The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-12-20
whole Democratic party, with suspicion.

whole Democratic party with suspicion.
During the war the attempt to run
Democratic candidates against the Re-
publican, or as it was called, the Union
party, was considered almost disloyai
act. After the war was over this feel
ing still greatly predominated, and hence
the reluctance manifested this year to
leave the ranks of what was known as
the war party and vote along with those
who were supposed to have been OPP
posed to it, even though twas believed
that the present policy of the latter was
| the best. 80 4
We know that this does great injus-
tice to the old Democratic party but
we cannotishut our eyes to the fact that
great changes have been wrought by
the war, and that the Democratic party
must accommodate itself to the lcircum-
Stances. The North has succeeded, and
fealty to the successful North is too natu-
rally the order of the day. The Demo
cratic party has a great mission to per-
form in reconcilihg the country but to
fit itself for the task it must first get
rid of these prejudices, be they right or
wrong Whether it be palatable or
not, the first step should be to put those
in the lead who were never known to
falter, whilst those who opposed the
war, or remained non committal, should
be satisfied to remainin the back ground
at least till the political battle of-rcsto-
ration has been fought and gained. u
Were we to ask the more rejecting por-
ton Of the Southern people how we
could best advance their interests, they
would tell us that, whilst they duly APP
preciated the merit of the great Demo-
cratic party of the North, they would
| greatly prefer that all the old party
| names and issues should be totally ig-
nored forthe present and that men of
all former parties should be allowed,
with the least embarrassment, to unite
in the great National Union party of
| reconciliation. Let us have country
first, Invested of all abominable section
al parties, and then men can satisfacto-
| rily rally under what party names they
lpleasel tits as high and holy duty
now to destroy politically the Radicalism
of the North at the present time as it
was to destroy the Secessionism Of the
South. The Union Isl not preserved
fully as long. as one section dominates
Pover another, and the rebels of the
North must yet be conquercd-atq the
ballot-box of course, if they continue to
submit to that arbitrament.
! All those then who seek to revive
| amongst democrats the old divisions
which the war brought up, and which
should perish with it, are certainly not
doing justice, either to the Democratic
party, suffering South, or their dis
tracted country. They can only thus
protract Radical rule, which is the bane
of. that free government which all our
States and people are entitled to, natu-
rally, as we'll as under our Federal Com
,stitution. IF they wish to see our coun-
! try restored to its former state Of har-
mony, and ruled in the glorious future
BY an old time National Democracy, let
them cease their untimely murmurs,
and follow the lead of the banner now
held by the gallant Andrew johnson,
and allwill yet be we'll. 3f5 80 e
r-f - d. tgtF