St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-11-27
The Democracy of Gen. Grant.

the general result. b.
The Democracy of Gen. Grant.
Since General Grant has been elected
by so immense a majority, it is Justify
asserted by the democratic journals that
he is, and always has been, real demo-
crat. Undoubtedly he is, and that is his
first radical difference with the demo-
cratic party. General Grant is demo-
crat, and the democratic party is, and
has been for generation, the Instrument
of an aristocracy. For what is it to be
true democrat in the true sense of the
word Certainly it is not to do what
slave lords command, and to vote as a
ring ordains. Bat that is what democ
racy has been for many Il year. The
policy of the party was just what the
slave masters thought the interests OF
slavery required. The great measures
Of the party during the twenty years be-
fore the war We're the annexation Of
Texas and the repeal Of the Missouri
compromise, while every minor measure
was tested by its degree OF service to the
same great end of the supremacy of slave
ry in the government. This system was
the denial and outrage of every human
right; but the party existed and struggled
for no other end, and still called itself
democratic. To be Il democrat was TO
apologize for slavery, and defend it; TO
sheer at a part of Ills population as of
an inferior race TO be abused at pleasure,
and consequently TO stultity the moral
sense, to sophisticate and prevaricate,
and to struggle endlessly with every gen.
erOus human instinct, with religion and
civilization.
This was to be democrat. 1t made
no difference that there was plea that
1t was subject upon which nothing
could be done, and therefore upon which
no thought should be expended ; that
there was an inccssant talk about state
rights, and reserved rights, and limited
powers, and original compromises. The
enc fact that was steadily clear through
all the Ob>curlty and confusion was that
democrat was man who supported
the practical assertion that some men
had no rights which other men were
bound 10 respect. And it was this tray
zeal absurditv which has been driving
'!... List men out of the L,nI,l, s.ti. Porty
for twenty years. The old and true
democratic paper in this city is the Eve
nins Post. How long since it la, been
technically a democratic paper! In the
true sense of democracy, or respect for
equal rights, who are and ALWAYS have
been staunchcr democrats than its edi-
tors, Mr.. Bryant, Mr.. Goodwin, and
Mr.. Nordhoii'? But what have they
had tc do, what could they have to do,
with Il democracy which drew It's in
spiratien from Calhoun, With his doctrine
of slavery aS the only sure foundation of
Il free government which followed
dozen years ago the leadership of Ham
mond and his associates, sneering ut free
laborcrs Is mud-Sill>; and which accept
ed in this last election the dictatorship
of Wade Hampton and Robert Toombs,
their hands drippln. with the blood of
loyal citizens-of Forrest fresh from
Fort Pillow, and SemmeS from the Ala
bama
To be true democrat is to reject with
scorn every distinctive principle that the
democratic party has protested for gen
Grafton, and 10 disown all its acknowl-
edged chiefs from Calhoun to Seymour.
TO be a true democrat is to believe in
the equal rights of men, not OF states,
and 10 organize that faith in law; it is
to reject tie resolutions of '9S, and to
acknowledge the necessary subordination
OF the states to the Union; it is to op-
pose every kind of hostility of race, of
interest, and of section in the country:
IT Is to insist upon an economical and
honest administration of government y it
is to be neither bully to the weakest of
foreign states nor sycophant to the
strongest, but reasonable, firm, and self
respecting with all; it is to foster to the
utmost free schools and churches to de-
mand absolute freedom of speech and ac-
ton every where in the land; to keep
the national honor unstained; it is.
above all, to see that justice is expedi-
ency, and that the maintenance of the
equal rights of men is identical with true
policy. This is democracy, or the prac-
teal assertion Of the rights of man. This
is exactly what the democrats who voted
for Mr.. Seymour have opposed. This is
precisely what General Grant accepts.
1t he be democrat Horatio Seymour is
not. The democrats of to-day will find
small comfort in General Grant until
they renouncc what is now known az
democracy.-H@per's np'eeku.