Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-04-08
The Pagan Democracy.

Gibbon gives graphic and ludlcrous
description of the lingering pagans OF the
empire, who, long after the Christian re-
ligion had been accepted all over the
Roman world continued their solemn
sacrifices to Jupiter and Pan, oblivious OF
the changes that had taken place around
them. The Democratic party of the
United States are, in the same manner,
still offering sacrifices to their Jupiter and
their Pan. 1t matters not that the coun-
try has moved onward that it has left
behind forever the sacrifices to slavery
and secession, the old pagans continue to
| light the fires, slay the rams, and inter-
rogate the oracles, as OF yore.
The Democratic State Convention IN
Oregon spent an entire day last week,
discussing whether they would repudlate
the public debt, in so many words, or not.
That debt was created, they said, IN an
unconstitutional war, Ito coerce soVer-
| eign States" it was created IN war
against the right OF State to secede
| from the Union it was incurred to pay
| the expenses of armies to invade the
South and enforce obedience to the ma
tional authority, from which these people
had been released by the action Of their
States. Moreover, in that way, four
millions of slaves had been emancipted,
torn from the possession of their lawful
owners, in violation of the express doc
trlne of the Democracy, that property in
slaves was held by tenure superior to
constitutions and laws. The Democracy
of Oregon were not prepared to give up
their ancient idols, so they relighted their
fires and offered again their sacrifices to
the older dispensation. A few of them,
of more polite turn of mind than the
rest, induced the majority to change the
form of the resolution, and declare that
to pay interest on the debt was a burden
too heavy to be borne that the debt was
excessive, and that it was rank oppression
to repeat the payment of the principal in
the form of interest, and that the govern
ment creditors ought to compromise, and
take less
The condition of the Democratic pagans
on the Pacific is hardly more patiable than
those of New York. In that corner OF
the vineyard the question is not whether
they will accept the new faith, but
whether they will sacrifice to Jupiter on
Pan. Heretofore they have offered all
their incense to Pan. Pan has generally
been right side up, and been in the keep
ing of the celebrated priests Tweed
Sweeney s. Company. 1t is proposed by
some to discard Pan, assassinate hi:
priests, and restore the worship oil
Jupiter. The Tammany Democracy un
der Tweed and Sweeney, and the "Young
Democracy" under Morrissey, Fox and
Brien have lost sight of the ex
ternal enemy Christianity in the
violence of their own schism. The rival
worshippers accuse each other of being
thieves and ballot box suffers; of being
| Of hn1I hafr Inv
crime. Combined, they have temporary
control of the State of New York but
having no political principle in common
with the great body of the people, they
are wrangling among themselves as to
whether they shall worship this or that
god, and are rushing to destruction
dragging with them sundry protesting
Christians who have not scrupled to min.
gle in the strife in the interest of Pan.
The condition of the pagan Democracy
in other States is equally disheartening
Everywhere. they have but one common
rule of action, and that is blind devo.
ton to the past, and an obstinate deter
mination not to accept truth. Never was
there a more pitiable exhibition of party
once the ruler of a mighty nation, vast
| ing its strength, chattering feebly, and
passing precipitately away in death, and
still hoping that prayers to its defunct idols
will turn back the wheels Of time, revive
the dead, and bring back chaos to comfort
them. Though in the article of death,
they still moan miserably all the way
from Oregon to New York, "This is a
white mans government" "The consti-
tuition recognizes slavery" estates are
sovereign )" Repudiate the debt; pay
no interests" "Rescind the Fifteenth
Amendment. Chicago Tribune, Ifarch
| 09th