Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-08-25
ABOLITIONISM VERSUS DEM
 OCRACY.

That our country Is about to pass through one of the greatest political revolutions that has ever agitated it is clearly apparent to every thinking man. That there will be but two con tending or opposing parties is equally clear. This revolution, which must some in November next, must from necessity be as much greater as 1t is essentially different from any contest of this kind ever witnessed on this continent. It is true that for many years in this country each presidential election has brought with 1t certain degree of excitement and political strife. In each of these elections the parties were arrayed against each oth- CT upon local issues, and in almost ev- cry instance, especially so for the last few years, the contests were purely sectional. In those sectional contests the parties contending were the Dem ocracy, representing one set of opin- ions, and abolitionism opposing. That the issues dividing these parties are now no more is an admitted fact. In the great contest of arms, which made our country what it is to-day, individ- ual opinions were lost and party lines obliterated. Abolitionism in its blind frenzy lost itself in maze of hate, and died because its work was done. But now after a lapse of years the time for political battle comes again, and we find that there are but two contending parties--Radicalism and Democracy certainly not the parties that in the years gone fought for the places of the nation, but new parties with new issues and new platforms. Bad as the abolition party of then was, the Radi- cal party of now Is worse; great as was the Democratic party then, its responsibilities arc greater its mission is holier now. Then Democracy con tended against abolitionism upon po- litical issues, now Democracy arrays itself against Radicalism upon individ- hhi TX lls anu ioN AhN TWO old parties found favor and sup port, the one most in the North, the other most in the South. The new parties are not sectional each finds its supporters from Florida to Maine, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The contests Of the dead years were be- tween North and South, and in them was each section arrayed one against the other; now the nation is the field, and around each iireside, may be, there is found brotLer in opposition to bro ther. father to son. The issues for which parties in the past contended are dead they were local, and the i'm
 terest that gathered around the politi- cal contests upon these issues was nought compared to the mighty inter est gathering around the coming con- test, in which the individual rights of every citizen Of the country is involy- ed. The new party glorying in the name of Radical. composed of every grade of shame and sin in human form,
 with no policy but that of rule not satisfied with involving the country in almost irrcmediable ruin, with an in- ordinate love of power and an undying hate to honesty of purpose and eonsti- tutiousl law, with captsin pledged
 solcmnly pledged to do their will no matter ~ hat that will is. ask the snf- trage ot the people, ask for license to plunder the treasury for another term, ask for the right--the right of place so Gestroy the constitution, cripple h. selligenee aud insult the world with . sosvrnnent too reckless for pr"speri- ". Zoo ediuvs fer respect Against