The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-08-05
THE POLITICAL SIGNS OF THE TINES.

justified the rebellion, SO
the same principle denies the validity
Of reconstruction. And as the chief ne
cessity of the country is repose and re-
lief from the spirit which sought its
and which il has vanquish-
ed, its chief peril is the disposition TO
cherish and develop that spirit, which
IL the disposition of the Democratic
party. 1t is because this is evident that,
a certain dissatisfac-
ton with the Republicans, there is
profound distrust of the Democrats,
and real reluctance to intrust them
with power. Whatever difference there
may be between the tone of party
press in opposition, and the policy of
the same party in administration-how-
ever true it may be that the measures
of government will be very unlike the
of a convention, there is
yet no doubt that the intelligent people
of the United States would see with the
utmost apprehension the party that vir-
tually consented to the destruction of
the government seven years ago now
in control of the government.
Nor ought any good citizen to fail to
observe the signs of the times. At this
the Democratic leaders believe
the Republican party to be hOpelessly
They count surely upon
the electoral vote of New York, by
means of the system of fraud which
they have perfected, and the DIRECTORS
to which, in their own party they have
effectually silenced. They see the cleo
tons everywhere favorable to them,
and they have no doubt that the divis-
ions among Republicans will deepen
and widen during the next two years.
Their reasoning is simple, and the
grounds of it are obvious. Success,
indeed, seems to them so sure that they
do not think it necessary to conceal
their confidence nor their opinions. AS
a party they do not pretend to acquiesce
in the great measures of reconstruction.
They consider nothing settled, and they
will not hesitate to reopen every ques-
ton that the legislation of the last five
years has concluded. Even the later
to the Constitution they
repudiate. The party which palliated
the armed rebellion of defeated voters,
which, during the war, has not conceal
ed its preference to rebels to loyal citi-
Zens, greedily seizes every opportunity
to denounce the policy of reconstruc-
ton as the worst tyranny, and nomin-
ates its judges to the highest court in
the largest State with the declared ex-
pectation that they may be called upon
to array the State against the Union.
The Democrats of Kentucky refuse
to consider the question of equal suf-
frage decided. Those of county in
Ohio proclaim the adoption of the 18th
Amendment shameless mockery, and
reaffirm that this is white mans Gov
eminent. And Mr.. Ferriss, Republi-
can Representative i'll Congress from
New York, brings all the Democratic
members of the House to book by a
resolution that the 14th and 18th
Amendments have been duly ratified
and are part of the Constitution, upon
which all the Democratic members vote
no. 1t is true that the Democratic ma.
jority in the New York Legislature
substantially recognized the amend
ments. But the national Representatives
of their party decline to do so. 1t is
true, also, that certain Democratic MEN,
bers of Congress recommend that GER
tain questions be regarded by the party
as dead issues. But the vote of the
same members in the House shows that
they do not consider the validity of the
among the settled ques-
tiOns. The WorId, indeed, sneers at the
Kentucky members of its party as 'hide
bound" But the value of the World as
a representative and influential party
organ may be readily estimated. 1t
preferred Mr.. Chase as q Presidential
candidate in 1868, and Mr.. Seymour was
nominated. 1t opposed any repudiat-
ing tone in the platform, and it was
made to favor virtual Reputation. 1t
called upon Gen. Blair to withdraw, and
its party cursed it. 1t denounced the
Ring in New York, and the Ring put
it in its pocket. The World may be
wiser than its party, but it does not in
the least influence the party policy. Its
breaches of discipline are remembered
against it, and ali its suggestions are re-
ceived with suspicion by the real party
managers.
If the Democratic party in 1868, when
the Republicans were firmly united by
opposition to the mischievous purposes
of Andrew johnson, and by the enthu-
siasm for the hero of the war, General
Grant, did not hesitate to place itself
under the leadership of Wade Hamp-
ton, and to declare itself for repudia-
ton, how little likely is it to shrink,
should it be successful in 1872, from un-
doing everything that has been done
and from opening every vexed question
1t cannot be too often urged upon the
voters of this country that the Demo-
cratic party for many year has been
directed by its most INSCRIPTIONS man.
ayers. Its policy was the extension OF
slavery. Its masters were, therefore.
the great slave politicians of the South
ern States; and their ends could be &C.
complished only by encouraging the
very worst passions of human nature.
Slavery is gone, with many of the pol
iticians who served it. But the ignor-
ance and Generalization of the party
remain, and it has such managers as
onoh oil 70 M, =
ing no statesmen for leaders, 1t has nc
ability to adopt great and wise policy
The most positive element in the party
to-day is hatred for the negro and sym
patty with the rebel doctrine and spirit
AS party, it was Copperhead during
the war, and it is Copperhead still
Should it carry the country at the next
election, it would plunge us into a con.
fusion of which it is impossible to see
the end.
Congress has failed to apprehend this
fact. The Republican majority has not
seen the vital necessity of party union
When Congress adjourned the country
should have been able to see at glance
the Republican platform. That plat
form should have been firm adherence
to the settlement of the Union; a Wig
orous system of defence for the purity
of the polls; palpable reduction o.
taxation, and the prompt repeal of the
income tax; a foreign policy vigorously
maintaining our just rights, honorable
to our laws and treaties, and unsolieitou'
of annexation, and a domestic policy O.
reform in the civil service. Had Con
gress by its action shown this to be the
Republican platform, there would no.
have been the feeling of dissatisfaction
and dependency which undoubtedly
exists in the party. Yet this is the very
moment for such feeling. if such there
must be. For the feeling is itself {
warning and alarm. 1t spurs inquiry
and reveals difficulties and perils. AND
there is time enough to fully compre
bend the situation aud to secure the flu
ture. The Republicans will lose in tn,
next House, but they will not lose 1
majority. They will easily retain tina
majority if they nominate men who ia
vOr such principles, and who have TIT
courage to defend their opinions. They
cannot, however, select a single issue anC
think to succeed upon that, as is advised
in some quarters. Honest and abl'
men, who have decided views upol
maintaining the national settlement
upon improving the public service, ant
who are able to comprehend what j
called the necessity of the case, which
implies concession and Cancellation 70
q great general benefit, these are tn
men whom the Republicans shout.