The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1868-06-04
THE DEATH OF THE LAST DEMO.
CRATIC PRESIDENT.

nouncement will bring surprise to man
people, for SO completely has be bee
lost to sight in the great political event
which have taken place during tn
later years of his life, that every othe
man was in doubt as to whether b
were living or dead. He was the las
of the Democratic Presidents, and Their
is but one survivor Of that number left
in the person of Franklin Pierce. Th,
history surrounding the term of Blu
chanan's administration is of the sad
dest and most remarkable epochs il
American politics. 1t is well remem
bered that Immediately following hi:
inauguration the people and the press.
almost irrespective of party, evinced q
sense of satisfaction and security at
the propitious prospects which were
apparently before the country. The
excitement of the great contest which
came so near giving the victory to the
Republicans and putting Fremont in
the White House, subsidized into sense
of relief which grew out of the popu-
lar conviction based upon Buchanan 5
first message, that the affairs of the
nation were to be administered with
wisdom, moderation and sense of
high patriotic regard. But this condi-
ton of the public mind was of brief
duration for soon the hot fires of
party rancor were famed into q white
heat by the occurrences which followed
the attempt to force Kansas into the
Union by the frauds committed by the
authors and abettors of the Lecomp-
ton Constitution. Out Of the memoir
able struggle that ensued grew that
train of circumstances which, followed
with terrible haste to their inevitable
conclusion, severed the Democratic
party in twain, wrenched the control
of the Government from the hands Of
the slave power and I" fred the Southern
heart into the commission of treason
and rebellion. The zeal with which
Buchanan served the Slavery Propo-
gandists and the apathy with which be
witnessed the attempted secession Of
the Southern States from the Govern
ment gave his name such heritage of
infany ez attaches to none
of the incumbents Of the Presidential !
Office save, perhaps, Andrew Johnson.
The lesson of the life which has just
passed away amid the retired surround
ngs of the village Of Wheatland should |
rot be lost upon the aspiring young |
nea Of this Republic. There is moth
ng in the living energies of this gov
,rnment of the people which is bereaved
" the death OF this man. No noble
principles, no lofty purpose, nothing
pertaining to the progress Of Chr istian
civilization is the loser byi:. We say
his with all proper respect for the dead,
,ut with justice to the living. Buch-
nan represented that Northern Democ-
acy which was and is simply the avail
BILE machinery of that principle in our
Government which, let US hope, got its
cath blow when Grant crushed the
ebelIion. The GROWING act of his
fe was to serve purpose which could
OF and cannot prevail within the at
losphere of loyalty. lie consented to
tand as the scapegoat and disingenu
US apologist of treason and he shared /
le fate of all men who are willing to
etray high trusts in obedience to the
emand of their couatry's most p'alig-
ant enemies-for he became worse
ian fIiendless at home and forgotten,
no longer useful Instrument, among
le conspirators whose humble servitor +,
e was. Let as hope that Buchanan
i'll, by the events of the future, be b
royen to be, as he was at the time OF
IS death, the last Democratic Presi- e
cut Of the United States. W
%
Ut h., I'll