The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-05
The Record OF the Democratic Party.

there ought to be some good reason for it.
But what good reason is therep What is
there in the past history of the Democratic
party that should lead the people to abandon
the Republican organization, and place the
Government in the hands of the Democrats?
If ever party should display its love OF
country 1t is when that country is in peril.
If ever a party should display its powers of
administration, it is when emergencies arise,
when great interests are at stake, and when
the ship of state is in a storm. Suppose we
apply these principles to the conduct OF the
Democratic party during the Rebellion, and
what do we find? We behold that party in
power when the Rebellion first broke out.
What did it do to suppress It2 A1so-
lutely nothing. And why? Mainly be-
cause the leaders in the Rebellion were
themselves the leaders of the Democratic
party. That party, with all the resources OF
the country at its command, maintained a
stubborn and imbecile inactioh, and allowed
the nation to drift hopelessly into great
war. The slightest display of force, the
merest exhibition OF the power Of the nation
by President Buchanan, would probably have
saved us the whole contest. He was appealed
to, by General Scott to do it, but refused. He,
and his party with him. confessed their in
ability to cope with the problom The states-
maDship, the executive ability, the patriotism
OF the Democratic party, were ulequal to the
task of saving the country, and the work was
turned over to the Republicans.
But this imbecile attitude of the Demo-
cratic party during the earlier stages of the
Rebellion grew out or the fact that the Re-
bellion itself was the work Of its own leaders,
and that the masses OF the party, to a great ex-
tent, sympathized with the Rebellion. And
this continued to be the position of the party,
as party, during the war. 1t sympathized
with the Rebellion. Its efforts were directed
to embarrassing rather than aiding the Gov
ernment. 1t made for Itself a record more
disgraceful than that ever before made by any
party in free country. So true was this, that
honest and patriotic men in the Democratic
party, who valued the nation, and believed
its life worth preserving, were obliged to dis
card their lifelong associations, and join the
great Union Republican organization. The
gallant soldier who entered the army
Democrat, soon iorsook party whose only
sympathies were with the enemies Of his
country. Thus the contest went on, until, in
1884, the party capped the climax OF its in
fanny by declaring the war "a failure"
Now. we submit whether party with such
a record has any claims upon popular support
or respect? 1t proved false to the country in
the hour when the life of the nation hung
trembling in the balance. For such crime
there is no forgiveness. An individual may
be forgiven, but party thai failed in such an
hour as that can never more be trusted by
the country.
And the people should not forget that the
contest this fall is to determine whether this
old Democratic party, with all its sins upon
its head, and under the direction of its old
disloyal leaders of 1851 and 1862 and with
Hester Clymer as its standard-bearer, who
declares that he stands by his disloyal record,
whether this party shall be put in power?
There is no middle ground. Every vote for
Clymer is vote to endorse his own personal
disloyal record and that OF the Democratic
party of PeDnsylv ania. How can any true
Union man bring himself to do this
How can any Union soldier thus
tarnish his record? II Clymer and the Penn
sylvania Democracy were right during the
war, then the Union soldiers and the Union
party and Abraham Lincoln were all aCrOng.
Are we ready to say this? Is the soldier
ready to acknowledge that he was the "Liu-
coin hireling," the Abolition minion," the
murderer" that these disloyal men charged
him with being? If not, then let him vote
against Heister Clymer and the whole Demo-
cratic ticket. Is the true Union man who,
during the war, disgusted and sick at heart
at the shameful attitude OF the Democratic
party, broke loose from its trammels and ioined
that noble and patriotic party that saved the
country-is he ready now to say that he was
wrong and the disloyal Democracy right?
II not, let him vote against Hester Clymer
and the whole ticket.
Why should any man desire to leave the
Union partyP 1t has record grander.
nohIer, prouder than that of any other party
in our country since the foundation of the
Government. It is the party of progress, of
libeIality. OF humanity, OF great and inspiring
ideas. It's whole story is illuminated with
grand deeds for the glory and good OF the
country. II comprchends the sublime des-
tiny which the republic, under the lead of
great and good men, is capable of achieving.
Who would leave such party to Join him
salf IN an organization tainted throuoh and