Randolph journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1865-186?, 1866-10-04
III E RR E A X u p
The Philadelphia Compact
Broken.
The Country will not Trust tht
Democratic Party.
Untimely End Of the "NatiouaI
Union Party"

4 Nothing has contributed more, an,
very many things have contribute,
nuch,) toward alternating popular fa
vor and support from the just and lib
eral policy OF the President toward tn,
South than the action OF those VIII,
u claim TO be his friends in this respect
1t has proved indeed, rs General Gram
styles it, IA misfortune for the Prcsi.
dent and We may add for the coun.
try also. In Pennsylvania the Ad.
miniStratiOn candidate for Governor i
one who, in his political action, resist.
ed the government throughout the
war, who made himself utterly OBJ
noxious to the loyal men who were
struggling to save the nation: and his
election, 10y the defeat Of gallant
soldier who fought with heroism and
! honor for the overthrow of the rebel
, lion, is held essential To the vindication
OF the Presidents policy. The same
thing is true, perhaps in less conspic-
uous degree, in nominations for mem
hers of Congress and for State officers
Of various grades throughout the
conntry.
The reason Of il is clear. 1t has
been done because the Democrat party
has pushed itself into the foreground
of the Presidents supporters, and has
seized the occasion TO reconstruct and
strengthen its own organization, rath-
er than sustain the President upon the
principles which he asserts, and in the
mode which he himself pointed out.
President Johnson never hcsitated TO
declare his purpose to stand upon the
principles of the Union party, to act
within its lines, to cooperate with
those of its members who adhered to
its platform, and to use the patronage
at his disposal 20 nationalize and
strengthen its organization. Hcnevcr
concealed his conviction that the
Democratic party, as an organization,
destroyed itself by its disloyal attitude
during the war; that il had Justly for
fcitcd the confidence Of the people, ard
that the party which carried the nation
through the war was the party upon
which he relied for cooperation and
support in restoring the Union and
securing the blessings OF peace. Tic
great body of the Democratic party
seemed conscious that it had been be-
traycd by its leaders into a false posi-
ton, and they wcfc quite ready to ac-
ccpt the result, and act in good faith
with the Union party in the restora
ton rf the Union, under the guidance
of President Johnson.
Naturally enough, under the circum-
stances; the leaders of the Democratic
party took advantage of this state of
things and made 4 bold push TO regain
their powef. Shcltering themselves
from the odium incurred during the
war under the Presidents policy Of
restoration, they Ialt their own men
in nomination for Office, sci in motion
their old machinery, and demanded
the support of Conservative Union
men for the reinstatement Of the
Democratic party in power. And
when Union men, who never voted a
Democratic ticket in their lives, who
always held and advocated the prin-
ciples Of the Republican party, and
who resisted with all their might the
attempts of the Democratic party to
thwart the government in its efforts to
quell the rebellion, fail to respond TO
these demands, they are coolly accused
of treacherv 20 the Democratic party,
and TO the President, for whom not a
single member of that party gave a
vote. In all the States where Cover
nors are to be chosen they have put
prominent Democratic politicians
men identified thoroughly with the
party organization throughout the
warm nomination as candidates; and
in nearly all the congressional districts,
instead of accepting Conservative
Union men, they have nominated cam
didates of their own--often from the
Copperhead wing OF the party, and
always from men identified with liz
action in the public mind.
Ue have no hesitation whatever in
saving that this policy is fatal 10 the
cause il processes to serve, and viii end
in its own defeat. The people OF the
Northern States willnot hand over the
government To the control OF tho
Detnocrntic party, under its old or
ponization. and its old leaders. Both
rendered themselves thoroughly and
iustIy obnoxiolls TO the loyal patriotic
sentiment of the nation, by thelr
hostility to the policy of the govern
mont during the war. The people Will
not. now that the war is over, confide
the control of public affairs TO their
! hands. and every effort they make 10
secure this result will end in defeat,
and postpone the very object they seek
toaccomplish.
! General Grant was perfectly right in
saving that men in the North who
have been disloyal sought not 10 bt
supported by President Johnson:
friends and the same is true Of poli
tical organizations that held an atti