Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1870-05-06
The Democratic Future and the
Changed Government"

ment, and did all other things i
could to prevent the Amendmen
from becoming a law. Still th'
Cincinnati Enquirer is not satisfied
In its issue of last Saturday it says
editorially:
New York is one of the original
States that formed the Union. II
is called the Empire State, on ac-
count of its numerous population,
its superior political power and ma
terial wealth. It is a State whose
counsels should be felt and never
withheld on all great questions af-
fecting the Constitution and the
reserved rights of the States and
the people. A majority of the citi-
zens of the State of New York are
members of the Democratic party.
Its Governor is Democrat. Its
Legislature, which has just adjourn
&c, was Democratic in both branches.
The proudest recollections of the
State are associated with the Dem
ocratic party. The position of the
State as heleading Commonwealth,
and the reputation Of the Democra-
tic party thereof, imposed duties
upon that organization, in the pre-
sent condition of the country, which
it could not shirk without dishonor.
How did it meet the responsibility !?
During the recent session Of the
Legislature of New York, the Sec
retary of State, at Washington, pro-
claimed the consummation of a
great political crime. The crime
consisted in an alteration of the
Federal Constitution-not by the
voluntary action of the States, and
the people, but by military power,
under the direction of Congress and
the Executive. The act and the
means by which it was accomplish
ed struck fatal blow at the organic
structure of the States, and virtually
revolutionized the theory of the
Federal Government. The act strips
the State of New York, as also
other States, Of a right which WIS
a reservation sacred from change
or destruction without the consent
of each separate State. And the
means by which the act was accom-
plished-the Constitution altered by
Congress, the Executive and the
army, instead of by the State or the
people-overthrows the whole the
ory of the Government, and esta-
blishes rule and practice which
makes popular government a farce.
Such was tn,e character of the poll
teal crime which the Secretary of
State at Washington proclaimed
during the session of the New York
Legislature had been accomplished.
What action did the Democratic
Legislature Of the great Common
wealth of New York take in the pre-
misses :? Aside from having simply
voted against the SO called Fifteenth
Amendment, it did nothing what
ever. It did not even protest against
the outrage or the means by which
1t was accomplished. 1t did not
expose, as it might have done, in
an address to its co States the usur-
pations of Congress, the violation
Of the Federal Constitution, the use
Of the army in changing the organic
structure of the States and the
character of the General Govern
ment. We wish that was all we
could say ofits cowardice. It added
meanness to abandonment of duty,
It sneakingly gave sanction to the
great crime. instead of denounclng
it. 1t repealed all laws of the State
that conflicted with the operation of
the So called Fifteenth Amendment.
The occasion was one that demand
ed of the representatives of great
State and a great party no uncertain
voice, no timid lodging, no unman-
ly surrender. We regret that the
Democratic Legislature Of New
York was not equal to the occasion,
but was contemptibly below it.
And if its appreciation of the
great outrage on the Constitution
and the organic structure of the
States is to be that of the Demo
cratic party throughout the Union ;
if this living lie of the Secretary OF
State at Washington is to be allow
ed by the Democratic party to pass
into history as truth; if this altera-
ton Of the great written agreement
between the States by the army, un-
der the direction of the party man
ayers, is to be suffered by the Dem
ocratic party to become precedent,
without protest and without appeal
nay, even with sneaking acquies
cence and indirect approval-then
should the Old Democratic Party
that sprung up under Jefferson and
gave tone and administrative policy
to the Government for sixty years
! go out. with the Old Farmer Repub
lie, and repose with it in the same
grave. It will have lost all that gave
It manhood, power and honor. 1
should be pronounced dead dead !!
dead!!! and it's members be allow
ed to form new organization
based on the new conditions, or seel
new associations in accordance will
their political views Let it not
with its proud recollections ant
glorious History, be subjected to tn
indignity of wearing garments tina
would disgrace every page of it
past record, and proclaim the dis
grace Of its e-long principles.