Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-11-22
The Democracy" About TO
"Change It's Base"
Comments Of the Press ON the
Chicago Times Article.

suffrage and cutting loose from the Presi-
dent. We give below the responses to this
extraordinary article, from few of the
leading pa, ,,ers of the country. We are
anxious to see how it will be received at the
South.
The so called Democratic party is in a
desperate straight" and the Times fully
realizes it.
The New York Herald says:
The Chicago Times. the ringlesder of the
copperhead journals of the West, has, it
appears taken a new departure from the
late elections and struck out boldly from the
Presidents policy in favor of negro suf
frage in the South Now, if the Demo
cratic party, or what remains of it, will only
go the same way the Jacobn Republicans
will be hanked and headed off, and the
Democracy may ride again into power on
this new track. Why not2 The negroes
Of the South cannot make much worse
use Of the right of suffrage than is made
by many of the white men of the North.--
Let the Hon. John Morrissey and the Hon.
Fernando Wood strike out for the flank
movement of the Chicago Times. Why
stop to consider old things, when all things
are becoming now?
The Philadelphia Press calls attention to
the article, as follows:
"The article of the Chicago Times of
yesterday, of which we have special tele-
graphic abstract this morning, favoring
negro suffrage, is sign of returning reason
that looks vastly like the hard common
sense of the Democratic party in its better
days. The Times is the leading and the
ablest organ of the Democracy in the North
west, and its candid recognition of the in
evitable proves that it is no longer willing
to encounter disgrace and defeat by taking
issue with a triumphant principle. The
Times sees that the South as about to adopt
negro suffrage TO snre its po,rer in Congress
and the Electoral Colege and is ,cise there
fore in meeting ,ohat Is certain more than halt
,cay. The negro question out of the way,
says the Times, the Democrats have once
mere chance. Their resistance to impair
tial suffrage is only to pile up stupendous
msjorities against them. The only votes
made for the Democracy by prosecuting the
colored man. and denying him his rights,
are in such cities as New York--elsewhe
the investment is failure and farce
Thousands Of Democrats will cry amen to
the Times; and when all citizens, white and
black, enjoy the right to vote, We shall be
ashamed at having opposed what was at
once 80 Just and so harmless. 1t will not
he a nine-da wonder; and once fairly
settled, our great interests will revive with
a rapdity that will prove that the only thing
necessary to make us once more powerful
people was boldly to prove that having con
quered slavery, We had also completely estab-
lished freedom.
The Times, having nobly come to the
harmony of the demonstration by cutting
hose from the false Moses in the White
House. But here the Times has not got
much the advantage of A. j.. who is pre-
pairing, we have every reason to believe, to
turn against his Democratic friends at the
first fitting opportunity. Possibly the Times
knew what was coming.
The Cincinnati Commercial makes the
following comments: -
1t is manifestly the intention OF the Dem
ocracy to desert the President and his policy
and set up for themselves again. The Chi
cago Times takes the lead in this move.
ment in the West. The New York World
shows disposition'to head the movement
in the East. Though it does not actually
break with the President, it advises him to
let his policy slide, as 1t can be OF no pos
sihle account to the South or to the country
at large during the remainder of his admin
istration. He is informed that 1t would be
judicious to cooperate with Congress upon
all "neutral questions" aud maintain.a dig
nifed silence ON points of difference. This
is rather cold comfort from the most lniiu'
ential organ of the Administration on the
seaboard.
The Democracy regard their brief associ-
alton with the johnson Republicans in the
light Of positive calamity. They compro,
missed themselves and their time honored
principles by joining in Grand conservative
rush for the flesh pots. They sold out the
resolutions of '9s at Philadelphia, and all
the old pet theories of the sovereignty OF
the States we're auctioned off at the same
place, cheaper than old clothes in Chatham
street They accepted the Republican ideas
of 1864 with very little modification as the
creed of the party, poking along slowly IN
the wake of the Abolitionists, as they have
been doing for some years.
This availed them nothing; they me-
with defeat when they confidently counteo
on success. The reaction they have now
discovered had not set in. The passions
kindled by the war had not died ont. The
sober second thought had not come to th'
people. But it is coming, they say. ant
when it does come they do not propose Il
be in a situation which will compel them t.
divide its honors with an administration
that advertises its weakness by its frantic
4 efforts to sustain itself.
The Democratic party is to be reconstruct
ed. Ii is to be put on the old substantia
foundations, The Weeds and Raymonds
and all such uncertain quantities as Beeecher
Custer, Doolittle and Cowan, and eve
Andrew johnson himself are to be shakel
of. The work Of repentance, purifcstio
and reconstruction is to be commenced o
the 9Th of January That day is to be sig
nsIizsd by the holding Of State convention
az typical of the intention to purge an
make clean the house that Jackson built.
There will he time to attend-to look afte
the party-wheu the carpenters, upholsteir'
paieters, gilders and fnishers have compile
ted their work. aud we know what mannt
Of ea6ce they shall have put up: The col
: dition in which the Administrations party
nut by this sudden desertion ofits Democra
io allies is deplorabe enough. A few tho
sand postmasters, assessors. collectors, an
custom house efbcers, will constitute !
strength. 1t win 90 into the next polii'
cal campaign, with less retainers than fo