The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-09-17
"a Few Random Thoughts About Political


i, ieoo CIdIeS is now IN Jne
7 tninety-second year of. its independ-
ence. Our present Constitution went
into operation on the first Wednesday,
of Marsh, Fs9. The Democratic
party can trace its origin back to, the
very foundation OF the Government.
Its vital principle is, that all power is
derived from the people; that the
Constitution is the bond of our Union,
the measure and limit Of the powers
| of the Federal Government, and that
all powers not therein delegated, are
reserved to the States and the people.
1t has had, in the past, many oppo-
nents, who have, during the brief pc
riods of their existence, devised every
conceivable scheme, and bent every
energy to obtain and retain possession
of the Government; but the organiza-
ton of each one of them has been
short-lived, and in order to divest
themselves of the responsibilities of
burning. blue-lights of the Hartford
| Convention; of opposition to the
Mexican War; &C., &c, they have
from time to time, formed new COM
binations, and rallied under a new
party name. ~ 3'
The old Wing party, which was a
truly national organization, died from
constant defeat, and upon its ruins
arose the present Republican party,
which, was organized at Philadelphia
in 1856. It is remarkable that it was
this party, which now SO vauntingly
boasts of its attachment to the whole
Union, first hoisted sectional flag
that the flag that waived over the con-
vention which nominated John. c.
Fremont for President, bore upon its
blue field but sicteee stars; that they
declared they " ponld haze no Union
with shareholders In 1860, they
nominated as their candidate for Pres
dent the man who but two years be-
fore had declared that this "Union
could not long exist half slave and
half free" Inspired with that senti-
ment, old John Brown, in 1859, began
the work of demolishing our Repub-
lican edifice, tearing down the pillars
of our great temple. But the courts
being open, this, Radical incendiary
received his orders to halt in his mad
career, his murderous crusade and he
halted; but CHS soul goes marching
on" Where" Not in the ETHEREAL
regions below, for there the officers
arc elected during good behavior, thus
cutting off his aspirations. No, mol
His soul is marching on in the hearts |
of his friends and sympathizers-in
the hearts of those pious souls who
wore Grape; in the hearts of those,
pure Republican patriots who tolled
the bells not for Virginia's in
nocent sons, brutally murdered in
cold blood, but for the "martyry
whose hands were red with their
blood. And, to-day, these men who |,
went 1nournfully about the streets.
singing in doleful numbers a.. "A,
John ilI.Is Browns body lies mouldering in the
But his soul is marching on" g- iEifa
declare, that, prior to 1860, the South
was striving to bring about war;
that t they had no love for the Union. /,
and no respect for the people of the
North, Is it matter for special won
der that itlshould be so? Is any one
50 blind as not to see that the declara-
hon Of. Of Mr.. Webster, at Capon Springs,
Va, that "the fanatical abolitionists,l
Of the North and the secessionists oft
The South are putting their heads to-,
5ether to destroy the Union" was the
Folce Of prophecy ?, The Democracy
vas va ) unable lable to resist the tide of the one
u u alllafy the fury of the other. The
south % IT fl,th threatened to secede. Wendell =
cried HAmen! WeH build :
: bridge of gold for you to, get out :
n" m That bridge is J., the national ),
lebt, to which which every man, woman and :,
hid pays toll Ben. Wade said Z
Amen /! go and be d-dln The Gin o :,
l M Commercial said AmenI eve :
vii endeavor to cultivate amieabIe re- Il
atoms with YOU" The Indianapolis = =
o'ae'7aak and host of other papers
nd stumpers said, Amen! $50. we q
ont 'l1 want you. Mexico is worth =
lore to us than all the .South.". :,
But no Northern Democrat ever re: u :.
bonded amen to any such sentiment. Jee
hey strove by every means to COM ~ ~
romlise ON the differences of the, sec q q
ons by giving to each what the Con- &c
tuition allowed. This had given "
7aee and prosperity to the, whole =.
'untry at different periods of it's his I'D m
ry' when there was no. Republican ~ ~,
lrty. But the Republicans said mol VI
that prayer, and by their votes was - -
defeated. Douglas attributed its ~ ~De
1eat to them This refusal to COM NJ ~
omise was accepted by the South as VI
as'cqulescence in their secession pur- m m
ses and plans, Ian and other States fol. -. -a'
eIfa Red the 9, example, Of those that had ~ ,s
;eded. ,,..,, s.,.-,..t=,.. ....-...,3I W
NJ .-..,''t % 1'' bes
The II Northern Democracy, still un- the
ling to give.znp the Union of our tbe
hers, proposed further arbitration tat
peace Convention was called fad
was called with the highest and pu1
rest motives, and its ideliberasions all,
re fraught with issues of the gray mil
solemnity-the preservation or sac ER3,
ee of thousands of millions of las,
'p'isy importing of millions ~V
precious lives of the young men of VIII
,eountry-whether our country to f
uid continueato rise and eclipse Al,
Governments of the Old World, Inn,
it was to suffer the scourge-t r
an uncertain struggle-were all dec,
nentOuS questions for. -.