Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-11-16
The Wisconsin Democracy.

The Wisconsin Democracy.
There was never more striking
case of blasted hopes than that of
the Wisconsin Democracy They
are utterly wrecked. They have of
ten been beaten, but never SO hope
lessly repulsed as now. Last Sep
TENDER they met in convention and
"organized for victory" Taking, as
they thought, wholesome lessons
from the past, they resolved to be
progressive. They nominated as
their candidate for Governor a man
who had served long enough in the
army to obtain military title, and
one who, with his pen, had supported
and sustained the war. Thus officer
ed, they drew up a platform winch,
for a Democratic convention, was
somewhat remarkable. They resoly-
cd that slavery had been lawfully
and constitutionally abolished, and
that they were glad of it. They re-
solved that, as the people OF Wiscon-
sin had adopted negro suffrage for
themselves, that question was set
tied in that State, aud the Democra-
cy would make no attempt to. dis
turb it, nor would they oppose ma
king such suffrage universal. They
declared themselves in favor of
paying the debt, and opposed to re-
pudiation. Having thus planted
themselves fairly and squarely upon
the Republican platform, they asked
the election of their soldier candi-
But the people did not respond ia
vorably. They bad no faith IN Sat.
Clark's tears over the fall OF slavery,
nor had they confidence in Demo-
cratic professions to uphold the ma
tion's honor by executing its con-
tracts, The Dem eeracy, however,
had hope of success. They Canvass
ed the State, displaying their BAN
ners of political equality, and i'm
ploring their dusky brethren to vote
with them. Alas for Democratic
expectations The people already
had soldier tor 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 T.
change them. They declined to
elect tho Democratic ticket, and did
re-elect Republicans TO fill every
branch of the State Government.
The election is over, and the con-
dition of the party is peculiarly un-
pleasant. They have, formally, in
| full convention, adopted Republi-
can platform, and yet are as far from
Office as ever. They have gone too
far to retrace their steps. 70 turn
back ia worse than to go on directly
to the Republican party. They cam
not undo what they have done, nor
unsay what they have declared.
Had they succeeded, they might
have repudiated their professions |;
but they are still supphants for of
fee, and must stick to their story to
/ the end. Their present position is
unenviable. They have a Democrat
ic organization which the Re-
publican majority of the State will
not trust and they have Republic
can platform which they cannot get
rid of, and which is distasteful to the
I Democratic party. The policy Of
swearing to any political creed to
/ get office needs success to redeem it
| from contempt. This success the
| Democracy of Wisconsin, failed to
4 obtain. The result 10 that the DEM
ocratic party in that State has been
demoralized-is broken iip--has
gone to pieces.
4 The members are asking each
other. aWhither shall we go2 ~
], There is only one rational answer to
4 that question. Having adopted the
Republican platform intact let them
ioin the Republican party. Let
them seek that party, and by their
4 numerical strength and their talents
and experience serve their country
most effectively in supporting thai
party it's policy, its principles and
Il its candidates. Let them bow to
4 the storm which has over whelmed
them. Let them accept che oft-re
| peatcd popular vote of an utter want
i Of confidence in the Democratic or
ganizatson and let them place them
selves within that political organiza
ton which zone has popular conf
, denoe, and which alone must carry
the nation through the perils which
environ 1t. That is the only thing
J open for the members of the routed
scattered, broken-up Democratic
} party of. Wisconsin to do Chicag,
! Tribune. s4s s
10 One cause of the scarcity o
> labor in the South is that the negr,
. children who used to pick cotton nov
: attend school, fact that 10 thus ap
: preciated by the New Orleans Times
3 "Thus st least one-third of our in
d dustriaI force is Withheld from pro
: duction, and the civilized and semi
. civilized world must continue to pa,
: Is per cent. more for their cotton il
5 order TO crafty the philanthropist
b Of the Sumner and Greeley school.