New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-10-28
ADORE
10 the Democrats Who Keep Step to the
Music of the Union


FELLOW CITIZENS: We are of those who.
when the life of the Union was assailed'
were designated War Democrats. because
we insisted that the Union must be saved
even at the cost of blood. We could not be-
other than War Democrats when war was
waged Tor the avowed purpose of dividing
and virtually destroying our country. We
were Union Democrats wh,n be SO sul !.
Jected us to the reDroacn of loving and
cherishing slavery. We were still Union
Democrats when to be so exposed US to
obloquy as seeking the violent subyersion
OF slavery. The principles of Jefferson,
Madison and jackson were and are ours; they
have been freshly and nobly illustrated in
council by our lamented Dickinson DOUGLAS
and Brough: and in the field by philip
hearny, John Sedgwick, Isaac l. Stevens
and their compatriots We will not speak
inpraise of the living but there is no man
worship in the proud tear that we give to
the memory OF our patriot dead,
Secession was an appeal from the ballot
to the bullet. 1t was an attempt to estab-
hsh by force dogmas which had been
charged upon the Democratic party BY its
enemies as necessarily resulting from its
principles, but which that party had always
disclaimed, and had, in sustaining General
Jackson's resistance to Notification, practi-
cally repudiated. Having then shown that
Democracy is not Nullitication, we have in
WI NaJ bSS4l SdllCL W prove LudL IL Is not
Disunlon. We regard the demonstration as
conclusive.
When the struggle of our fathers for a
redress of grievances had resulted in the
recognition of their independence, that
large minority of the American people who
had mistakenly but conscientiously adj
hcred to the British crown, forever aban-
doned ''the Lost Cause.n They ceased to
be Britons or royalists and became reDub.
lican Americans. "The right divine of
kings to govern wrong" was thenceforth no
part of their creed. They melted into the
mass of their countrymen, attached them
selves to one or the other of the parties into
which those couptrymen were soon divided
and had thenceforth no distinct existence,
As wise men and good citizens they could do
no otherwise. They had no longer valid
reason for remaining distinctively Tories,
and they acted accordingly.
Such should have been the course of our
misguided countrymen who plunged or
were drawn into the Southern rebellion,
That rebellion having been put down, they
should have been the foremost in seeking
to consign it's bitter memories to oblivion.
A great majority of them have seen fit to
Ike avery different corre. Even In States
that adhered to the Union, like Kentucky
and Maryland, they have chosen to band to-
gether and dictate platforms and candidates
10 the only party they deem worthy of their
favor or support. In States further South.
not content with monopolizing power. they
insist on reNlying dOgmas and aggravating
distinctions which have no rightful relation
to existing conditions. While slavery ex-
listed it was neither practicable nor safe TO
treat even free blacks in the slave States as
entitled to the rights of men. To educate
them, receive testimony against whites, and
allow them to keep and Bear arms, was TO
aggravate the dangers of condition al
Ay full M Tnril Gonoih1a ,;..l.4
gret and even condemn the necessity, but
not the legislation which simply recognized
and conformed to il.
But, the war having resulted in the over
throw of slavery, every act conceived in and
impelled by the spirit of the defunct insti
tuition was wanton assault on the tri
umphant Union. 1t said to the yictors,
fYou had power to free the slaves but we
have power to make their freedom curse
to them.p 1t was new war waged against
the republic in the person of the weakest
and humblest of her loyal children. 1t in
augurated oppression aud social anarchy at
the South, while it necessarily revived dis.
satisfaction and bitterness at the North.
We long observed this in silence, but with
out regret. We hoped that it would pass
away with the modification of unexpected
defeat, the pangs of keenly-felt disappoint-
ment the chagrin Of high raised expecta
tions suddenly blasted. Instead of this,
matters have steadily tended from bad tC
worse, until they eliminated, in the late
Democratic National Convention, in the
nomination for President of a candidate
whose course throughout the war was il
striking contrast to that of General Dix and
Democrats of his school; with nominee fol
Vice-President who owed his selection
wholly to his fresh, deliberate recommenda
| tion that the next President should under
| take to subvert existing State Governments
and nullify acts of Congress by naked force
without even apretense of legislative or ju.
dicial authority for SO doing. There is M
precedent for so reckless proposition from
an exalted source, to enthrone anarchy an(
| light afresh the fires of civil war, even be
| fore the houses have been rebuilt which ou
late war laid in ashes.
We have waited patiently for the correc
tion Of errors which, If left uncorrected
must prove fatal to their indorsers. w
have waited in vain. Even the late sigma
manifestations of public sentiment, whic
| the blind can scarcely misread, haY
wrought no amendment. The machinery Q
the Democratic party, as now organized, i
welded by men who approved Genera
Blair's letter to Brodhead, conformed t
rebel dictation in the adjustment of thei
platform, and justify the murders at Camilla
Either confess that we were wrong in resist
ing secession and disunion, or support Gen
eral Grant for President. We decide I
stand by the Union and vote for Grant.
Yours truly.
HIRAM WALBRIDGE,
On behalf OF many War Democrats.