of reorgsnizR-
ton. When it again appears before the
country, it will be largely a new creature.
1t may have an old name, but its spirit
will not be the same. Ifpesce could ever
exist in its ashes, we might bid it fare
we'll As it is, it goes to its grave unhon-
ored and unsung.