The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1866-10-11
Indictment Of tho Demo-
cratic Party. ""'a~;b ),
WHAT RAYMOND THINKS or HIS
! q, PHILADELPHIA, AsSOCIA TIES,


dim PHILADDLPll1A AssOCIA TIES,
FieMa tAe Nsw York 7;mes Of he '29th. .;/
J. POI The record Of the Democratic party
i during the sw~ar is tdisloyal aud unpa'
ttiotiaL !'We speak not Of individuals
\ but Of the party in its organized action
ssoonventions, Statc and National
the action Of its Representatives, the
Fspeecl.cs of it's oflice-holdcrs and; candi.
datcs,' the language of its orators and
pressev, were all calculated and intend.
cd to embarrass and cripple the gov
ernment-not. to aid support and
strengthen tin its life and death
struggle; The Democratic party op-
posed tho draft It denounced the ar
reets and Imprisonment of spies aud
sympathizers with treason in the North. !.
P1tmads itself everywhere the champion
and defender Of those who, in the loyal
States, sought to give aid and comfort
to she rebels in the South. Valiandig-
ham, in Ohio. was arrested, tried aud
punished for dissuading soldiers from
enlisting, for encouraging desertions,
and for other fagrsnt violations of the
law, perpetrated in aid of tho rebellion {;
and the Democratic party of the State
not only denounced his punishment as
an act oftyranny, but made him the
Democratic candidate for Governor -
thus distinctly espousing and endorsing
Ailq act as their own. Gov. Seymour in
this State, wrote a letter declaring, in
substance, that it was more important
TO put down the government for its
treatment Of Vallandigham, than to put
down the rebellion aud the Democrat
.icparty made him their Governor. So
it vas everywhere. The Democratic
party, throughout the North, in all it's
party action, took ground against the
government, and practically and SUBJ
stautially in aid Of the rebellion.
We are quite willing to concede that
the Democratic party sees Its error now,
and would gladly retrieve it. 1t began
to repent Immediately after the war was
closed, and tried to change its ground.
The resolutions adopted at the Demo-
cratic State Convention last year were
in the main sound and patriotic
as commanded the assentof Union men.
But instead Of acting with Union men
they clung to their own organization
and struve resolutoly to- perpetaate their
party power. At Philadelphia they
went step further, and while accept.
ingia declaration Of principles in sub
stantial harmony with the action Of the
Union party dnripg the, war, professed
. Willingness to lay aside all party pro-
F Fjecb aud join Under new auspices and
q new organization, with men of all
parties I'd carry those principles into
practical effect But no sooner did the
State convention meet than the old par
ty flag was run up, the old party lead:
ers took; commend, and the old Graf:
With all sail set made straight for the:
old Democratic port, The convention
had not q a<thought beyond party sue
cess .aaa Tie pluadet to'be thus enjoy
ed.
The people understand this game and
intend to block. They do not mean to
replace tbs Democratic party in power.
They will not reward it for its disloyal-
y'aor win they trust IT, with<interests
to which in the past it has proved so
taithless. It is with them not ques-
ton Of argument but Of confidence
They care nothing for Democratic reso-
lutions, speeches, professions or promi.
ses; they will not trust the Democratic
party. ! r ! ! / Il
The World objects to an impeach-
ment of the profession, spirit and tenn
per of the Democratic party. But in
what single instance has that party made
itselfthe champion Of any great reform 2
when has it favored measures for puri-
lying society Of its >evils-for remedy
ing great aud fragrant wrongs-for ed
ucating, assisting and elevating the ig-
;n@tnt, the PoQt and the degraded ?
'Ror alohg series ofsyears. the Demo
cratic party has had absolute aud un-
| disputed sway in this city; ia what be-:
ne6eent statutes or: institutions do we
lind tho monument Of its regard for the
morals, the manners, or the peace and
good order Of this great community
Whst has it done to protect society
against drunkenness, proaigacy, vice
aud misery in every form! Is it not
notorious that every effort made BY those
most solicitous for the public. welfare,
for the suppression of vice and immor-
atty, meets its most formidable foe in
tie Democratic party =? The City strug:
Sled for years against that party to Sc.
cure ! decent Police Department Il
was in the teeth Of the most strenuous
hostility that we secured Commission
to protect newly landed eemigrants from
whole.ale| robbery, and 1.-THE present
time the Democratic party is putting
forth all its energies to break down the
Health Board and the Excise Commis
lsion, by which alone we-have any hop.
Of protecting the community against ths
most fearful evils, physical and moral
| 6y which great societies are ever Mt
licted. '1'''7 '''. y .''," ~. .''''
| We certainly do not mlsstate the cas-,
when We say that the Democratic party
| in its organized political action, is tn
inyeter,te foe If oil moral and socia
progress and elevation It seeks al
4 ways to use the vices of men, not t,
cure them: IT panders to the wors
appetites and passions, because it ca,
make them minister to it's advantages
And 10 its political action, its impulse
have been equally alien to the spirit 0
freedom" It's temper towards the col
pred nee has always been narrow, illib
efalahd'crdel. iii sympathy with <thei
oppressors, never. with. those who hav
sought their elevation and advance
;, lmept. Ina word, the Democratic Pa'
Fly has never sought anything higher Q
better than its own aggrandizement. +
Il Il has rsver yielded to the impulses q
I philanthropy, which, however mistake
they may sometimes be, are always nc
bier than calculations Of selfish sdvar
'tage,'a 'as springs aud motives Of publ
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