Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-07-08
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 5, 1871.
Factious Opposition.

The opposition made by some Democrats
to the policy which is manifcs'ly concurred
in by large majority, of going into the
the next campaign upon the living instead
of the dead party issues, exhibits degree
of prejudice or faction which is inexcusa-
bic in any reasonable man. One of the
newspaper writer's upon this subject, says
of the platform which has been adopted by
every Democratic State Convention held
this season: " They propose to accept and
abide by all the unconstitutional and tyran-
meal usurpations which have been made
upon our country and the Constitution
thereof by the Black Republican party in
good faith. They are willing to admit that
they have heretofore been wrong in their
ideas of true Democracy. They now claim
that the negro is citizen and should be
entrusted with the political rights Of the
white man. In fact they have come to the
conclusion that true Democracy consists of
usurpation Of power, of Capitalization, of
unequal taxation, military despotism and
amalgamation.
Every sensible, candid man will admit,
that the foregoing extract is an utter per-
version and Misrepresentation of the facts.
With the exception that the Democratic
platform alluded to proposes to admit the
fact that the amendments to the Constitu-
ton have the force Of law while they are
recognized by every Department of the
Government as the fundamental law of the
land, there is not shadow of truth in any
of its statements. The platform distinctly
protests against the manner in which these
amendments were adopted; it does not ad'
NIT that the Democracy have heretofore
been wrong in their ideas of true democ-
racy; it does not admit that negro equali-
ty is right in theory or practice; nor does
it conclude that true democracy consists
of usurpation of power, of Capitalization, of
unequal taxation, military despotism and
amaIgamation"; but distinctly and emphat-
ically declares for the reverse Of all these
propositions, and nothing but factious
spirit can construe its declarations into
anything like departure from the we'll,
settled principles Of Democracy.
1t is this spirit, coupled with the mis-
representation of our enemies, which has
placed the Democracy on the defensive
and SO often comprised its defeat through
popular prejudice. The Democracy never
made the question Of slavery an issue or a
test, but simply recognized it is an ex-
isting fact exclusively under the control of
State Legislation. Our adversaries con.
strued this into defence Of slavery fac.
tious Democrats accepted the false con.
struction and materially assisted in fasten-
ing upon the party the popular odium of
being pro-slavery party, in spite of the
fact that every free State Constitution
which had previously been established aud
accepted by Congress, was made under
Democratic rule. The Democratic party
never endorsed the doctrine of secession,
or in any manner countenanced or en-
couragcd division of the Union; it but
affirmed the rights of the States to the ex-
ercise of all the powers not specially dele
gated to the General Government, and de.
MED the right Of the latter to the exercise
of any powers not vested in it by the States
and the people. This was construed by
our adversaries as admitting the rights of
the States to annul their compacts and
resume their delegated powers at will
and factious Democrats again came in to
confirm this construction and again place
the party in false position before the
people. The same old game is being re-
enacted by these common disturbers in
The party who have so often given aid and
comfort to the common enemy in previous
engagements. The Democracy have never
been defeated and never could be defeated |
ut for the divisions caused by cavi!less in J