The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-01
The Democratic Party and New Issues.

The Democratic Party and New issues
IT is asserted that many leading Democrats
are urging the entire abandonment by their
party of the negro question in future political
struggles, and the adoption of such issues as
are involved in the tariff, internal improve
ments, the currency, and like subjects. If
this means that the Democratic party is about
to abandon the opposition which it has
hitherto manifested, first to the emancipation,
and second to the enfranchisement of the
colored citizens of this country, we shall be
glad to hear it. The negro will go out of
politics the moment the country ceases to
know him as a negro, and treats him simply
as man. There is no more occasion, in the
nature of things, for a negro question in our
politics, than there is for an Irish question, or
German question, or any other question re-
latng to races. The Declaration of Indepen-
dence, which is the great fundamental charter
of our political system, asserts that all men
are created equal. We should never have had
any negro question in this country, had we
steadily adhered to this great truth promul-
gated by the fathers of the Republic. We
shall never have it here any more, when we
go back honestly and with full purpose of
heart to that great truth.
We do not wonder that the more wise and
far-seeing members of the Democratic party
are anxious to abandon the negro question. 1t
is question in dealing with which that party
has won no honor. We know of no political
party in any country that has so long arrayed
itself in hostility to the elevation and we'll
being of so large portion of the human
family, as the Democratic party has. 1t was
the champion of human bondage in this coun-
try, down to the hour when the down-trodden
millions were wrenched from its cruel grasp
by the power of great war. 1t opposed the
Abolition amendment of the Constitution,
which was intended to sanction the work of
war in the fundamental law of the nation. 1t
would have reforged the chains snapped
asunder in our great convulsion, and would
have driven back into slavery those who had
but just tasted the sweets of freedom. And
since the acknowledged overthrow of slavery,
that party has done all that it could to foster
the prejudices, keep up the unjust distinctions,
and perpetuate the acknowledgements born of
slavery and nurtured by its spirit. It's face
has been resolutely set against every measure
looking towards the protection, the education,
or the elevation of four millions of our fellow
citizens. ... .........
And yet at every step it has been foiled and
overthrown. Its predictions have been falsi-
fed almost as soon as made. Despite all its
efforts slavery was abolished, and to-day not
man can be found in the whole country who
dares advocate its re-establishment. All now
concede that it was bad thing, inconsistent
with our free institutions, and at war with
Christian civilization. Yet not ten years have
passed since the Democratic party was mob
bing men in the North for advocating just
these sentiments Could any record be more
completely damning
We doubt whether, even at this day, and
with the evidences of its past folly so patent
before the eyes of the whole nation, the De-
mocratic party can be turned to the consider
alton of new issues Some of its members
would gladly do so, but the mass of its leaders
are not only foolish, but desperate men.
When men become so thoroughly transformed
by their prejudices, so depraved in their moral
and intellectual perceptions, as to call the
enfranchisement of four millions of American
citizens an act of tyranny, it is vain to ex-
pect wisdom from them even in the ordinary
management of party affairs.
We see this stubborn and untractable spirit
displayed over the reconstruction question.
There is no doubt that large portion of the
party would be glad to accept the Congress
sional plan as fnality, and pass on to new
issues. But the Bourbon leaders are deter
mined to contest every inch of the ground
even at the risk of constant and disastrous
overthrow.
The only safety of the country lies in tn,
dominancy of that great and patriotic party
which carried the nation so triumphant,
through the perils of our great war. TIL
political revolution through which we ar
passing is as tremendous as was that physica
conflict. Until that revolution is completed
and the fruits of the war are gathered an
stored. the success of the Republican party
essential 70 all the best interests of the natior
A Practical Test.
THERE is nothing Ii. <e the test OF experien'
for all new theories. = Illinois eight hours
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