Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-03

The democratic state convention of Ohio has,
after some wrangling, adopted substantially the
VaAandigham platform. The opposition to the
new departure was determined and excited, but
large majority sustained the committee on
resolutions. This action of the democracy in
the largest OF the western states, with the SINH
lar position taken previously by the same party
in Pennsylvania, may be considered as a con-
elusive indication that the democrats of the
northern states at least will not allow themselves
10 be hampered in the next presidential contest
with the burden of.opposition to established facts
1t was hard for them to learn the lesson but they
have learned it, that the people are determined
to maintain irreversible all the results of the
war. They will have some difficulty in teach
ing their southern allies the same lesson.
In their anxiety to convince the southern
democracy that victory can be had on no
other terms, and that it is worth securing, even
at the price Of so important concessions they are
unspeakably irritated and disguised with jeff
Davis for his mpolit.c speeches. The New
York World calls him a political spectre, and
says that he is more truly dead than Lee or
Stonewall jackson. Other democratic papers
call him fool and marplot, and, forgetting
their usual denunciations of the severity eXer-
cised toward the conquered champions of the
lost cause suggest that the leniency which al
lows the ex-rebel leader to go about making such
incendiary remarks is egregiously misplaced
The danger which JEFF. Davis apprehended
from speaking his mind freely seems not to be
wholly imaginary, but its source is TO be looked
for not in the republican party, which has no
objection TO his saying without reserve what
ever he has on his mind, but among the demo-
Gratis, with whose plans his speeches interfere.
The Ohio democrats are doubtless wise in ceas-
ing to fight against fate and the spirit of the
time, but their dilemma was not an agreeable
one. They had either to adhere to their old
opinion, often asserted, that the constitutional
amendments have never been lawfully adopted,
and are therefore void or admitting their valid
ity, confess that they have been for ten years
mistaken politicians, and enemies of the public
welfare. The former position had been found
untenable with any hope Of success. The latter,
though it is necessary, and affords the only pros
pect of eventually regaining the confidence of
the people, cannot he very full of hope for the
immediate future. 1t deprives the party of any
chance of united and enthusiastic support at
the south, and cannot make as many
converts at the north as it will alien
ate of old supporters. The great number
of people who are always to!be found doubling
and hesitating between the two parties, ready t.
be influenced by temporary dissatisfaction or by
specious promises, will be apt to say, when theil
votes are solicited by democratic candidates
why should we trust you rather than the party
which has successfully struggled for year.
against your strenuous opposition to establish
principles which you now admit to be botl
sound and vital?" The republican party has
been distinetively the party of equal rights. II
has incorporated its principles in the constitu
ton, from which they cannot be eradicated
The democrats, in giving up the struggle against
these principles, surrender every essential point
in which the parties were at variance When
this surrender shall have been formally pro
claimed by a national convention, one of the
greatest political victories on record will have
been consummated