The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-11-15
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NIIR GONSESTENGY.

OUR CONSISTENCY.
During the late canvass we were ire
qucntly charged with inconsistency By
tho Radicals; and some unrefectiug
persons may have been induced to think
there was some truth in the charge.
We should have alluded to this subject,
long since, but dislikcd to intrudc our
own affairs upon the public. We trust,
under the circumstances, that We may
now be allowed to vindicatc oursclf from
charges made against us when a candi-
date. We maintain that We have been
entirely consistent, whilst our opponents
have been tho most inconsistent Of men
We have, moreover, been no half ray
man-having been always most decided
in our convictions, and outspokcn in
maintaining what VIC believed to be the
truth. In doing so it has boon our for
tune TO act at tunes with different par
ties; ut an allusion TO the circumstances
of tho case will show no inconsistency
in this. We have held the same po!iii.
cal sentiments amid all the shifting
scenes around It's during the late turbu-
lent times.
When the formation of the Rcpubll.
can party in the North on sectional
grounds drove the people Of the South
to adopt an opposite platform aud party,
we thought it was wrong step, though
an exceedingly natural one. We never
believed it good policy for any party to
initiate their advcrsarics in what is
wrong. The adherence of the Demo
cratic party of Maryland to the Brock
inridge, or Southern party, left us with
out party in this State. The party
which supported John Bell for Presi'
dent in 1860 VS. then conservative,
and AS our sentiments for the time be-
ing accorded with them, we could con.
sistcntly do nothing else than act with
ahcm. They were ardently in favor OF
the Crittenden Compromise, had voted
against Mr.. Lincoln, and bitterly de-
nouneed the fanatical and sectional
course of the Black Republican party
Ia 1868, VIC had the honor TO draft res
olutions for the Union party OF Carroll
County, and We took care that they
should cmbody our truo sentiments
This was the platform Of the party that
year. Ia it il was declared that VIC
were ever ready to extend the hand OF
fellowship to our Southern brethren, as
soon as they voluntarily submitted, or
we're conquered by the Federal arms
the main idea Of the Democratic Chicago
platform Of 1864. The doctrin, was
also maintained that, in order to support
the government. il was not pccos@arg N
mJscriJe 10 Tie poiiticai lri"c9lcs n
the party IN powor. 1t was also rcsoly.
cd IN favor Of gradual, instead of immc.
date, emancipation in Maryland.
When the Presidential election Of
1864 was approaching, We discovered
signs of the party backins down from
their conservative position, aud joining
the Republican party Of the North. 1t
will be remembered with what esgcrness
the Union party of Maryland rushed
into the embraces of the Radical party
ia 1864, and how ardeutly they have
since supported the principles of the
party which they had before condemned
Now, we do not think there is doc.
trine advanced by the most radical
which they are not prepared to approve
Yet these are they who dcuouncc our
course as inconsistent.
In 1864, the nomination Of Gen. Nc
Clellan, man after our own heart, gave
US the opportunity to vindicatc the con.
sistency of our sentiment, and show our
disapproval of the political detection of
the union party of Maryland. At tho
same time it gave to the masses of the
Democratic party Of Maryland the first
chance to put themselves right on the
record, and they came up manfully to
the platform on which We contend We
dad always stood, and whence the Union
men had just departed with hot haste
for the Radical ranks.
During the war We always maintain.
ed that the Seeessionists had neeessari'
" to be beaten in battle. or the Union
was gone. and that when the South
gave ap the conflict, it would then af-
ford chance TO punish the Republican
party of the North at the ballot box for
their share 10 bringing on the country
this terrible war, and load oftaxation.
We have arrived at that point, and the
issue is being fairly made. We have
strong faith in their overthrow, but We
must drop the subject for tho present,
and will recur TO it soon again.
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Ncxy windsor District.