Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-05-03
a Reason for II.

The decided tone of what we may prop
erly term the radica, Democratic press OF
the South, offers as good reason as could
be desired for the non,commitalism OF the
Democratic Congressional Address on the
future policy of the party The trainers OF
that address, and all the signers to 1t, and
all the leaders Of the Democratic party know
what their Southern allies expect should
the Democracy succeed to the control OF the
government. And they are willing to CON
cede to them all they want, in case OF point
ical success in 1872, and have probably
pledged themselves 10 such concession prl-
vately-but they dare rot openly avow the
intention for fear OF arousiug the indigna-
ton and incIrriug the opposition of the
more sensible and moderate portion OF the
Northern Democracy Hence the Congress
sional address makes no avowals of policy
gives no indication of the course of the par
ty in the future, and deals almost exclusive
" in denunciations of the President, tile
Congress and the Republican party. 4 few
extracts from Southern radical Democratic
papers may tend to enhghten some benight-
ed Democrats Of conservative tendencies as
to the obligations under which their party
is bound to the South, or at least as to what
the South expects and will demand The
Jacksonville Alabama Republican rldlcules
the idea of dead issues aud talks very
decidedly of what they intend to do when
the Democracy come into power, and the
voice of the South is again potent in the
councils of the nation" 1t speaks in posi-
tive terms Of the knowledge Of the North
ern Democracy of what the South wants
and will ask in case OF success at the ballot
box. 1t says:
They know that when the Democracy
gets into power the South will demand her
rights, both as section and as States, and
/ they have already made up their minds to
| yield US everything reasonable We ask III
| that direction. If they have not done 50,
we have no more use for them than we have
| for the Radical party. The right
| 10 enforce the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments by appropriate legislation is
where the Radicals fiEd every excuse for
| their deSpotic meas ures. Then why pass
! over these and strike at their results? AT
/ least, dS VIC 80 on, lGl Us NC SAB4!CII ID IC
! CARDS them.
The Atlanta (Georgia) AteHigeacar is
certain that no Democrat can sanction the
, Fifteenth amendment, which it denounces
in most unmistakabIe terms. as follows:
''The Fifteenth Amendment is the plague
spot on the face of the great charter OF A
nIericln freedom. This is the fruitful source
| of our greatest woe, the authority claimed
for that Infamous brood Of laws which are
intended 20 cnslave the people by destroying
| the freedom of the ballot, and placing the
country under martial law at the will Of the
| President. This wrong, this usurpaiion,
can never DC sanctioned by one who stand,
upon the principles of the Democratic par
| ty. II it cannot be stricken from the Con
/ stitution, let 1t be condemned as the off
1 spring of usurped power, and the Govern
| mcEt placed in the hands Of men who vii
plgek A9ptaliSu nH2P224s cia2GdE ID" De ia9if ia9if
| thorized by it, and necessary to enforce it
but which really has another object in view
the Capitalization Of all the powers of the
system in the General Government as
means OF perpetuating the ruling dynasty.
Other Southern Democratic papers arr
moro polite ia their expressions, and fore
! shadow the possible necessity, for the sake
Of success, Of conceslng their real purpose
under feigned issues, as the Democratic ad
dress does Says Georgia paper, the Al
bany Nctos, ''It may be that we shall fine
Ii absolutely necessary for harmony and sue
cess to hold in allegiance some Of the prin
ciples we regard as essential to a fuh and
| perfect restoration of civil liberty and con
| stitutional government and yet who is SC
| foulish as to become recalcitrant and refuse
cooperation simply because all the good is
| not piled on the first train p
! These extracts throw food of light mp
on the Democratic Address They give US
the key to it, by means of which we may
| look upon Its inner works, trace its secret
! springs and discover the motives that led to
Its peculiar mechanism. Those who read
them attentively in connection with the ad-
dress cannot be deceived by the latter They
make the game of hypocracy and fraud
which the Democratic Congressman would
play too palpable to be hidden from the
eyes Of any one willing to see.