The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-12-20
THE TRUE COURSE.

are disposed to be FESTIVE under the
present political management, and to-
think that they would be more likely to-
succeed under pure aud simple Dem
ocratic organization. Some of them,
whilst expressing their admiration for
the Presidents policy, are careful to ex-
plain that they are under no particular
obligations to him and seem to like him
only because he is a thorn in the side
Of the party which elected him. They
ID are disposed to look with distrust upon
their late allies, who once belonged to
pa the Republican patty, because they do.
,E5t not at once forget all the prejudices of.
5 a lifetime nor take pleasure in being
called Democrats. They seem to re-
li gard it as a humiliation on their part to
ccndescend to vote with any party not
: hailing under the Democratic name );
i and think the time honored principles
- of the party are jeopardised by such
subseryiency. Mr.. Vallandigham, it
appears, is opposed to any further Com
sentative alliance, and is in favor of.
running a separate Democratic candi-
80 date for the Presidency, even if the
nominating body is not larger than a
Is, county Convention, or his candidate
IT, cannot obtain more votes than Mr.: Bir-
ney, the Abolition candidate in times
past.
.,a., We profess to have as much respect
for Democratic principles, and desire
sFr-ior their success, as any Of them; but
we think they can be best maintained
by following a different course. We
r,o. have never doubted the final success Of
= Democratic principles, and that the
9 Government win soon again be conduct
ed by party calling itself Democratic.
~ To effect that desirable object it is GER
a tainly necessary, in the North, to get
hf aid from some quarter; and that must
be from those who have been sustaining
the Republican party. Now, if those
liberal Republicans who are disposed to-
luo sustain the President would agree to do.
"a sounder the Democratic name, we would
N- be greatly pleased; but we know very
well that they are averse to doing that,
81 either because they are unwilling to
q pledge themselves to support all other
o. Democratic principles, or from an un-
reasonable prejudice. IF to require
them, as condition precedent, to enrol
= themselves as Democrats would be a
stumbling block in their way we would
not require 1T The whole country is
an dangerous crisis and it lily be-
comes any one to prefer mere party sue
cess in such an emergency Besides,
we well know that tke cid Democratic
party must be the controlling element
in the new combination; and that it is
most likely that after, voting together
few times, the prejudices may wear off
e and all may cheerfully fuse under the
time honorored name Of Democracy
1t is well known that multitudes, like
Mr. Raymond of the n York Times,
have been balancing between their con-
victiens of duty and their allegiance to
the Republican party; and that, were it
not fer their belief that the Democratic
party would get the benefit of their la
Dor in the end, they would willingly sus-.
tain President johnson against their
own party. Once separated from their
party on such vital principles it is not
likely they would ever return to it,
w, whilst they would soon find that there
was really no difference of political prin-
dieiples between them and the Democrats.
~ It is a great mistake for any to think
that the old National Democracy suf-
Tered no damage, during the late war,
which needs any care or nursing to re-
pair. 1t is true that, as party, it was
clear Of all blame in bringing the North
and South into collision; but fnallyqit
succumbed to fate, and parted into
North and South as other parties had
done being the last link of the Union
that was broken. It is easy to under
bstand why the Democratic party of the
North should lose its ancient prestige
during the civil war The Democrats
knew that it was the fault of the fanat-
les in the Republican party that alicna-
ted the minds of the Southern people !;
and therefore they sustained the war
with some reluctance. Most of them
had the sasacity to see that the course
OF the South, in striking for a dissolu-
gtioh ofthe Union, was blow aimed at
the entire North; and, smothering their
wrath against the Republican party for
the time being, determined to support