The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-24
THE DEMOCRATIC ApDREss.

THE DEmOCHAVIC ADDHEbss
We have read the remarkable document,
called an address Of the Democratic mem
bers cf Congress to the people of the
United States, with much care, for in 1t
we recognize the new platform of the con-
test of '72 II has been prepared wi b
great delberation. The leading minds of
the party have been generally consulted
and their matured judgment, enlightened
by the late elections and tho final action
Of the Congress which has just adj urned,
Is express. ed in this address, The design
OF its publication is clearly to furnish
Common ground of sentiment aud action
among The opposition to the Republican
party. It's ttne is designed to he moderate
a1d at times reaches level Of fairness un-
usual in Democratic literature. But it
soon desceuds agar 10 its ustursl plane of
reckless denunciatou, boldly asserting the
gravest falsshccds ard uisrepreserting the
Spirit, purposes, aud past action Of the
Republican party with determined and
Wllui perSlsteucy.
Along with this medley Of false accusa-
tons, we are refreshed with some kindly
advice to it's unruly members. It says to
Its bad boye--ts Ku-Klux, Tammary y
shoslder-htters aud the like--"Don't act
80; you will frshten away our new re-
cruits. There arc so many people watch
Ing us, and waiting to see whether we
fulfil our promises Of good behavior, you
must make our pledges good by lying
quiet as lambs ill after election. Then
you shall have play spell again. Only
do this, and our knd-hearted Republican
brethren will be sorry for the hard things |
they have said, and let Us into the house
again. They will not merely kill the |
fatted calf in honor of our return, but |
they will make haste to surrender the |
larder to the Democratic prodigals." This
is the way these high priests of Democracy |
interpret the new gospel to their turbulent
disciples:
We earnestly entreat our fellow. citizens in
all parts of the Union to spare no effort to
maintain peace and order, to carefully protect
the rightssof every citizen, to preserve kindly
relations among all men, and to discountenance
and discourage any violation of the rights of
any portion of the people secured under the
constitution or any of its amendments.
Let us, in conclusion, earnestly beg of you
not to aid the present attempts Of Radical par
tisans to stir up strife in the land to renew
the Issues of the war, or to obstruct the return
OF peace and prosperity to the Southern States,
h,no - Al. t1ak Al ~n.Lt IA. Al
attention of the country from the corruption
and extravagance in their administration of |
public affairs, and the dangerous and profigat. J
attempts they are making towards the creation |
OF centralized military government
Then follows the enunciation Of the
grand purposes of the party, which has
smack of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity and
"Fourth of July" about it quite taking
with very young people and older men in
nocent of historical knowledge
at is to protect and perpetuate the rights
which every freeman cherishes, to revive in all
hearts the feelings of frien osbip, affection, aud
harmony, which are the best guarantees Of law
and order, and to throw around the humbles,
citizen, wherever he may be, the protecting
egis of those safe guards of personal liberty L
which the fundamental laws OF the land ASSURE
that we invoke the aid of all good men in the
work Of peace and reconstruction."
All good men are then invited to the
feast
"We invite their generous cooperation, ir-
respective of ell former differences of opinion,
90 that the harsh voice OF discord may be sic
lenced."
This reminds US of the Cannibal chief
who, having found his English missionary
friends little inconvenient, invited them
to graHd banquet with many fine COM
pliments. On their arrival they were
turned over to the royal cooks, and their
part in the banquet consisted in furnishing
frcaseed 'Englishmen Of fine quality.