The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-09-19
The Democratic Issue.

The propositions presented to the
people Of Ohio by the Democratic lead
ers are these Our party tried to break
up the nation, and plunged the coun-
try into civil war, which has entailed a
great calamity. We, the Ohio Demo-
cratic politicians, declared that secession
was an accomplished fact, and the dis
solution of the Union thing that could
not be prevented. We denounced any
attempt to put down the rebellion as
a breach OF the Constitution, and we
voted against raising a man or dollar
for this purpose. We met in conven-
ton at the beginning Of secession, and
resolved that the North had violated its
duties to the South, and had no right
to resist separation. We used our par
ty discipline and prejudice to prevent
volunteering for the public defense.
We assailed every act Of the Govern
ment as unconstitutional, and denounc-
ed it as Government to which no man
owed allegiance. --
We organized the faithful of the Dem
ocratic party into secret armed bands,
to be ready to strike the blow whenever
the successes of our confederates should
give sufficient promise. We itincrated
through the State, delivering haIlangues
the best calculated to stir up men to Sc
dition and resistance to the Govern
mcnt. We assalcd the Government
money as worthless rags, and tried to
prevent our party from touching it.
We assailed the Government bonds,
and declared they never would be paid.
We added hundreds of millions to the
Democratic war debt by depressing the
public credit. We held out to our con-
federatcs the promise of 18O,O00 Dem
ocrats ready to welcome their triumph
and to join them in overthrowing the
loyal Northern people. In the midst
Of the war we met in National Conven-
ton and sent aid and comfort to the enc
mSby solemnly resolving that the war to
preserve the Union was a failure. We
continually held out to our confederates
the promise that if they would perse-
we're the North would become divided
and powerless. They had the assu-
rance always before them that a Demo
cratic victory at the polls in the North
would be the Confederate triumph in
the war.
1t was not with the consent of the
Northern Democratic party that our
Confederates finally submitted. 1t was
against our will that the Union was pre-
served. The national triumph was our
downfall. Its joy was our afiiction.
But now, since the Union is preserved
in spite of us, since we failed in a five
years effort to destroy the nation, we
propose to take its government into our
hands. The party which saved the ma
ton from destruction is incompetent to
govern its affairs in peace. That be-
longs to us who tried to destroy it. A
long prepared conspiracy, followed by
a five years. war of rebellion, has quail
flied us alone to govern. We brought
all the calamities upon the country.
Nothing but the hair Of the same Dem
ocratic dog that poisoned the life blood
of the nation, can cure the bite. Patri-
OTIS have had their day. None but
traitors must now be put on guard.
This is the modest proposal which
the Democratic speakers present to the
people ofOhio. This is the plain issue.
There is no limit to the meanness of
Democrats estimate of the popular in
telligence and integrity, and therefore
these leaders have the assurance to
make this proposition to the people of
Ohio. They thought they could carry
Ohio into the rebellion; they now bring
out men covered over with the infamy
of treason, and insult the people by
proposing to put them in as rulers to
reconstruct the rebellion. They sig
nally failed in their estimate of the char
acter Of the people in the war; and it
is not likely that patriotic war and
complete triumph have degraded the
people SO that they will now foist upon
themselves these characters who are fix
cd in historical infamy.-Cin. Gasstte.