Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-09-01
WhSs is Democrat 9-Great Prosperity
and Grumbling.

a man whom we have long known
as democratic voter, but in whom
we have Astounding faith because be
is one of the few Of his party who
really always seemed to desire a res
toration Of the Union--not as it was
with slavery restored, but with all
free, lately called on US and said,
"Cover, what is q democrat, what
are true democratic principles ?"
We replied, "Sir, in your case q
democrat is a republican turned in
side out, one who believes in the
principles of the republican party
but votes for men who hold exactly
opposite principles. IL 1864 you vo-
ted for peace and voted the war a
failure, yet you professedly hurrah
cd for the war and swore the Union
army must conquer"
"But the war has been q failure for
restoring the Union" said the old
man.
eyes," we said ''thus far the rebel
States are not fully restored, but
yonr party encourages them to stand
out and still hope for secession
Your party leaders still encourage
them TO be rebellious and angry to-
ward The North and to hate the Mig
gers and all union men, and to talk
spunky about war and bloodshed un.
less they arc allowed 10 have their
own way. Good God sir, is this any
part of democracy ?"
"Well," said the old man who was
always n democrat "but this vast
war debt is grinding us down"
We answered, this copperhead
notion is false, and you are q doceiv
ed man. Great as the burthen is,
every man is doing well who works.
The farmers are doing well we have
never known them TO be making
money faster. Since the year 1860,
the farmers as class, hardly any
exceptions, have trippled their real
wealth many Of them have multi
piled their ealth four fold and some
have gone above And the mechan
les have done wei SO have all classes,
except perhaps those in the mer-
chandising and those who have
confined themselves strictly to the
trade. The merchandising has only
failed totollow because of the sudden
and great fluctuations in cost prices
Almost every man but just above
water at the beginning of the war
has risen TO unexpected wealth.
Most of those deeply involved in
debt have come out free and ahead
with farms.
But only such have failed and are
now down US have had i'll luck and
such as would fail plunged hip deep
in gold and fed and clothed by slight
of hand. The village loafers have
failed, and these especially complain
of taxation and suffering. Every
mechanic who loafs about and neg
lects his business, an incidental pat
ron OF tho doggery, is complaining Of
taxation and some Of them ever
talk of turning copperheads. You
hear none others complaining, unles:
they are copperheads OF old standing
during the war ia constant hopC
that the next rebel victory would END
the conflict and decide the fate of the
mon against "Graat the Butcher
Old man, you may be honest, but
you cannot mean the Union for
ever" when thy tongue is thus bolc
to speak in praise OF the enemies o
the best government that God eve
allowed the sun to shine upon"
And the old man arose and said
"good bye We learn he is still il
doubts, proiessedly, as to '1cddt is
democrat, rb0t are true democrati
principles" If he be an earnest pat
riot and believer in true democrac,
he will support Grant and Colfax.