Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-11-03
Extract from a Speech by Hem
~ Ward Eseecher.

~ ~ an ASS~4-~' 1899 800 l~N~N
at Brooklyn +:
Aud this brings US to the question of
tie hour. Since we have got the great
work Of reconstruction on hand, and
since there are but two parties, and we
must act through one Of them or the
other, which Of these parties is to be
selected! That is the question. APP
plause and laughter. Which of these
parties then is best fitted by its principles,
bv its antecedent history, by the DISPOSE
tons, sympath O., ard opinions of its
members, to have the management Of
reconstruction?
First. Isit the Democratic party?
Cries Of T'No II Gentlemen, the jury
arc never allowed TO give a verdict until
after the lawyers have plead the case.
I''Hear."l Allow me 10 disclaim all IN
Jen,jcn Of assaiiing the motives, the
character, OF even the patriotic intentions,
Of the great majority Of the individual
members of the Democratic
paItv, while / undertake to show that
thar PARTY IS not fit to betrustcd with the
Government of this nation. Immense
applause, clapping Of hands and waving
Of handkerchiels. A voice, "How are
YOU Andy"l l speak of it as a living
organization, with a creed, with affilia-
lions, with afiinitIes, with party discipline,
with an mate, inevitable tendency; it Is
not the citizen that | desire to character
ize, but the party called the Democratic
party; and first, the Democratic party
was once powerful, useful and honorable
When the old Federal party had de-
veloped 4 real distrust of the people and
a sympathy with the government, rather
than with the goveTned-which Is always
the shape that aristocracy tends 10 take
it became necessary that there should
spring up a party that should sympath-
lie more with the people than with the
government Of the people, and that was
the normal, legitimate origin of the
Democratic party. In its earlier history
It vas the champion Of the poor. By
and by there arose IN the party a dis
turbing force, which at first, in its infan-
cy, was scarcely beheld. l mean that
disturbing force Of slavery, and when the
cohesive influences of common selfshness
the South-held the balance Of power,
the two great parties that divided the
nation in the North. Wing and Demo-
cratic, stood both of them supplicating
the favor OF the South. That favor was
10 be bad only at the price of compro
mise with slavery, and, Ike customers at
a common auction, Wing bid against
Democrat, and Democrat against Wing,
and they both sacrificed principle for the
sake OF having the balance OF power
thrown on Their side by the South and
slavery.
1t was the alliance of the Democratic
party North, with the South, that led to
tI,.., --'IJ orI u-iol-ad r,l.aats.ey ,ersl pro-
pagandism. The verdict is rendered,
and history will but ratify and confirm
the Just decision of men now, that the
beginning of the war was brought upon
Us by the union of the Democratic party
with the pro-slavery South and the abol-
ition of the Missouri Compromise, and
tie propagandism of slavery throughout
the great Western territory.
But I 20 further. When the North
resisted this mOnstrous injustice and inhu-
msnity, tho Republican party was form
ed and began 10 put together and incho-
ate elements which at last grew in pow
or from the necessities Of the cause.
Lincoln was elected President. Cheers
IF ever there was a constitutional act
performed under this Government, that
election was.one. Cheers. If ever
there was a man Justly elected that was
the man. Cheers. 1t was made an
offense by the South. 1t was made 4
cause Of separations.
Now, there IS a possibility of a pause
in the South, for if at that hour the
Democratic party had said to the South,
Stop, we have gone with you !Iius far,
but not another step" The South wo'd
never have taken another stop. I. is
undeni2bIe--though there may harc
been given public pledges, binding tLat
party. that spirit of the party, as well rs
the personal communications Of lcad.ur
and influential men IN it did give tLc
South to understand and they did under
stand and believe, that secession should
not bring war. 1t was that conviction
that lei Rem into secession. Ii they
had believed tie war would have come
they would never have persuaded their
people to take the step they did, and it
was because the Democratic party as
suFed them that they might safely ven
ture upon It. that they did take the step.
And for all tie blood that has been spill
ed since, drop for drop, if you give the
South one YOU shall give-the Democratic
party another. [Cheers. They are as
really guilty, even if they are not as
seemingly guilty, as the South, of this
war. Now, when it began, what was
the conduct Of the party l bear wit
ness to- their honor, that hundreds and
thousands of men, who, before that hour,
stood faithfully in the Democratic party,
at the moment when the war began, re
nounced their allegiance to it; aud tho
they were called war Democrats, they
became members Of the great Uuion
party. Cheers. But the party was
not bTokon up. You, yourselves, arc
witnesses, that during the first three
weary, dark and disastrous years of the
wrr, there Yves an utter want Cf oatspo-
ken sympathy with our Government on
the part of the Democratic party rs a
y Il -