The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-10-01
The Issues and Duties of the Hour.

It is conceded by every rejecting mind,
that upon the result of the approaching cleo
ton will depend the future destinies of the
country. Party lines are distinctly traced.
Principles are fairly antagonized. The lead
ers are at the head of their respective for
ces. In brief time the hour of conflict
will be at hand. The struggle will be short
and decisive. The shout of the victor, and
the lamentations of the vanquished will min
gle in the same breeze, or fash along COM
mon electric pathway. The nation will feel
the consequences, for they will be momen-
tous and enduring. For nearly eight years
the Republican party has ruled the govern
ment. It.has made record of its action
that will be as irnperishable as history. By
this record we are called upon to judge it.
On the other hand, the Democratic party
had shaped the early destinies of the eoun-
try and for more than half century had
been the controlling spirit Of the govern
ment By the record it has left, it invites
the candid judgment of the American pso-
pie upon its claims to resume once more
the reins of government. The Republican
party has broken its fealty to the Constitu-
ton, and inaugurated measures of public
policy in contravention of its spirit, and out.
side of its wise limitations. The plea for
this invasion of Constitutional law is that
2 the "life of the nation" was at stake, and
could only be saved by the intrusion of a
eower superior to all written law, and capa-
BILE, by it's superior force, of providing for
the paramount necessities of the hour
This plea, if not boldly invoked, is still
urged as reason for continuing the Repub-
lican party in power. The necessity upon
which it is basedis an ever recurring one,
and is limited only to the needs of party tri-
umph. In all ages of the world, this plea
has been the reason and apology which the
Anarch and the Despot have alike urged in
Justification of their crimes against social
order and liberty. What it has been in the
past it will again Kin the future, inasmuch
.as history butrepeats itself in the order and
of human events. 90, 80 5tH
!. The Democratic party, on the other hand,
proposes to restore the government to the
healthy ,and normal action prescribed for it
by the Constitution. It asserts that the So
-cial and poaaa6scal. evils under which the
country now labors nave been the direct pro-
duct of the violations of both the spiri. and
letter of that sacred instrument. II pro.
sclaims the pracicabihty of restoring the
Union asst was before the war of giving to
the States all the prerogatives and powers
they require for the regulation Of their do
nestle affairs and OF retaining in the hands
of the general government a sufficient pow
er, as indicated by the Constitution, for all
the purposes of a wise, prudent, efficient
and economical administration of national
affairs. 3aia'a1qai aijda4 Toi ~ irs ~
n These constitute the main issues involved
in the coming election. All other questions
that grow out of them are collateral and
subsidiary. For if it be certain that the Re-
publican party win not, and that the Demo
cratic party cannot bring the general and
State governments back to. their proper
working limits within the constitution, then
there exists no prescribed legal limits to the
exercise of political power. Hence the party
that is strongest becomes the dominant one /;
and may rule the country as long as its pow
;;er is not overshadowed by a party stronger
than ITSELF This would bring us, to the ex-
periences of Mexican liberty, and from
which we could escape only by the interfer-
ence of military power. sts ailt'Ha
Issues Of such moment cannot exist with
out necessitating corresponding duties on
the part of those who are SO vitality interested
in their speedy and proper solution. The
duty then of every, one is to examine care
fully the consequences which have followed
these several issues, and from their charac-
ter determine his judgment and his action,
As a direct sequence to the violation of
the Constitution we have been forced into o