The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-03-08
TuE DEmoCRATTC PARTY.

10 BuccumD 10 the dlaDol1cal spirit OF
Disunion which, previous to the war,
had divided every national party, and
almost every moral and religious organi-
cation in the land into North and South.
For long years it had borne on its broad
shoulders the Union safe and sound;
and when, at last, the detection Of its
Southern portion LEFT it powerlcss to
stay the mad torrent of civil war, its
skirts were clear of the blood of broth
rem shed in that mad strife. The great
body of the national Democracy never
departed from the spirit Of Just compro-
mise, and mourned sincerely over the
madness Of the South, when, driven to
desperation by the assaults of Northern
fanaticism, they broke away from the
fold Of the only political organization
which could have saved the Union in
peace until compromise could have set
tied all the conflicting questions which
endangered the country.
When the war came at last il was in
deed a severe trial for the Northern
Democracy to buckle ON their armor
against their Southern brethren, whom
they really believed to have great cause
of complaint against the Republican
party Of the North who had for the first
time obtained control of the National
Government; n party which they dis.
liked, as disturber of the public peace,
almost as mnch as the South itsclf--
Yet the South, in striking for their in.
dependence, and consequently for the
the oycrthrow Of the Union. had treated
the whole North ~ their enemies, aud
put it out Of the power Of the DEMOCRAT
ic party North to ail them ia Oh, least
withou. helping to a dissolution Of the
Union, md rendering thcntselvcs ljrblc
to the charge Of treason ay,ius, ,as gov.
crnmcnt OF that section whore thcir
homes and all that was m,y, p-rcioli 70
them, were TO remain
A 4 necessary consequence they ,us.
tanned in mas. the constituted author
tiles Of the Government, aud cndcayorcd
faithfully to check The extrayaganccs Of
the party in power and TO have the pol
icy Of tho government confined 70 it'
Legitimate object, the preservation u the
Union, Invested Of all mere pariizan
malice Tho Democratic masses North
did not withhold their quotas Of either
men or money from the Government --
As an instance, New York city with a
Democratic majority Of 80 900 votes du'
ring the war, did her whole duty equal
to my portion Of the country end so
did New Jersey, with her Democratic
Governor, and constant majority IN the
State. Aud So everywhere, ~ the
midst Of the continued cry Of Copper.
heads and traitors raised by the
universal Republican press of The North
which could not be a1cl into irccucy
even by the great common dIurcr --
Why, if the Democrats oil the Free
States had withhold their supp5r, from
the goycmmcn, ia it. hour of need, il
would have persisted miscrably aud
yet such was tho gratitude shown by the
adhcrcu,s otthc party in power.
II is true That there were q eomplra.
lively small portion Of the Northern
Democrats, who believed that the Union
WAS already lost as soou as the success
Of the Northern Radicals had driven the
South M rebellion; and that II was q
useless shedding Of blood aud oxpcndi.
turc Of money in trying to repair the ruin
which Northern madness had rendered
hopeless. That there should have been
many such in the North under the cir,
cumstances is not surprising II was
fortunate that their opposition was not
more effective That the Democratic
party was not responsible for their con.
duct was fully proven at the Chicago
Convention when Gen Mcclellan was
nominated byan overwhelming majority
BY the very large vote given to him
afterwards in the loyal States under the
adverse circumstances of the war, the
Democratic party proved its consistency
and its patriotism aud that itstill lives;
and that its stern adherence to princ.
pie, aud its refusal to participate in tho
dangerous schemes Of Northern fanatics
which provoked the South to madness,
render It the nucleus around which
must yet cluster all those who sincerely
desire TO see our great country restored
TO that position she lost when sectional
ism was allowed to seize the helm of
government.
THE RADICAL MEETING.
Bey-The Radicals of Baltimore, not to
be outdonc ifpossible, held a meeting at
the Front Street Theatre on Thursday