The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-06-20

Constructors of the Ain eTGsiii5ents.
The Cincinnati Commercial makes the
following comments on recent editorial
of the SITRlr in regard to- the De'do-
cratic State platform:
"The Spirit QG Democracy, the Dem
ocratic organ of Monroe County. y.accepts
the Columbus platform and the Cohstt-
tutional amendments, confident that 'un-
der a proper construction they will be-
come wholly powerless for evil'-wllich
construction, Of course, can only be
given them by. putting Democrats in
power. It's nice arrangement, but it
won't win The people believe the
amendments mean something and do not
propose their naturalization by Demo-
cratic legislation !, ,..s~..
The insincerity; and. eraftiness of the
Commercial is plainly apparent in the
above paragraph. For several years
past that paper has been earnestly insist
ing that the Democratic. party was and is
sound and righton thetariH and nearly
all other political questions excepting
those involving the stat!ls'of the negro :
That the lea.iers Of tle, party we're utter
ly blind and stupid uos; to sec that by
setting the.party rightan- the race ques-
tons the Democracy would sweep the
country from end to end. !, AT tile same
time the Commerciab loudly WARNED the
people that the party never would ACCEPT
the recent amendments to the Constitu.
ton, but would as soon, asit should obtain
the power, disflanchise the negroes, and
reduce tlleln,toe "a eena aitieu Of helpless
dependence, 'ifihot to actual slavery..iIea
Now, to the surprisse,as we'll as DISCUS,
Of, the thse, CoWmerctal, ,'1lie Dehidcfacy have
done exactly what .thatpaper yehelnently
proclaimed would aelai.la them to sue.
cess; The Gmmercial, stlnrefore, to
withdraw from the awkward position IN
which it Gncs. itself, is compelled 10 hide
behind the iwretchef Fpretext that the
Democratic party deliberately designs to
violate its pledges. slli, gi.;+-r2 e
This distrust on the part Of the Com
mercial is slammed solely for the pur
pose Of deterring timht Republicans from
voting the Democratic ticket, as that pa
per has good reason 70 fear they will dc
unless the influence oftheesplatform car
be weakened. 's' 'e ''''' -
We can say to the Commercial that it
little bugbear "won't win" The Dem
ocratic party, unlikcits-opponent, is no
accustomed to making pledges with in
tent to disregard them The, party
means to do, and will. soon have tn,
power and prove that it means to do,pre
cisely what it says. 1t will carry out tn,
amendments and allNother parts of til,
Constitution in perfect good faith; an,
at the same time it will apply to the
amendments and to all other parts of th'
Constitution the Jeffersonian doctrine o
strict construction, =. -. -..,s -, !,
Whatever authority is clearly confer
red by the amendments win be exercised
by the Democrats fully, fairly and faith
fully to carry into effect their. meanin.
and spirit ;beyond this the party will no
I go, for the convenience of negroes o.
anybody else. Our party has agreed il
good faith to conform to the Constitu
tion as it is; further agreement tina
it will apply the wild and monstrou.
construction practiced by the Radicals
would be to destroy the chief pillar o
the party,and to abandon the last chance
of re.establishing government on til
principles of true Republieahism.