Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-09-02
"Progressive Democracy"

Progressive Democracy"
A CRITIC says of certain religion that
IL you would know what its founder
taught you must carefully ascertain what
its most blgoted doctors declare tnat he
did not teach. In like manner, experience
shows that if we would know what the
Democratic party is likely to do we must
ascertain what the World declsresi it ought
not to do. Before and during the last
Presidential campaign this lively paper
poured out advice upon its parry which,
although shrewd enough, was totally dis
regarded. In the late Democratic contest
IN this State 1t prophesied and counseled
in the loudest tones-to what result the
undisputed ascendency of Mr.. Tweed and
his friends shows. AS the field begins to
open upon which the next Presidential
struggle is to take place, the World, un.
dlsmayed by uniform discomfture, again
dons the robes OF Mentsr, and proposes It.
self as the Democratic guide, philosopher
and friend. Its strain Is now and always
the same: "Politics is expedlency. Sub
init to the inevitable. Accept the accom-.
plished Don't kick against the pricks, or,
at least, don't seem TO-"
The present effort of this much.con-
cratic voters in the Southern States that
there Is no hope for relief from what it
calls 1.-THE oppressive domination" under
which they suffer but from Democratic
victories in the Northern States, and that
these victories are imperiled by the con-
tinued hostility of the Southern Demo
Gratis to equal suffrage. To resist what
the World calls "negro suffrage" is, it as
sures its Southern brethren, to strengthen
the Republican party-which has an ab-
surd but popular way of insisting upon
justice and fair play. That party will
prevail, says the World, until you appear,
at least, to acquiesce in equal rights and
the settlement OF the war.
Now certainly the contempt with which
the World regards political system
founded upon equal rights should be evi.
dent enough to conciliate the most exacer.
bated of recent Shareholders. 1t gives its
present advice wholly in that spirit This
notable Democratic organ" has as much
faith in the people as its friend Louis Ma
poleon, who also tavors certain innocent
popular forms. 1t offers this advice to its
brethren of the Southern States exactly
as Mr. Douglas used to offer his squatter
sovereignty to the country, as a political
panacea. "Let the people in the Terrific
ries decide whether they will have slave.
ry or not" That remarkable Democrat"
did not mention that the people who were
to be enslaved had no voice In the decis-
ion So the World, as It's Southern read.
ers Will see, does not ask them to appear
TO acquiesce in equal suffrage because it is
just and American and eXpedient, and the
proper conclusion of fierce debate which
ought to be forever settled, but only that
they may acquire the power to destroy
that equality and keep the question toreT-
er fostering.
The World is regarded by many persons
as the organ of advanced" Democracy,
as opposed to clinging to dead issues, and
ID favor of progress and new positions.
But the point of its recent advice to
Southern Democrats is contained in one
sentence: "The Southern people would
have no difficulty in managing the ne
groes If they were freed from white Radi-
Cal interference exerted through the CEN
tral government" That is to say, if the
Southern Democrats would stop talking
about a white mans government long
enough for the Republicans to believe
that they accept the situation, then the
Democratic party can obtain power; and
is Southern members may Ku.Klux the
negroes TO their hearts content, and the
national government will neither see nor
hear. And this, which is the sorriest
kind OF Andrew Johnsonism, is the plat.
form of advanced" and "intelligent" and
reasonable" Democracy.
This, moreover, is advice by which all
loyal and honorable American citizens
may profit. The organ of the "proeres-
slVe democracy proposes that it's party,
once In power, shLll permit what it calls
the Southern people," by which it
means the exaspersted ex.slaveholdinp
class, to manage the negroes" as they
please. 1t proposes as the policy of
its party that very non-acquiescence
IN the settlement of the question against
the appearance of which, under
present circumstances, it warns its
Southern friends. There could be no
palmer proof of what we have constantly
reminded our readers, that the Demo
cratic party acquiesces in nothing that
has been accomplished by the war; and
that it would regard success in national
election as express authority to reopen
every question of reconstruction at dis
cretion.
But, as we have said, and as experience
has proved, the advice of the World
merely shows what its party will not do.
1t will not, indeed, relax its resolution of
managing the negroes" but it will not
cease to protest against "negro suffrage"
and to insist upon a "white mans party"
1t has never ceased that cry. 1t has never,
as q party, pretended to acquiesce in the
settlement of the war. And, as it be-
Heyes 1T has grown steadily stronger not
withstanding that resistance, it will be its
PRIDE to perseyere. The Worlds article is
serviceable only as showing that the Dem
ocrats who pretend to leave dead issues
behind cling TO them as tenaciously but
more craftily than the others. The party
is despotically ruled by those whom the
World advises; by leaders whose policy
in 1854 was submission to the rebellion,
in 1868 reputation and rebel ascendency,
and whose cole hearty principle now is
hatred Of the negro. The necessity of
giving such appealing advice as the
World offers is proof of the absurd fact
that the Democratic party Is what it has
been for a generation-the relentless
enemy of fair play.-Harper's Weekly.