The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-12
TO Intelligent Democrats.

TO Intelligent Democrats.
THERE are many honest, intelligent, aud patri-
otto men in the Democratic party, whose de-
voted attachment to the Union no one can
doubt, for they proved it by their words and
actions during the darkest hours of the Re-
bellion, when the ultimate success of the ma
tional arms seemed most doubtful, but who,
nevertheless, from force of habit, education,
or prejudice, make ii matter of conscience to
vote the straight Democratic ticket at every
election and under all circumstances. Now
these men will be called upon tomorrow to
perform the highest duties Of citizens, and we
appeal to them to reflect, before they deposit
their ballots, whether they will be doing
justice to themselves, their children, and
their country by allowing their prejudices of
education and association to influence them in
matter of so much Importance, and which
should be decided by the same olear-headed
judgment that they bring to bear upon their
private business affairs.
The only reason that some men can give for
affliation with the Democratic party is, that
their fathers were Democrats before them.
Leaving out Of the question the important fact
that things have changed, and that the issues
of to-day are not the same as those of ten,
twenty, or thirty years ago, it is an absurdity
to suppose that the last generation was any
more competent to form opinions, or to decide
upon points Of political policy, than are the
men of our day, into whose hands have been
committed the safety, honor, and welfare of
the nation. We therefore request the patriotic
and thinking men Of the Democratic party to
ask themselves candidly and dispassionately
whether the success of that party in the cleo
tion to come off tomorrow will really advance
the best interests not only of Philadelphia
and Pennsylvania, but Of the whole nation.
Democrats as well as Republicans rushed to
arms when the Union was in peril, but the
Democratic party as party was ON the side of
the Rebels and traitors during the entire war,
and it was their encouragement which pro-
lopged the contest, desolated homes, and bur-
dened the country with debt and taxation. 1t
was the Democracy and not the Republicans
who delayed the reconstruction OF the Rebel
States and at the Convention in New York
the traitors who began and carried on the war
against the Union were not only recei red with
open arms, but they were allowed to dictate
the platform and to nominate candidates who
would not be worthy of the support of intelli-
gent men on any ticket. In that Convention
the Northern Democrats, who really wished to
raise the party out of the depths into which it
had fallen, and make it worthy of the respect
of respectable people, were unceremoniously
thrust on one side; their wise counsels were
disregardsd, and the men who ruled the Con-
vention did not hesitate boldly to announce
their intention to revolutionize the Govern
ment in case they succeeded in electing their
candidates in November.
Do the intelligent and educated Democrats
of Philadelphia consider it worth their while
to continue any longer in connection with this
party of lawlessness, treason, and revolution
1t is complained that the Republican party is
radical, and that it is ruled by extreme men.
Be this as it may, it is at least the party Of
progress, the party that subdued the Rebel.
lion, and the party that has upheld and will
uphold the national honor at all times and
under all circumstances. If the Republican
party is too radical, let those Democrats
who cannot consistently and conscientiously
act any longer with their old political asso
ciates come into it, and act as q check on the
extreme views of extreme men with their con-
servatism. The election tomorrow will have
no little influence on the Presidential contest
next month, and the question for every honest
voter, whether he calls himself Democrat or
Republican, is, How ought that contest to
be decided SO that the happiness and pros
perity of the whole country will best be pro
motedH We can conceive of but one an
swer to this question, and that is by the cleo
ton of the Republican candidates.