The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-06-25
..No New Departure"
ops oi the abless. the !. taifsat m end the
BaltinaB San. ThAtgprdal 3 ae.
gent ishe. thuI spfHFs |oi. t9s ssypllesed
''sew SaepestuB oF the peaocpsio

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"We observe that many journals per-
oi the OHIO and Pennsylvariia Democra.
cy ns a new departure on the part of
the Democratic phfty, aud Republicans
have been careful to connect the name of
tic late unfortunate Mr. -VnilandiEG6r
with the matter. and 10. spenk Of the I
tolutions .hs Ms. Nalhndigham's plat
form. DO. Rightly considered, however.
the Ohio platform, in, those features
which are considered novel; isihut ANEW
2eAnition or applicntion to present cir.
ounstances OF prinGip1es and. doctrines
which. have been ptofessed bY whatiia
known as the Democratic party since the
foundation Of the government When
the ,trHt great division into parties tpoki
place. during the administration Of Pie
sident Washington, the dividing line wns
81 5stantiall1 the same as that which
separates the Democratic and Republi-
can parties now. $50,
o'sTha huge system OF exclusive nation
a. banks which now exists, and which
controls not only the. finhnces. but large
ALSO the; legislation Of tile country,
had it's oounterpart, although o feeble
one. in the Bank of the United States.
which Mr. Jefferson opposed, and forty
years later President Jackson oyerthrew.
Iha infamous K0 Klpx Act and bayonet
election law OF President Grants admi.
histration, had their prototypes, feeble
Pndiimperfeot also, in the alien and sedi-
lion laws OF Mr. Adams time. The old
Federal party. iKe''its Radical successor,
was the strenuous advocate Of strong
goyernment-wns ready to, claim and to
ekertise' Any doubtful powers, and by;
constr9ptun TO enlarge the sphere .of
Cong nal Iegislation iat beyond the
harrow, hnaitsAdehned blythe Oonstitn-
tion, The. Democratic party thon, hs
how, .htood upon the platform of the
Constitutions as II is, resisted every at
temptto. enlarge the powers Of Govern
ment at the expense Of tho rights of the
People apd The States, required q clear
b6nstitduo warrant for every power.
Pxeroased or claimed, and would admit Of
hoigoyernment or legislation outside of
that .sfnstrnment. & cardinal maxim
with the party was that that government
is best which governs least, and consist
emily with this principle it sought, in nil
matters in question of domestic admins
tration, Of finance and of trade regula-
ton, to reduce the interference OF 60
vernment With such matters to mini
| man. YN
SIT is not to be doubted that in the
days OF its old ascendancy, aud Of its
successful contests with the Federal and
Wing parties. the strength of tho Demo
cratic party lay in the energy and vita
lity CT its popular impulses and sympa-
thies. Many OF the questions ut issue
between the parties were constitutional
questions Of some difficulty and nioety,
| n nh 1,1o ufo 4,
might we'll. be excused for entertaining
different opinions, but the popular in
i+etinct, although it might not always f0ls
low the subtleties and distinctions of the
constitutional. argument, was generally
on the side Of the party which advocated
! q literal construction of the Constitu-
tlon. strove to ;confne power within its
specified Limits, and opposed, MI mono
poles and GLASS, 1egisfation. It vas this
popular feeling which in the end decided
the fate Of the United States Bank. It
fell as Q gigantic monopoly, the exist
ence OF which, as q great moneyed power
i'll intimate relations with the Govern
ment, was dangerous 20 the purity of le-
gisiation, TO the Independence of the
States, aud ultimately to the liberties OF
the. people. .
| 'sThe 'new departure, so.called; OF the
OHIO Democracy iB simply q re-affirm :
anoe'a and application to the issues OF the
hour OF these original principles of 60
vernment. They were the popular prin-
oiples, supported and believed in By a
majority Of the American people, until
the gar. During the great struggle, and
the unsettled. anxious time which fol-
loved the actual cessation, ,of hosiiiiiies,
new doctrines, never before heard OF or
4 count.nanoed by American jurists or
, statesmen, found favor with the leaders
\ of the Republican party, and. the prac-
tice OF the Government underwent q
great change. But the theory of the
4 Government remains tho same, and the
Constitution is unchanged, except by
the new northumberland these, in the
\ opinion of the best constitutional law
i yers, furnish no more warrant for the
Legislative extravaganeies of modern Ra-
dicaliam than 10 20 be found in that in
strument without them. !, The Eu Klux
tbilt and the bayonet election law are in
violation OF the Constitution as amend
ed. Consequently the true vantage
ground for the conservative element OF
the country, in it's contest with. Radical
ISM is tho platform OF the Constitu on
-M the :YApule Constisution taking it