Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-12-07
A Voice From Virginia.

Mr.. A. H. H. Stuart, of Virginia,
has made his contribution OF advice
to the Democratic party its extrem-
ity, and it is, that in the Presidential
campaign of next year the name of
Democrat and Conservative be drop
ped, and that '.the high aud holy
purpose" Of the Democratic party be
indicated by the name of sConstitu-
tional party This propos ton has
q fine old Beleveret flavor. Our plat
form, said that famous party, is the
Union, the Constitution, and the en-
forcement of the laws. But i: may
truly be said of Mr.. Stuart's method
of Democratic victory made easy that
the name he suggests is as sppropri-
ate as those he would discard. A
party which, while defending and ex
tending human slavery, called itself
Democratic, and while actively in one
part of the country, and passively in
the other, trying to overthrow the
government, called itself Conserv-
ative, may also, when foiled in the at
tempt to destroy the Constitution,
solemrly call itself Constitutional.
The motley host, called the Demo
cratic party, is quite as constitutional
as it is democratic, and as conserv-
ative as it is constitutional.
Mr. Stuart proposes to rebuild
s'the Temple of Liberty" and advises
union with Messrs Schurz, Trumbull,
Cox, of Ohio, Gratz Brown, and Viii
lam III. Evart fer that purpose.
They are very excellent men, but they
are hardly ready to become cats
paws. They probably do not wish
| the denomination of the President;
but to suppose them, therefore, will
| ling to bring the Democratic party
into power, as a less disastrous alter
native, is fatally to accuse their patri-
otism and good sense. For in all the
rumor of coalition. of new parties, of
plotting and planning and co7spiring,
there is one constant fact which can
never be overlooked. and which
should be constantly stared-namely,
that coalition is desperate device of
the Democratic party to save itself.
New parties are formed only when
old issues are so, obsolete that the
force of the new disintergates both
parties. The Republican party was
a union of old Wings and Democrats
upon a wholly new platform. 1t was
not the Whig party reinforced by dis
contented Democrats and called by a
new name. The Wings who Joined
repudiated their old party platform,
and the Democrats did likewise, and
the old organizations OF both parties
continued.
But there is no such situation now
For what is the commanding issue
which necessarily dissolves both of
the great parties :? Nobody pretends
that there is any. Reverence for the
Constitution is not an issue, because
both parties profess the utmost regard
for it; and what immaginable securi-
ty could the Democratic party give of
higher respect for it than the Repub-
licans, when the whole country knows
that the Southern Democrats drew
their swords because they could not
impose meaning hostile to liberty
upon the constitution? What object
that was ever dear to any Republican
does he hope to gain by weakening
his own party to strengthen the Dem
ocratic? 1t is not true that both
parties are dissolving. and and that a
new party is inevitable. The New
York World, which favors the coali-
ton, says frankly that there is no real
line of division between Republicans
like Mr.. Schurz and the Democratic
party. 1t does not say and it does
not mean that its party should dis
| band; and its argument is intended
to show Mr. Schurz that if he has left
the Republicans, he must join the
Democrats.
The elections also show Republi-
can union and fiImness which indicate
the deep conviction of the American
people that Republican ascendency is
the guarantee of peace and progress.
1t is the plain significance of those
elections which has so startled the
Democratic chiefs that they are lost
in perplexity as to their future course
and have issued proposals to all dis
satisfied persons. 1t is by the Repub-
licaI party that the reforms most de-
sired are to be accomplished. We
see with regret honorable men who
despair of the party. But we believe
that as the time for action approach
esthey will recover something of their
old faith, and decide-even if it seem
to them no more-for the party which
has saved liberty, rather than that
which has served slavery.-Harpel's
Weekly.