Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-04-08
The Pagan Democracy.


Gibbon gives a graphic and ludicrous
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. IL matters not that the coun-
try has moved onward that 1t has left
behind forever the sacrifices 10 slavery
and secesbion 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 repudiate
the public debt, in so many words, or not
That debt was created, they said, in an
unconstitutional war, "to coerce sover-
eign States;" it was created in war
against the right of State to secede
from the Union 1t 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 relghted 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 burden
too heavy to be borne that the debt was
excessive, and that 1t was rank oppression
to repeat the payment of the principal il
the form of interest, and that the govern
ment creditors ought to compromise, anC
take less.
The condition of the Democratic pagani
on the Pacific is hardly more patiable thar
those Of New York. In that corner o
the vineyard the question is not whethei
they will accept the new faith, bu
whether they will sacrifice to Jupiter O
Pan. Heretofore they have offered al
their incense to Pan. Pan has generally
been right side up, and been in the keep
ing OF the celebrated priests Tweed
Sweeney 81 Company. 1t is proposed b,
some to discard Pan, assassinate hi
priests, and restore the worship o
Jupiter. The Tammany Democracy un
der Tweed and Sweeney, and the "Younj
Democracy" under Morrissey, Fox AM
OBrien have lost sight of the ex
ternal enemy Christianity in tn
violence of their own schism. The riva
wOrshippers accuse each other of bein
/ thipUaG aud ballot hpv ctr Of haf,
| corrupt, and of holding their seats b.
crime Combined, they have temporar'
| control of the State of New York bul
having no political principle in common
with the great body of the people, the
are wrangling among themselves as +
whether they shall worship this or tha
god, and are rushing to destruction
dragging with them sundry professin
Christians who have not scrupled TO min
gle in the strife in the interest of Pan.
The condition of the pagan Democrac
in other States is equally disheartenine
Everywhere they have but one commo
rule of action, and that is a blind devo
ton to the past, and an obstinate deter
mination not to accept truth. Never wa
there more pitiable exhibition of part
once the ruler of mighty nation, vast
ing its strength, chattering feebly, an
passing precipitately away in death, an
still hoping that prayers toits defunct idol
will turn back the wheels of time, reviv
the dead, and bring back chaos to comfor
them. Though in the article of death
they still moan miserably all the wa,
from Oregon to New York, "This is
white mans government; The const
tuition recognizes slavery" Estates ar
sovereign y 4" Repudiate the debt; pa
no interest" :" "Rescind the Fifteent
Amendment, Chicago Tribune, Hare
! 2SIh