Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-02-02
The P.r,y eft Pa.,.

The Democratic party has not yet been
taught byits blunders and misfortunes to
"let the dead past bury its dead" It at
,aches itself continually to some dead or
dying body. and sinks under its disgusting
load. When every living maj saw that
the people would certainly pronounce
against the extension Of slavery to the
virgin territories of the Union, It allied It
self with the supporters Of the doomed in
stitution, and the consequence has been
the quick destruction of the institution
itself and the infamy of it's supporters.
And even since it has been clear to the
South itself that slavery is actually dead,
and had better be buried out OF sight as
soon as possible, Democrats have been
found ready to doubt the fact OF the DEATH
and to make efforts to resuscitate the
corpse. Up to the time when the Soutn
itself showed itself ready to acquiesce IN
emancipation as an accomplished fact,
northern Democrats stoutly insisted that
there was no force in President Lincoln's
proclamation or the legislation OF Con-
eress against slavery, and that the South
ern States had the right to take their
places in the Union rs before the rebellion
and hold on to their slaves by the law Of
State rights. They were ready to pro.
claim this as Democratic doctrine. and
renew their old alliance with the South
on this basis, if the South itself had not
virtually declined the proposition by ae-
cep,ing the Presidents basis Of reconstruc-
ton. 1t seems almost incredible, and yet
i, cannot be disputed that at the close OF
a great rebellion undertaken in behalf OF
slavery, the northern Democracy were
ready and eager to 60 into another polit-
ical contest to save the remains Of the ac-
cursed institution, and give 1t a new
lease of power, and would have done so If
they had found the southern wing Of their
party strong aud bold enough to under
take it.
The resistance Of the Democrats to the
Constitutional Amendment for the per-
petual prohibition Of slavery shows the
~tenacity with which they cling to the
dead body of the thing. New Jersey and
kentucky. the only loyal States that are
still Democratic, refused to adopt the
amendment, and we now rely on the
States that were lately fighting for slavery
TO make up the requisite number for Its
adoption. And, by the way, the Demo-
Gratis forget that they are just now the
Presidents party, and that as such 1t il
duty to support the amendment
which he has advocated as the only meas
ure to give permanent peace and security
to the country.
In opposing equal suffrage the Demo-
Gratis fondly imagine that at last they have
attached themselves to a living and pres
ent issue. This is true, in 80 far as 1t Is
an issue now pending, but, as usual, they
have taken the side Of decaying preJu-
dices that must soon pass away, and have
denied all that is fundamental in Democ-
racy itself in the effort for success that
must be temporary at best, and will inev-
itably bring permanent defeat and dis
honor. If it be not true that all just
government exists with the consent OF the
governed we have been all wrong since
jefferson wrote the great Declara-
ton, and republicanism and de-
mocracy are words without meaning.
traps to catch the supplemented. But II
the Democratic idea is real and practical
ole, tDcU u Is GeIbolh maj SiueA
will prevail, and that any party that re-
sis,s it must perish. Already prominent
ex-rebels, such as Judge Regain, Of Texas,
ex-senator Foote. Of Tennessee, and 9TH
ers, have declared for intelligence and
equal suffrage. but where is the Northern
Democrat who has spoken the right word:
No. one. All. without exception, cry out
tina, this o white mans Government. and
only white men shall vote. For this year
they may find some advantage in it, hold
ing on to a b~enighted State like New
Jersey here and there. and allying them
selves with the party of vain resistance
and regrets at the South. But events will
On. in spite Of them. and it will not
be long before the politicians of the South
will fnd it for their interest to give the
suffrage to all classes Of citizens. Then
what will become of the party Of the dead
Wisdom will CONF to it too late,
and it will have the modification to see
true Democracy prevailing against the re-
s~is,ance Of the party that has borne the
name only to dishouor it.-Spring-
field Mas Republican.