Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-09-16
oLYIPIA, SATURDAY MORNING, SEPT. 16, 1871
Radical COunSelS.

The Republican journals of the Terrific
~ having assumed the privilege of dictat-
ing Democratic nominations, and Of cx.
pounding the new departure" resolutions
to suit their own ideas of the party that
proclaimed them, it would appear almost
Us if We might just as we'll yield the duty
Of party journalist fully to them. Our
observation and experience, however, lead
US to mistrust the sincerity of their profess
sions, no less than the integrity of their
motives, and with due Difference to their
superior wisdom and sagacity We suggest
the probability that the Democracy may
prefer to manage their own affairs without
consulting the wishes of the Bread.and-
butter Brigade, or solicit their opinion as
to what constitutes Democratic principles,
or who shall be their champion in future
contests. If the so.caled "new depar-
ture" suits the party which enunciated it,
why should our political opponents trouble
themselves as to its proper Interpretation?
If Democrats are satisfied with it, that ends
the matter; if they are not, Republican
arguments will not convince, nor will their
meddlesome interference gain them SIN
gle recruit from party bound together by
devotion to principles the opposite of their
own. The Ohio resolutions express the
policy of the party precisely, and we care
but little what meaning is placed upon
them by those who do not propose to be
guided by their wisdom, nor who do not
affiliate with the party that enunciated
them.
The Democracy do not endorse the 18th
and 18th Amendments as wise or Just pro.
visions, nor the infamous manner ia which
they were forced upon the people, by sim.
ply declaring an acquiesccnce in their en-
forcement-a result for which they are not
responsible, and which they have no desire
to remedy except in Constitutional man
ner. The assertion Of the principle really
amounts to but little, for the party has al.
ways been guided by it, and would have
been as much holden to it if the Ohio res.
olutions had never been adopted. The
necessity for its avowal and its incorpora-
tion in the platform, doubtless arose from
the persistency with which Republican
stump speakers and their subsidized party
'oegans have asserted that the Democratic
party was revolutionary in character and
determined to set aside these provisions
otherwise than legal manner. Absurd
as is the charge, there are those, as we
know, who have been deceived by it. To
remove alldoubt upon this matter, the party
saw fit to avow se!ferident proposition,
consistently reserving the right to con.
denim the fraud by which an illegal act is
made to serve legal purpose. Upon the
18th Amendment there can be but one
opinion. 1t was ratified in legal form and
1t was the wish Of the whole country that
it should be 80. Previous to the war the
democratic party had declared against the
extension of slavery, while the Republican
party affirmed that it had no intention Of
interfering with slavery where it then ex.
'isted. During the first years of the war
this declaration was faithfully observed.
The war abolished slavery, and at its close
the Amendment relating thereto was rati.
fed without dissent, the Southern States
voting thereon acknowledged by the Ad.
1nioistration to be in the Union. and acting
IN their free and sovereign capacity as
individual members ofthe family Of States.
1t was three years subsequently that the
infamous scheme of forcing the ratification
OF Amendments to the Constitution. as A
condition Of recognition of their rights
ana privileges as States, was planned and
carried into execution. Then social equal.
ity was bestowed upon the negro, and the
ballot was thrust into bis hand. although
the platform upon which Grant rode into
power expressly declared that the question
OF suffrage rested with the States respec.