Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-10-07
An Ide al Democracy.

Gen. Rosecrans, like many other
patriotic men, bears a sort of attach
ment to the so-calied Democratic or
ganization, not for its own sake but be-
cause of certain sort of possibility of
excellence which that party might,
could, would, or should have attained.
The letter of General Rosecrans. so far
as it utters any positive convictions, ad-
vocates doctrines and measures spread
out clearly in every Republican plat
form now before the people. The par
ty which General Rosecrans defines has
no tangible concrete existence; it is
purely mythical. 1t is golden vision
of his own imagination, which has no
foundation in reality. He'll is not
more unlike heaven than is the Demo-
cratic party of the past eight years un-
like the imaginary picture of the De-
mocracy given in his letter to the Com
mittee of the late Ohio Convention.
The Democratic party to-day is thor
oughly apostate from every principle
which the word Democratic would indi
cate. Instead of being party of the
people and for the people, it has be-
come the organ and instrument ofa sell
fish and intolerant oligarchy. Instead
of being an advocate of liberal suffrage
and more complete recognition of the
rights of the masses, it has become a
mere tool of selfish demagogues. Gen.
Rosecrans is mistaken if he supposes
the organization, as such, can ever be
reclaimed or reformed. Apostate indi-
viduals sometimes repent and reform;
but apostate parties, never. This is
the lesson of the history.
The Republican party advocates the
true Democracy. We have sustained
the Union-fought its battles and van
quished its foes. We oppose all class
legislation. We believe in paying the
debts of the nation, and keeping its
honor untarnished. We believe in
paper currency, of equal value in every
part of our country, sustained by the
credit of the nation; we believe in COM
ing to specie payments at the earliest
possible day. These are the doctrines
taught by the Democracy of the other
days All the good of the ancient De-
mocracy the Republican party retains
and the party of Pendleton rejects.
The only party which Democrats
who sympathize with Gen. Rosecrans
and his views, can consistently act
with, is the Republican party. To act
with the party represented by Pendle-
ton, will be self-stultifcation on their
part. The Republican party is in
good part made up of the staunchest
Democrats, who were taught in the
school of Jackson, Silas Wright and
Stephen A. Douglas; men who were
considered its chief expounders in its
purest day, while the Democracy is
composed of dregs of the Federal party
and of the sectional Know Nothing or
ganization.
Geo. H. Pendleton is himself of Fed
eral antecedents and education, and his
political creed to day is more like that
of the Hartford Convention than of the
Democracy ofthe olden time.
We appeal, therefore, to all patriotic,
Union-loving Democrats to stand by
their principles and thus rebuke the or
ganization so base apostate that pa
| triot like Rosecrans cannot accept a
nomination on platform of their fram
ing. When good men fear the odium
of reputation SO that they dare not ac
cept Office at its hands, it is time good
men forsook it for party of better
principles.--Ioledo Blade.