Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-08-05
Tho Democratic PartH.

Tho Democratic Party.
WE haYemore than once stated that
one, OF. The graveet objections to the
ascendency OF the Democratic party Is,
that it.llas not aeq1esced in the results OF
the war Asits principles Of State sover.
eighty 4hstifed the rebellion, 30 the same
principle denies the validity of the meas
ures of refvnatruction. And as tho chief
necessity Of the country is repose and re-
hef nom the spirit which sought its de-
structiop,l lapd. which il has vanquished,
Its chiefpefi1 "a the disposition to cherish
and develop that spirit, which is the dis
position oflthe Democratic party It fs
because this Is evident that, notwith-
standing Certain dissatisfaction with'the
Republicans, there Is profound distrust
OF the Democrats, and a real reluctance
to intrust them with power. Whatever
difference there may be between the tone
of party press in opposition, and the
policy ofthe same party in administration
however true IL may be that the meas
ures of a government WIN be very unlike
the resolutions OF A convention, there is
yet no doubt that the intelligent people of
theeUnited States would see with, the
utmost apprehension the party that vir
tually consented 10 the destruction of the
trol,of the government
Nor ought any good citizen tc fail 10
observe athe signs of the times. At this
moment the Democratic leaders believe
the Republican party to be hopelessly de-
mornlized$ They count surely upon the
electoral vote Of New York, by means of
the SYSTEM of fraud which they have per-
fected, and the objections to which, in
their own party, they have effectually
slleneode They see the elections every
where fayorable 70 them, and they have
no doubts that the divisions among Re
publicanSwill deepen and widen during
the nextgtwo years. Their reasoning is
simple, and the grounds Of il are obvious.
Success, indeed, seems to them SO sure
that they do not think it necessary to
conceal their. confidence or their opinions.
AS party they do not pretend to ac-
quiesce1ns the great measures of recon
struction. They consider nothing settled,
anduIey will not hesitate to reopen every
question that the legislation Of the last
tive years have concluded Even the later
Amendments to the Constitution they re.
pudiate: The party which paliated the
armed Febellion of defeated voters, which,
during the war, counseled submission to
it, and which, since the war, has not con-
cealeds lis preference of rebels to loyal
cltizens, greedily seizes every opportunity
to dehounce the policy of reconstruction
as the worst tyranny, and nominates its
judges to the highest court in the largest
State with the declared expectation that
theysn1ay be called upon to array the State
against the Union.
The Democrats of Kentucky refuse to
consider the question of equal suffrage
decided. Those of a county in Ohio pro
claim the adoption of the Fifteenth
Amendment a shameless mockery, and re-
affirm that this is white mans govern
ment. And Mr.. Ferris, a Republican
Representative in Congfess from New
York, brings all the Democratic members
OF the House to book by resolution that
the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend.
ments have been duly ratified and are a
part OF the Constitution, upon which all
the'Democratic members vote no. It is
true that the Democratic majority in the
New York Legislature substantially rec.
ognizeG the amendments But the ma
tlonal representatives of their party de-
cline TO do So It is true, also, that Ger.
tain Democratic Members of Congress
recomm ended that certain questions be
regardod>by the party as dead issues. But
the. vote. of the same members in the
House shows that they do not consider
the validity OF the amendments among
the settled questions The World, indeed,
sneers at the Kentucky members of it's
party as "hide-bound." But the value of
the. World as a representative and influ-.
entail party organ may be readily esti-
mated. 1t preferred Mr. Chase as a Presi
Dental candidate in 1868, and Mr.. SeJ.
mour was nominated. 1t opposed any re-
pudiating tone in the platform, and it was
made TO favor virtual reputation. 1t
called upon General Blair to withdraw.
and its party cursed it. 1t denounced the
Ring in New York, and the Ring put it
in its pocket. The World may be wiser
than its party, but 1t does not in the least
influence the party policy. Its breaches
OF discipline are remembered against it,
and all its suggestions are received with
suspicion by the real party managers.
hthe Democratic party in 1868, when
the Republicans were firmly united by
opposition to the mischievous purposes of
Andrew Johnson, and by enthusiasm for
the hero OF the war, General Grant, did
not hesitate to place itself under the
leadership of Wade Hampton, and to de.
clare for reputation, how little likely is
1t to shrink, should it be successful in
1879, from undoing every thing that has
been done, and from opening every vexed
question? 1t can not be too often urged
upon the voters of this country that the
Democratic party for many a year has
been directed by its most unscrupulous
managers. Its policy was the extension
of slavery. Its masters were, therefore,
the great slave politicians of the Southern
States; and their ends could be accom-
pllshed only by encouraging the very
wors5passlons of human nature. Slavery
is gone, with many of the politicians who
served it,. But the ignorance and de-
morslization of the party remain, and it
has such managers as such elements re-
quire and imply. Having no statesmen
1or leaders, it has 10 ability to adopt a
great and wise policy. The most positive
element in the party to-day is hatred of
the negro and sympathy with the rebel
doctrine and spirit. AS party sit was
Copperhead during the war, and it is
CGpperhead still. Should it carry the
country at the next election, it would
plunge US into confusion of which it is
impossible to foresee the end.--Hdrper's
Weeb'y.