Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1866-08-01
HOPES OF DEMOCRATIC REVIVAL.

sCiiptlOD, t3e sactedheoS, ihai'enariiitI
and universally of rights demanded
Liberty as the natural and indeleasible in.
heritance of all men: and claimed that
the consent and participation Of all in the
government was the Indispensable condi-
ton of obligation to obey and sustain the
Constitution and the Laws It was ac-
tionary and aggressive. Herein was the
secret Of its success. For almost half a
century its power vas practically uubro-
ken. In ali the departments OF the gov
ernment, it was supreme.
Obtaining power, and enjoying it for a
long period, it came by slow degrees TO re
gard the principles for which ii had strug-
gled Of secondary importance and the re-
tentiou of control as the chief end to be
AIMED at. 1t was transformed into the
party Of reaction; scoifed at Liberty de-
MED the right Of all men TO it; came to
regard slavery as the normal state of labor
ing people, and decreed by Heaven as the
philantAropic insirumcntaiity Of incom-
parable excellence. At last it held that
the conservation of slavery was the chief
end for which the Constitution was devils
ed and maintained /; that, consequently,
ali arguments aud appeals against slavery
we're so many assaults upon the Lonstitu-
ton, and that persistence in such argu-
ments and appeals was sufficient reason
for the mos, desperate efforts TO break IN
or revolutionize the government. By this
process the Democratic party became the
party Of Treason. 1t hoped to establish
government based on caste and privilege
after the old federal style. The violence
Of the struggle it made to that end de.
monstrated the depth OF its intatuation.
But it failed what was practicable in the
twelfth century was simply impossible III
in the nineteenth.
When the war ended the Democratic
party was seen smitteu 20 the dust. The
treachery of one man has lifted it up, and
filed it with new hopes. What it is en-
deavoring to accomplish is renewal of
its coalition with the advocates Of slavery
with as slight notifications of doctrines
and measures as the furrows Of the war
render impossible, ard with tendency to
the restoration Of so much Of the old sys-
tenn as it shall from time to time be found
prudent to attempt. Like the Bourbons,
the Democrats have forgotten nothing aud
learned nothing by Punishment from pow
er. 1t is the rcinyigoration Of this coali-
ton, aud tire expectations ccsired there
from, that impar,s to the rebel leaders the
air of haughtiness they disport. Tie Lu-
mility that followed upon Lees and John,
sons surrender has disappeared. The
willingness then Professed to accept any
conditions the coDquerors should exact,
has been rctrae;ed. Instead Of supplica-
ting faYors, they demand tie rights and
privileges that ere the portion only Of 10y
atty. With their perjured kisses scarcely
dry on the evangeiists upon which they
swore allegiance aud fidelity, they profess
their readiness to swear again, SO that
sweating shall reinsta:e them in citizen
ship, and they express a:tonishment that
the opportunity is Withheld.
In recent caucuses of Republican mem
bers oi Congress the opinion has been
freely expressed that the President is re-
solved to resort to any plea2s to restore
Southern rebels and their Northern sympa-
thizers 70 she control of the government.
Indeed, no, only was this opinion avoaed
by many geatlayneu, bat The opposite
opinion was profcssed by 40 one. The
drif. Of affairs at the National Capital has
wrought q substantial agreement in this
particular. The assurance of the Presi-
dent, often reiterated, that he did not
mean 4 betrayal Of the high trust confided
to him, have all proved to be insioce:e.
The destiny Of the Republic eonse-
quentiy depends On .hc results Of the dp-
proachins Stale elections. IF the local
States shall stand fast by their honorable
record, as we doubt not they will, we sha
emerge from this crisis, Instructed and not
damaged. Bat if SO many loyaljsss shall |
be !4iled into false security, which we
cannot believe, as to repair tie Eepu5lI- ,
can asconfency IN Congress, the war will
have lost its conpen,a;ions the old de- ,
bates, somewhat modified, indeed, but still /
the same in escenve, vii! be revived, with I
new eiaUuats Of irritation Spr:nsing from
The mighty collisions CT lhc war; aud the
destiny Of tile future vii! be Involved III |
q darkness TOO profouol Tor human saga
city to penetrate, aai which it may re-
1uirc the sharp arb.tranlent Of battle to