Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-11-26
The Wisconsin Democracy.

THERE was never a more striking case
of blasted hopes than that of the Wiscon-
sin Democracy They are utterly wrecked.
They have often been beaten, but never
so hopelessly repulsed as now. Last
August they met in convention ard or
ganized for victory" Taking, as they
thought, wholesome lessons from the past,
they resolved to be progressive. They
nominated as their candidate for Governor
man who had served long enough in the
army to obtain a military title, and one
who, with his pen, had supported ana
sustained the war. Thus differed, they
crew up platform which, for Demo
cratic Convention, was somewhat remark,
able They resolved that slavery had
been lawfully and constitutionally abol-
ished, and that they were glad OF 1t: Iheey
resolved that, as the people OF wisconsin
had adopted negro suffrage for themselves,
that question was settled in that State,
and the Democracy would make no at
| tempt to disturb it, nor would they OPP
pose making such suffrage universal.
| They declared themselves in favor of pay
ing the debt and opposed to reputation.
Having thus planted themselves fairly
and squarely upon the Republican plat
form, they asked the election of their sol
dier candidate.
| But the people did not respond favora-
bly,. They had no faith in Sat. Clark's
tears over the fall of slavery, nor had they
confidence in Democratic professions to
uphold the nations honor by executing its
contracts. The Democracy, however, had
hope of success. They canvassed the
State, displaying their banners of politi-
cal equality and imploring their dusky
brethren to vote with them. Alas for
Democratic expectations! The people al
ready had soldier for Governor, and they
wished no better one. They already had
State officers who were in favor of the
principles of the Republican party, and
had no disposition to change them. They
declined to elect the Democratic ticket,
and did re-elect Republicans to fill every
branch Of the State Government
The election is over, and the condition
of the party is peculiarly unpleasant. They
have formally, in full convention, adopted
a Republican platform, and yet are as far
from Office as ever. They have gone too
far to retrace their steps, To turn back is
worse than to go On directly to the Repub-
lican party. They cannot undo what they
have done, nor unsay what they have de-
clared. Had they succeeded, they might
have repudiated their professions; but
| 1uCy diO DULL oup plldAleo III OlliOO1 civ
must stick to their story to the end. Their
present position is unenviable. They have
a Democratic organization which the Re
publican majority of the State will not
trust; and they have a Republican plat
form which they cannot get rid of, and
which is distasteful to the Democratic
party. The policy of swearing to any po-
litical creed to get office needs success to
redeem it from universal contempt. This
success the Democracy of Wisconsin failed
to obtain. The result is that the Dem
ocratic party in that State has been de-
moralized - is broken up--has gone to
pieces.
The members are asking each other,
"Whither shall we go?" There is only
one rational answer to that question.
Having adopted the Republican platform
intact, let them join the Republican party
Let them seek that party, and, by their
numerical strength and their talents and
experience, serve their country most eff
fectively in supporting that party, its pol
icy, It's principles, and its candidates. Let
them bow to the storm which has over
whelmed them. Let them accept the oft
repeated popular vote of an utter want OF
confidence in the Democratic organiza,
ton; and let them place themselves with
in that political organization which alone
has popular confidence, and which alone
must carry the nation through the perils
which environ it. That is the only thing
open for the members of the routed, scat,
tered, broken-up Democratic party of Wis
consin to do.-GtacdgO Tribune.