The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-07-21
A stolen Name.

to acknowledge the truth of this tIct. we
acre Democrat, anaa good one tho, but
not the thing which is called a Democrat
now. We were Douglas Demociat, ana
tried hard for the adoption of those meas
ures of compromise which if adopted wouid
have sealed the fate of Secession. We have
never denied that we were once Democrat,
and never shall, but in those days the word
Democracy had far different meaning from
what it now has, Then it was the glo-
rious title of a great party whose aim was
to benefit the people and to make great the
nation,an We were proud to bea Democrat.
Now it is the name of a party OF men
WHO are held together by common
feeling of hatred to the government they
have endeavored TO betray. With this party
we have no sympathy and can but regard
it with aversion.
The Sentinel truly says that in former
years the STANDARD twas the great Demo
cratic bulwark" in this State. 1t was even
more-it was the creator of the Democratic
party of NORTH CAROLINA. What old
Democrat-not one of the mongrels of day,
but one of the old Democratic party-does
not remember the severe struggle which con-
vulsed the State before the first Democratic
triumph? What old Democrat does not re-
member the rancor with which the early
Democrats were treated by the Wings
And what paper was then the champion of
Democracy? Whose talents and unceas-
ing labcrs guided Democracy to its first tri
umphe There then was no Sentinel, but the
STANDARD, edited by w. w. HOLDEN, was
the great bulwark of Democracy" Against
it the tide of the opposition was thrown
back, as the rock throws back the foaming
waves. Then the editor of the Sentinel and
all the leaders of the present so-called De-
mocracy were Wings. Then they assaied
| the STANDARD Tor its Democratic principles
with bitterness as intense as they moo as
sail It.
The STANDARD now supports the same gen
eral principles which it then supported mop
position to the Wings, but there is now no
Democracy, nor is there Wing party.
| They are dead. The name Wing has be-
cone extinct The once proud name of the
old Democratic party is less fortunate. 1t
has heen dragged from the grave and is
now polluted 10y being worn by those whose
touc is degradation The present Demo-
cratic party is base fraud. 1t is libel
upon the honorcd dead. These men are rot
| the Dem ocrats whom once the STANDARD
knew, nor are their principles the principles
of the real Democratic party. The men who
now diss -ace the name they have fraudulently
assumed were always the bitter foes of De-
mocracy, and their lives have been
spent in opposing it. How have they
become Democrats? What right have they,
its foes to call themselves Democrats No,
they are not Democrats, but are base men
who have stolen an honored name, under
cover OF which they seek to deceive the peo-
pie who once loved it, that they may still
conspre against the welfare of the nation.
for they were always its friends and sup
porters, but 1t can see none of them in the
party which now claims the old name. 1t
sees everywhere those who were the enemies
of Democracy, but none who were its friends.
1t looks IN vain to see in the motley crowd
who now claim to be Democrats the men who
once llonored the name. They are not there.
They spurn with contempt the thieves who
have stolen the title and made it a by word
and reproach. Once it represented all
that was true and loyal. Now it is the in
carnat ion of treachery and treason. No,
Demo,:r acy in the South is dead. All who
were its friends have left it and
its name has fallen into the hands of
bad men. In the North there are a
few Democrats who still are true to
old principles but their number is small.
Few and feeble, they are powerless to
combat the evil counsels which now sway
the party, and Democracy is sinking lower
and lower in the pool of infamy. Soon it
will die. But even now, bad as it is, it would
shrink with loathing from those who
claim to represent it in the South
We have been Democrat, but never,
thank God, such thing as are those who
now diihonor the name they have stolen
We have the same general principles now as
before, true Democratic conservative prin-
ciples. but we cannot find them represented
by the radical Democracy of the South
We find the true conservative princi
piles, which once were supported alike
by Democrats and Wings represented
by the liberal Republican party, and by ii
alone. The Republican party embodies all
that was good of the creeds of both those
parties. Nalgned as has been, and forced
to contend with the prejudices engendered
by long and bloody civil war, it has gain
ed for its supporters the best and most con
sentative men of the two old parties In its
ranks W higs and Democrats stand shoulder
tn shou. Ter and contend for the same
principles which they held in common year:
ago. Party strife then was as to til,
hest mode of doing good to the nation
Now it is a struggle by the Republican
party to prevent the enemies of the govern
5 ment from succeeding in their base schemes
: The STANDARD, the old great Democratic
> hulwark," warns the people against thu
. | SnuriouS npnOcr.cy nf 70 1oyt x,,,r,