Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-07-12
The Next Elections.
[Prom Harpsr,s Weekly.

lfTOfn nAfpsTh WechJJ
As the political organization known as tb,
Democratic party. which was so signslly re
buked at the last Presidential election, anc
which. with the exception Of Delaware
does not control a single one Of the States
which were loyal during the war, is prepar
ing for another effort TO recover power, il il
well that Governor Morton, of Indiana, 10
a late powerful speech, has recalled its his
tory in that State. II will be we'll also for
every man to consider what its history has
been 10 his own State, in order that he may
truly estimate its claims as party to public
confidence, and determine how safe the
country would be in such hands. OF the
Democrats who were faithful to the Union
and Government we do not speak. Their
names are we'll known if they are conspicu
Gus men and If not, they are honerably
remembered by their neighbors.
But the position Of the Democratic party
as party during the war was one of the
severest censure of the policy of the Gov.
erament, and of constant extenHation of the
rebellion. Formally and technically it usual
| ly declared for the Union. while all the
measures taken for its preservation were
! decried. and the Administration was held
responsible for the war. This was natural
. for the leaders Of the rebellion at the South
were, without exception, also leaders of the
J Democratic party. On the other hand
those at the North who could not conceal
| their Joy at the disaster of Bull Run we're
| Democrats only Those who denied the au
thority of the Government to wage war
who sneered at the possibility of its success
who tried in every way to embarrass it
who fomcnted and excused the riots Of 1868
who finally, 10 q national convention,
ads, tied platform of disgrace and surren-
der, framed by Vallandigham, and appealed
to the loyal American people to confess
themselves couquered-all these were Dem
ocrats, and this was the action of the Dem
ocratic party.
As VaIlandigham, the most notorious
| rebel sympathizer 10 the country, was the
author of the Democratic platform OF 1864,
| SO Alexander II. Stephens, the lieutenant
the Union. who declares that his views are
unchanged, and that he is still a secessionist
in principle, is the author of the Demo
cratic platform Of 1866, upon which the
party newspapers and Senators and Repre-
scntatives now stand. and upon which the
country will be asked to join them in the
next elections.
Bat as the questions now before the coun-
| try are most momentous, as they are indeed
virtually comprised in one-whether the
Government shall remain in the hands that
have saved it, and whose fidelity has been
tried by fire, or be confded to those who
sought its overthrow or sympathized with
the effort to destroy tit is of the utmost
Importance to remember that the political
contest of the autumn will be one Of prin.
cipes and not of men. Thus the personal
character of Mr.. AlexanderyH. Stephens
has not been impeached, nor'his ability
But his popular election to Office would be
an approval of the most perilous political
doctrines, and justly appall every sincere
friend of the Union. What is true of Mr..
Stephens in Georgia is true in any State Of
any candidate Of the party which adopts his
views. Such a candidate may be personal
ly an honorable and able man, but no man
is SO strong as his party, and no party des-
potism is SO strict and unscrupulous as that
of the Democratic party. 1t is not the
lantern in front, however bright its light
may be and FURNISHED its metal, but the
huge driving wheel behind, which is the
important part of the locomotive.
We must look through the candidates,
therefore, to those who nominate them. 1t
be offered to the voters nor Horatio Sey-
tbOui III 4NC" duu uCiCdt haNC
shown the necessity of cunning. The same
spirit and principles which these leaders
represent, the bitter hostility to the enlarge
ment of liberty and equal rights. and the
Tory reaction which calls itself Conserve
tism, will strive to conceal themselves in less
offensive forms, and appeal tor support in
smoother phrases The Democratic party
in this country is the party of ignorance, of
prejudice, of class privilege, Of social dis
order. 1t is the party of opposition to the
fundamental American principle Of equal
liberty and law. For more than genera
tion it controlled the Government and
when the people, alarmed by its steady in
vasion and destruction of that principle,
cast it cut of power, it raised its hand to
destroy the Government and ruin the coun-
try. 1t was crime, says Governor Merton,
''for which history has no pardon, and the
memories Of men no forgetfulness.
Let such party be judged by its history
and its necessary tendency, not by the per-
sonal merit of individuals whom it may
nominate for Office.