The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1871-05-04
The Political Prospect.

shows as distinctly that the indiffer
ence is checked. And the reason
Is evident. The people of this country
who maintained the government durin.
the war, have not forgotten their work
and do not mean to reliquish its results
They cherish no vindictive feeling, bu
they are no fools. While their own par
ty leaders sometimes displease them, SC
that they show their disapproval by let
ting an election go by default, the mo-
meDt the enemy reveals his spirit and
purpose, they spring to their feet. In
1865 66 Andrew johnson was apparent.
ly seriously demoralizing the Republican
party. But the massacres in New Orlea ns
and Memphis distinctly revealed the
character OF the opposition, and the con-
sequences of Democratic success and
from that moment the Republican domin.
ance was substantially assured
There has been corresponding siuta.
tion within the last few months There
is, indeed, fortunately, no Andrew John
son but there have been difficulties and
divergences of many kinds, and jealousies
and imblttered feelings, until there seem
ed to be serious disorder among Republi-
cans. There were doubts aud questions
and gloomy anticipations, and the New
Hampshire election occurring 10 the midst
of them all was hailed by the Democratic
party as the sign of fatal breach, or the
rising of "a tidal wave" We ventured
to say Of it, however, that it might prove
to be an advantage, by leading Republi.
/ n n hptfar fna al
And that this will be its result we have
no doubt. For the same general restless
ness and uncertainty which lost that elec-
tion to the friends of the Union and good
government, quickened to spirit of the
Southern Democracy, which has natural.
ly always been the controlling element of
the Democratic party, aud within month
the country has had prophetic vision of
the inevitable results of renewed Demo.
cratic ascendency.
1t has seen in the Southern States men
and women, whose of1ense is their color,
or their fidelity to the Union and to the
government, barried and murdered
This disorder, occasioned by Democrats
and leveled at Republicans, has sweled
to the proportions of iusurrection, so that
Congress and the country could not be deaf
TO the cries of citizens outraged aud slain
that others might be kept from the polls,
aud Democratic majorities assumed by
reign of terror. In the midst of these
events the country has also seen Jeffer.
son Davis suddenly conspicuous, and in
public speeci. declaring that the lost cause
might yet be won. Mr.. Linton Stephens,
brother of Alexander Fl. Stephens, and
respected Democratic leader in his sec.
ton, demands at Augusta the overthrow
OF all the reconstruction, acts, and "a re-
adjustment of our institutions upon re.
newed constitutions" Leading Demo.
cratic newspapers in the Southern States
loudly echo and applaud the demand, aud
accept the New Hamsphire election as a
sign that the work of the war may be un-
done. The most representative OF these
papers remind their readers that the last
National Democratic Convention declar-
ed the reconstruction acts 'uncopstitu-
tional, revolutionary, and void" and they
claim that they are not less so now and
that they must, of course, be the issue in
1872.
When thus the country sees that the
declaration of the Democratic party in
the Southern States is for overthrowing
the great settlements Of the war, it per.
ceives also that the Tammany Ring, su-
preme 10 the Democratic party Of New
York, aud aiming to grasp the National
Government, confirms the mopstrous
fraud Of the Erie bill. which strikes at
the most vital right of the control of pro-
perty repeals the Registry law, to make
cheating more practicable aud 10 the
city of New York assumes the powers so |
imperially absolute that the better men
even of its OwD party protest. Gaining
power in Missouri, the Democratic party
sends General Blair to the Senate upon
his Brodhead letter as platform-the
letter which appeals to civil war, advis.
ing the use of the army to undo recon
structiou and from his seat iu the Senate
he writes to Southern Democratic editor
that the issue in 1872 shall be the rever-
sal of all the settlements aud that by !
Democratic success "all the contrivances
by which the Radicals have sought to |
trammel the people, and fortify them.
selves 10 power, can thus be efectuaily
swept away"
Meanwhile the Dem ocratic declaration
that the reconstruction acts are unconsti-
tutional, revolutionary and void, remains.
No State convention has Withdrawn as
sent TO such a statement; no authorita.
tive leader of the Democratic party has
yet announced his entire acquiescence in
Whe World, indeed,
quotes Mr.. Fernando Wood /! But Mr.
Woods declarations carry DO weight, and
Inspire no respect. 1t quotes Mr.. John
Quincy Adams. But MIR. Adams sneer
ngly says OF the party which he has late
y joined, that it must begin by being
Democratic-that is to say, it must dis
,ard all its policy and all its leaders The