Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-10-07
Democratic Principles,

bemocratic principles.
What are the principles of the Dem
ocratic party? This party claims to
be national; but the existence of ma
tional party presupposes the existence
of national principles. Can ANYBODY
tell us what those principles aref We
have carefully examined the platforms
of the Democratic party in several
States, and we confess our inability to
answer this question. The Enquirer
objects to Senator Sherman's state
ment that the Democratic party is a
party of negatives, but if it is not
party of negatives what is it? Let US
see.
In Ohio. the party is opposed to the
payment Of the interest on the national
debt, unless the bonds are taxed. 1t
is opposed to the payment of the
principal of the debt, unless it is paid
in greenbacks. 1t is opposed to the
18th Amendment and Chinese immi.
grafton. 1t is opposed to the reduc-
ton of the national debt. 1t is op-
posed to every thing the Republican
party has done. and to everything it
proposes to do. Here is long list of
negatives. 1t is true, therefore, of the
party in Ohio, that it is a party of
negatives.
In Wisconsin the Democrats rejoice
in the destruction of slavery, and
cheerfully accept the situation, negro
suffrage and all In New York the
party is in favor of paying the debt ac-
cording to contract. and of an early
return to specie payments. In Mis-
sissippi the party is in favor of negro
suffrage, and has colored man on its
ticket for Secretary of State. In the
South the party favors Chinese immi-
grafton, and the Louisville Courier
read Mr.. Pendleton sharp lesson be-
cause of his opposition to that scheme.
In Pennsylvania the party is in favor
of protective tariff. In Massachu-
sets the party is running for Governor
John Quincy Adams, an old fashioned
Abolitionist, who rejoices in the eradi-
cation of slavery, and favors universal
suffrage.
From this exhibit it will be seen that
we are correct III saying that no man
can tell what the principles of the
Democratic party are. 1t is one thing
in Ohio; another thing in Wisconsin;
another in Mississippi; still another in
Massachusetts, and New York, and an
other in Pennsylvania. 1t is any thing
to all men if by any means its leaders
can get into power.
This is illustrated by mistake made
by one of the Ohio Democratic orators
recently. Connell is the name. He
made a speech in the hoop-pole re-
gion. That is great lumber country,
and the people, Democrats and all, are
in favor of tariff on lumber. Con-
nell did not understand the situation,
and in his speech he blazed away at
the tariff, especially the tariff on lum-
Der. He knew it was lumber region.
He could not help knowing that, so he
supposed the tariff on lumber the thing
to talk about. In vain the leaders
winked at him, and coughed and blew
their noses. Connell could not see the
point, and the more they tried to switch
him off the more he ran right straight
into the tariff on lumber.
So it is throughout the country;
Democratic principles are sectional,
and not the same in any two places
There is one point, however, upon
which all the platforms and speakers
and organs agree, viz: that the Demo-
cratic leaders are hungry for Office. and
they are willing to subscribe to any
set of principles, or accept any condi-
ton that may seem to improve their
chances for Office.
1t must occur to the people that the
party which is unable to tell what its
principles are is a party that can not
be safely intrusted with the manage
ment of public affairs. 1t has no fixed
purpose, except to get control of the
Government, which, for six years, it
labored to destroy. 1t asks now to
be restored to the command of the ship
of State, which it once deliberately and
wickedly conspired to destroy, and,
while asking this favor of the Ameri-
can people, the leaders are not able to
agree upon policy.
Under the circumstances it would
be madness to place the reins of gov
ernment in the han Is of men who are
responsible for the rebellion; who are
guilty of the blood that was shed in
the late war, and who are the authors of
the greatest crime against liberty of
which we have any record in history
Gin. Gazette.