The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-09-03
Tho Record Again.

Tho Democratic platform is on
some subjects ambiguous, but in i.s
charges against tho Republican
party, and in IFS siereotyped pro.
testations Of devotion to the Con.
stitution, TO tho rights and liberty
of tho citizen, it is plnin and
straightforward enough. But what
has that party done during the last
6fteon years " break the bonds
and let the oppressed go free2 what
in defense of Constitutional Gov
crnment, or liberty, based as they
are on the liberty Of the individu.
al2 On the contrary. wh It has II
not done in bohalf of oppression
and tyranny? i.opposcd the pro
hibition Of slsvory 10 100000
square miles Of virgin territory. l,
opposed the abolition Of siavcry in
the capital Of tho Republic. 1t op
posed the exclusion Of slavery from
The Territories. II opposed the
pre-emption and homestead laws.
Il opposed the granting of Govern
ment aid to the Pacific railroad.
It opposed the war for the Union.
which had been broken in twain
undcr its rule. 1t opposed the
emancipation Of the slaves for the
saving Of the Union and tho Con
stitution. II opposed tho arming
of the blacks for the Union, and
the making Of the wives and chill
dren Of black soldiers FREQ. Il op
posed tho Constitutional amend
ment abolishing slavery, oqualizing
representation in Congress, guar.
anteeing tho national debt, repu-
dating the rebel debt and thc'pay-
ment to the South of thousands Of
millions for emancipated slaves
and war losses. 1t opposed the
| just reconstruction policy Of Con.
gress. 1t opposed tho removal by
Impeachment of Andrew johnson,
who deliberately defed Congress
and broke the laws-who in their
interest delayed reconstruction,
peace, and prosperity, and intro
duced corruption into every de-
partment OF tho Government. FoJ
fourteen years the Democratic par
ty has opposed every measure that
had a tendency TO mako better and
happier the downtrodden Of this
country. In no Christian civilized
land is there to-day or was thore
ever any party SO contumaciOusly
hostile to the rights of man as the
Democratic party Of the United
States judged by its deeds, the rec
ord Of which -ot all the seas can
wash out. So much for the Dem,
ocratic party and the citizen.
Now for the States, the Union,
and the Constitution. Eightyears
ago the Democratic party, the
paragon of perfection compared
with what il is now, having been in
almost uninterrupted possession
of the Government for ffty years,
turned it over TO the Republicans
broken in two, and preparing for
! a continental war. The Democrat.
ic doctrine Of States Rights had
borne fruit. Eight Democratic
States had seeded from tho Union,
so far as they could do it, and the
Democratic party that remained
held that tho Government had no
power TO forco them bnck. The
Republican party, rallying round
their great leader, Abraham Lin
coin, bore the old flag through six
hundred bloody engagements with
these ed-handcd Democratic trait.
ors. Three hundred and fifty
thousand Republicans sleep be-
meath the sod Of America to-day.
Four hundred thousand. moro are
cripples, their health and coDstitu'
tions shattered irreparably. There
are dear chairs In thousands o.
| Northern homes vacated BY Dem,
ocratic starvation. Through oil
those dark years the Republican
party at homo, in Congress, II
State capitals, everywhere, stooC
by tho Republican soldiers in th'
field. At all times and places
with their sons and brothers, thei
money, their time, their words
deeds, thoughts, prayers, they up
held their country. No Republi
can evet fired on the old flag
thank God |
Then, the victory won, the Re
publican party pardoDed the fev
Democratic traitors left. Not q
execution. not q trial even, no
confinamenk. or hanihhmeTit. or con