The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-07-12
The Future OF the Democratic
Party.


One Of the most prominent reasons
urged BY the Abolitionists in favor Of the
enfranchisement Of tho negro is that
their votes will be needed to control fu-
turo elections. This is a significant ad-
mission that the Democratic party is not
dead. We are aware that some people,
during the last two or three years, have
endeavored to clay the flattering JUNCTION
to their souls that the great Democratic
organization, which had SO long and SO
prosperously conducted our national af.
fairs, had ceased to exist in fact and in
name. The leaders Of the opposition,
however, have not been entirely deluded
BY this fallacious idea. The Presidential
election last fall certainly showed no
signs Of even weakness in the Democrat
ic party. Their defeat was not SO great
as TO give any ground for the hope of
their future overthrow. On the contrary,
the remarkable fact stands out that with
the gigantic powers welded by the Ad-
ministration party, with more than a mil
lion Of voters actually under the military
control, or in paid employ Of the Admin.
istration, the Democratic party neverthe-
less polled very nearly ope.balf of the
entire vote Of the adhsring States. This
does not look like \ dying or q dead pc
litical party. He will count without hii
host who omits in the reckoning Of Amer
lean affairs this very important fact.
There is another fact to be taken int
consideration. During the last four year
opposition to the Democratic party ha.
been conducted on the principle tina
Democrats were in sympathy with tn,
South. Suppose this were true-whicl
we deny-what would be legitimate in
ference? The Amnesty Proclamation
has already restored to the right Of 70
ting men enough in the South to swell
the Democratic vote Of the country to
large majority over the Republican vot'
Of last fall ; for it is reasonable to sup
pose that the great mass Of the Southern
people will, when the Union is restored
as in times past, vote the Democrat,
ticket. And it is to meet this very idei
that the Abolitionists are now e%xertin,
all their power and influence to introduc,
negro voting at the South, in order. t
overcome the Democratic majority whicl
they plainly foresee in the future.
But it is probable that the Abolition
party can control the negro vote of tn
South, provided the negroes are investc,
with the right of suffrage? We thin
it exceedingly doubtful for. as we hav
already i a.sIs:ea, the principles Of tn
Democratic party will be very likely t
govern tho employers of labor at tn
South.
Those who imagine that there is to b
a negro paradise at the South, where tn
negro will be an independent voter, dcl
ing on high moral principle, unswayed b
sordid aud worldly influences, are des
tined to be disappointed. If the issue
of the future were to be the old issues {
the past, then possibly there might be a
0 array of negroes. on the one side, all f
/. one idea, against slavery and STAKEHOLDER
, But those issues are gone by. The n
groes Of the South, il allowed to vot
r will be no purer and no more "uuinA,
enced" than voters at the North. O
9 the contrary, they will, of necessity, vol
as their employers vote, and as long
they are a dependent race they will 70
low and not lead.
We throw out these suggestions for Il
, consideration of those who are now lubo
ing to introduce negro suffrage as a col
trolling element ip future elections. "
i do not believe they will succeed, for Il
s simple reason that tho public sentimel
3 Of the country is not prepared to pubm
to such degradation-to such an emit
I and thorough revolution Of our polite
y systems,
4 Our faith is that the principles Of Il
Democratic party will ultimately tiiumI
. over all the forms and systems of err
and fanaticism which have cursed Il
1 country for the, last four years, and th
tgood aud conservative men Of all parti
will soon hail its mission as the on
meant Of restoring the Government
tho droud eminenca IL herotoforn and