The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-06-17
THE SITUATION.

Occupying the position the Democracy now
Goes, and viewing the novelty of the situa-
ton, We adhere TO the opinion that the pres
ent is a time when moro than ever before the
trumpet to be sounded for the first onset of
our party against the reinforced ranks of the
Republicans SHOULD give forth no uncertain
sound" Not alone with reference to the new
elements now declared to be a part of the
body polite in the character of voters, but
in view of the many shades of opinion among
the opponents of our party, which will prob
ably be massed for the fall election, the situa-
ton is complicated one, The matter to be
considered is, how shall that situation be
met? Have the Democracy, as party, to
make any changes or swcrve from any de-
clared principle to achieve a triumph this
fall? 1t is to be hoped not.
For ourselves, IMMERSED in the art Of war,
we prefer the more simple illustration, that
this situation is to be confronted in the same
manner that an honest man would act when
surrounded by any state of circumstances in
fair, square and above board. Conscious of
the rectitude of his own intentions, you can
not place such man in any position in which
he will not act well his part, and struggling
with adverse surroundings, his chances of
nal success are in direct proportion to the
simplicity and straightforwardness of his ac-
ton. We are fully conscious that the idea
is somewhat Utopian in its character, to eX-
pect perfect concert of opinion in political
matters, or to look for entire honesty of pur-
pose in all of the constituency of great po-
litical organization. Such things do not eX-
list, unfortunately, and experience of the past
shows never did exist. But the nearer such
party can be brought to like aims and OBJ
iects, and the more closely it determines to
adhere to principle alone, the less entangled
becomes the situation, and the more simple
and clear its course of action amid any given
surroundings. The time not only will be,
but now is, when "strict construction" so
far at least, as that phrase means strict adj
herence to fixed principles, must govern the
Democracy in their political contest. What
are the lessons to be learned from the past, if
it docs not teach that compromise based upon
the logic of taking things as they exist, has
proved eminently destructive of our most
cherished rights? Take, for example, the Mis-
souri, Compromise. 1t was acknowledged on
all hands to be unconstitutional, but the situa-
ton then was that practically, so far as in
terfering with the rights of property of any
individual went it was matter of small mo-
ment to any in the land. But the acceptance
and acquiescence in that situation infringed
principle and gave precedent to violate
again and again the constitution of this coun-
try, until its violation ceased to excite sur
prise. Now what do the Democracy pro-
pose at this time? Clearly there is a matter
ofprinciple involved in this Fifteenth Amend
ment business, and that principle is that we
should not touch the unclean thing" We
do not believe, and have yet to learn, that any
serious difference of opinion exists so far as
that goes, upon the subject of the legal and
constitutional right of the negro to vote, in
the Democratic party But beyond that we
seriously and earnestly deprecate the eXis-
tence of any sentiment among our people to
acquiesce and accept that state of affairs to
the extent that will lead them to political at-
fnity with the negro race. We do not intend
that they shall continue as voters under the
forced adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment,
or we do so intend If the former, an ac-
tive enlistment of them in our ranks is a sure
way to defeat that intention, because we can
not ask them to fight with us in our contests
and then deny them the full reward they
would most certainly be entitled to. And
an election carried by their aid, whilst we
deny that they ought to vote at all, would be
an Inconsistency that would inevitably dam
age any party. If we are to storm the in
trenchments of the enemy, we had better
rely upon our own men to do it.
The conclusion we arrive at, if the afore-
going remarks are to be taken as true, is that
we had better have no such political phrases
in vogue among us as accepting the situa-
ton" If it has no meaning, it is Of no prac-
teal use. If it does mean that we are to
electioneer with the negro, and actively in
yoke his aid as member of common po-
litical organization, we most entirely disap-
prove, in common with all others of the
Democratic party, of any such course of ac-
ton. The success of an Individual would
not excuse, whilst that alone wond prompt a
proceeding so destructive of principle.