The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-12-27
The Exanimate /" Democracy
sA KontuckV.

augurate the campaign in that State,
the politicians and aspirants for Office
are becoming more active in arranging
the proper programmes. We have
noticed the letters of the ex-rebel Of
icers, General PRESTON and Major
THOMPSON, announcing themselves as
candidates for State siofices.a Their
letters are interesting gas Throwing
more light upon the political situa-
ton in that State, and give to the public
an inside view of the. last campaign,
which eliminated in such an over
whelming victory for the Democracy.
They afford some suggestive reflections
to the many so-called Union men of
that State, who were ensnared by the
name of Democracy. 1iref- 4
Gen. PRESTON claims, and that
truthfully, that the Democratic party in
Kentucky owes not only its success,
but its very existence to the returned
rebel soldiers. He says: rsa,
Large numbers of the party were forced
by choice, or tyranny, to abandon their
homes and resist in arms the humiliation
of rights ever held sacred by the .Democ-
racy. --...1 srt.. s1sfF - ~
Without doubt, after the close OF the
war, the Southern element was the most
energetic power in reyiving the EXAM
MATE Democracy of the State.
The Southern men (rebel soldiers) last
year proclaimed the revival of the Demo-
cratic party, and though denounced as
Returned Rebels, the Convention of the LIST
of May was called. They gave it strength
and vitality. They once more lifted the
Democratic flag and saved the party from
becoming a mere transient and personal
organization.
In regard to the nominations at that
convention of the sExanimate Demo
crazy" galvanized into life by the
rebel soldiers, General PRESTON says
the Confederates showed the noblest
and most disinterested indifference.
The F" Conservative Democracy as
Major THOMPSON styles them, the men
who are referred to by General PRES
TON as those who & failed or, refused
to take any active part in resisting
the aggressions" during the war,
-eontended that the Convention should
not nominate ex rebels: aa uaa ~.
-9" This, General Preston says, was said
to spring from no desire TO monopolize
Office or exclude returned Confederates,
but to be a mere temporary policy, until
the Democracy could be reorganfzed and
campaign could test our strength" .s.i1
Major THOMPSON gives, with a little
more particularly, an account of the
matter, and. reveals the action. of a
secret caucus, wherein it was decided
as impolitic to nominate "a candidate
so fresh from the rebellionS In this
caucus action he says the rebel candi-
dates, :" although contrary to their
own Judgment, sacrificed themselves,
that all factions might come forward
and stand upon the broad and patri-
otto platform of Democratic princi-
pies" - @ffss@A
AS to the result, General Preston
savsl.I sIgr a. s1rau .I' - '5'a.tsi3p oaet as
In the local elections returned Confeder-
ates were not received as pardoned crfm4
inals~or traitors. on probation, but they
were everywhere. nominated and over
elected. The people were less
polite or distrustfuI than the Convention,
and with generous ardof welcomed back
to their hearts and honors the brave men |
who had stood by a noble, but unfortunate
cause, and been tried in the furnace of
and fiery odeal of battle. iau- %
Gen. PRESTON clearly reads the re-
suit of the last election in Kentucky |
as an Endorsement of " the unfortu-
nate cause" and determination on
the part of the people to reward 1.-THE
brave men who stood by it" He
writes his letter to give expression
to the voice of the rebel Democracy,
and to dissipate the apprehensions
created since that time, that the tenn
oorary policy adopted last year may
ripen into precedent, and precedent
INTO law MH 1ftfi Est |
Is it to policy like this that the Democ-
racy must be reduced, before the arrogance,
Of abolition can be satisfied? Are we
70 creep with whispers through Conven-
lions to find out the means of averting |
their anger. and to offer up friends and
to their wrath3 1t is far better
Tor the Democracy to live as disbanded
than in organized submission to
tyranny. tt,tf .s,t,soat1.f .y4UI
The people neither hate nor censure1
those who fought the battles OF the people
with admirable courage, and who sustain
their matchless misfortunes with unshak-
en- manhood They do not blush for, nor
will they disinherit and enslave their |
children who stood nusket in hand by the
South in her glorious struggle, and who
now patiently share her sorrow.
The rebel officers and soldiers now
claim that they stood faithfully by