Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-09-21
THE D1soReAN1z1Ne PARTY.


The Republican party has been domi-
nant in the country for many years. III has
been successful for so long time not only
because of its progressive liberal pilicy, but
because of the Bourbonism of the Demo-
cracy. The latter party at every recurring
popular election proclaims its platform OF
exploded and unpopular issues and DEM
onstrates both its incapacity TO comprehend
the progressive spirit of the age and its de-
termination to cling tenaciously to its old
faith. We are again on the eve of an eX-
citing campaign in which the principles
which must control the successful party
for the coming two years in the admins
tration of the government are to be dis
cussed. The record of the Republican
party furnishes its best answer to the
charges of the Democratic press as to the
past, and affords sufficient guarantees as to
the spirit with which it will deal with
questions to arise in future.
But the Democracy to-day is Il disoygdn-
izillg party Its position now is consistent
with its record in the past. Since our last
Congressional election important changes
| have been made in the organic law of the
land. The changes were made after full
and impartial consideration, after the
States and Congress had deliberated there
on, and to fight and contest their validity
now is to oppose what is fixed and inevi-
table. This is the policy of the Democracy
to-day. 1t declares itself openly and bit
terly opposed to the Fifteenth Amend
ment, and the Civil Rights bill for its en-
forcement. That our readers may see we
are not disappearing the party, read the
following public declarations of its faith.
Read the following from the New York
World, the leading Democratic organ of
the country:
Suppose that Kentucky, for example, should
continue to exclude negroes from the ballot box
after the Fifteenth Amendment has been rati-
ed 81, 10 Id
4 Democratic Congress tcould not exclude her
Senators and Representatives. for such a course,
nor troutd 1t pass or continue lars for punish
ing the state officers 'rho refused the negro rotes
THE Fifteenth Amendment is hardly worth
the support Of its friends or the opposition of its
enemies; for, even if it should be ratified it will
| EVER BE NULL AND NUGATORY."
The Ohio Democracy, in convention as
sembled, resolved as follows:
THAT we regard the act recently passed by
| Congress TO enforce the Fifteenth Amendment
| as unconstitutional unjust and oppressive; an
invasion of the rights of the States, subversiye
of the best interests of the people, and therefore
| demand its unconditional repeal"
Read now the record of the Democratic
members of Congress:
The Democratic members of Congress have
| officially laid down, as a main plank in the De
mocratic platform, THE REPUTATION OF
| THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT Near
| the close of Congress- on the 18th day of july
instant, Mr.. FERRIS, Republican, submitted
the following resolution, on which he demanded
the previous question:
"Rcsoircd That the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
| Articles of Amendment to the Constitution OF
the United States, having been duly ratified by
the Legislatures of three fourths of the several
States, are raid to all iHtents and purposes as
part Of the Constitution Of the United .Statcs.
aud as such bindiHg and obligatory upon the
Executive, tile Congress, tie .Jt-
dietary, tie scrcrGi States and Territories. and
| all States Of the United States
Against this simple resolution, declaring the
| right of Congress to enforce the Fifteenth
| Amendment, every Democratic member of the
| House but one and every Democrat in the Sen
ate voted, unless they lodged altogether Thir.
| ty-two Democrats of the House recorded THEN
votes against enforcing the amendment and
eleven Democratic Senators Every Republi
can voted for it.
REPUTATION OF THE FIFTEENTH
AMENDMENT, as well as reputation of thC
public debt, is therefore to be Il watchcry of thC
Democratic party!
The record of the Democratic party then
fairly makes their policy disorganizing
They are pledged and determined to ignore
these changes, which the people have ac
knowledged repeatedly to be binding, OF
secure theirrepeal, and their policyi4 there.
fore, revolutionary and disOrgdlizing.
These questions we thought once settled
finally and forever. Democracy again agi
: tate and propose to revive. Are the PEG
, pie willing TO travel over and over sucl
questions? Are there not enough Rc1O, Hu
issues to occupy our attention? We thinl
so,and we are of opinion that the people will
again rebuke and reprOve this disorgdni
ii lsgg n MA, tstt