The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-07-21
Radical Responsibility,

HaalQhl aespOhsiolutJ,.
The colnplaisanco and selfsatisfed
air assumed BY the Sentaelin its article
under the caption Of "NOt Answered."
We are sure must have attracted general
attention, aud seemed as groundless to
others as it did to US. This sort of
subterfnge will not serve its end, in the
estimation Of intelligent minds. We
viii not permit the Ssntimst, uuchaE
lcnged, to lay down premises ineonsist-
ent with the facts Of history, draw con-
illusions consistent with its false pre-
misses adverse to the Democratic party,
and then complaisantly assume that we
have not answered its fallacies. They
are not worthy of answer-.-scascely of
denial; yet We did repel aud disprove
lis false accusations against the Demo-
cratic party, and that was all We under
took to do. We would not burden our
columns and tire the patience of our
readers with rehash Of the antecedents
of parties prior to the civil war, at the
bidding ofthe Sentinel. These subjects
are known to every student of history
aud as familiar as thrice told tale
the subjects Of party disputatiOn for
third Of century past, and we have
more respect for the intelligence Of our
readers than to reproduce them at the
present time. What we set out to do,
and what we did do, was to repel the
foul SANDER against the Democratic
party, that it was responsible for the
war, when the fact is as patent as the
sun at uoon-d day, that Radicalism not
only brought on the war, by its long
continued and persistent aggressions
upon the South, but conducted it with
that shameless extravaganza that en-
HANGED the public debt to twice its
necessary proportions. The investiga-
ton Of the conduct of the war before a
committee Of Congress itself, will show
the reckless and shameless extravaganza
which has been practiced, and convince
every unbiased aud unprejudiccd mind
as to where the responsibility rests for
the enormous public debt under which
the industry Of the nation is paralyzed.
But why need we multiply words upon
subject which is so plain that he who
runs may read and understand
The zeal Of the Sentinel has outruu
its wits in this discussion, aud weakened
its position, so far as the negroes are
concerned, at least. The Radical party
court the negro vote on the ground that
that party gave freedom to the negro
But the Sentinel admits the fact, well
known before, that they did it, only as
dernier resort, and therefore are en-
titled to no thanks from the negroes for
doing it, or rather, the radical leaders,
within the ranks of the Republican
party, forced the measure, finally, upon
the party, under the plea Of " military
necessity" Lincoln's pFoclamatiou of
Sept 1862, aud his subsequent asser-
tons prove this fact, but that in no
way disproves the other fact, that the
Radical leaders did hail the outbreak
Of rebellion with acclaim, as affording
then the long sought opportunity to
destroy slavery, and through the Fed
eral arm to avengc themselves on the
South. They finally made radicals o.
the entire Republican party, so far as
its general policy was copcernsd, which
was not the case in the outset Mr.
Lincoln could be either Radical or Con
sentative, rs occasion required; and
while naturally leaning towards conser-
vatism, the trouble with him was, that
he yielded to pressure against his
better convictions, and that pressure,
at times, took the form Of open threats
to hang him, unless be yielded com.
pliance with their demands. They sue
ceeded-ths leaveu of Radicalisn
leayened the whole lump, except thai
large body Of Conservatives, who at th.
close Of the war, disguised with the
policy they had pursued, came out from
among them and officiated with the
Democrats. To this combination Of
political elements extended and extend
ing, we are to look for deliverance from
the curse Of Radical misrule--the fruit.
Of which are grievous public debt,
the prostration Of the public prosperity
a deprecated currency, ruinous tariff,
negro enfranchisement and negro equal.
ity, with all its concomitant evils.
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