Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-10
TIE. POLITICAL SITUA TfON.

the republican party, is from the pen of Vice
President Colfax.
Death or defeat! Surrender or overthrow
These are the unwelcome alternatives which
now confront the once proud and powerful
democratic party of the nation. Last spring
how jauntily their leading presses talked OF
republican disintegration how boastngly
they prophesied the overthrow of republican
domination; how oracularly they discussed,
as they have for so many years, of republican
violations of the Constitution, which were at
last to be rebuked by the uprising of an in
dignant people, Anon the State elections be-
gan to be heard from; but their rebukefell on
the democracy instead, and the ''new depart
ure" became the theme of their discussion
They might be willing, they thought, to es-
cape the odium of their past course by ac-
cepting the measures they had fought against
so zealously, if the people would again en-
trust them with power. But the elections
went on; and with the clearest possible voice
they declared-either on old platforms or new
ones, on the principles of ga or '68, even with
the resolutions of '9S attached or detached
the people would not have the democracy to
rule over them.
The ''anthem of republican victories thus
resounding across the continent'--in year or
two, when the victors themselves scarcely ex-
pected such a success of triumphs has had
thrilling result on the democratic leaders, but
recently so buoyant and elate. Their Jubi-
liant ROSTERS refuse to crow. The pyramids
of States that were to insure the democratic
triumph of 1872 have tumbled into ruins. Their
bitter personal attacks on the President con-
tinue, regardless of their evident lack of eff
feet on all unprejudiced minds. And the
railing accusations against the republicans as
Constitution. breakers are kept up; for during
ten years democracy has consisted ir arguing
that every measure for the protection of the
nation or the individual was fiagrantly uncon-
stitutional. But the utter hopelessness of the
party is eyinced by the discussions now 60
ing on in its presses of the plan proposed by
the st. Louis Republican, one of the ablest
and boldest of their leading papers, that the
democracy should make no national nomina-
tions, but support independent republicans for
President and Vice President And Senator
Blair, their last candidate for the latter office,
and one of the frankest of their public men,
declares to Southero audience. "rather than
go back on my own principles (by agreeing
formally to the new departure) l would pre-
fer to make choice of republicans, and go
for man who should be nominated by the
disaffected republicans" SC.
What change is this that has come DER
the spirit of their dreams The once great
and powerful organization that for so many
years governed this country; that in the days
OF its prime overthew every party that resist
ed its sway; that but recently was so full of
hope and enthusiasm, and so sanguine of its
return, after its long exile, to national power,
is now discussing whether it will dare to run
democrats at all at the Presidential election
of 1872 To nominate candidates of their own
party, believers in their own principles, is, as
nj nj to f,r do cd
defeat. TO abandon the field in advance is
political death, real or assumed. Such is the
sad dilemma affecting the democratic mind.
There is reason for this decline and fall of
once powerful party. 1t is written in its
later history. Itself has been its worst enemy.
1t has forced the people to believe that it has
still, as during the rebellion, Southern and
Northern face. That, as it then on one side
warred for the destruction af the nation, and
on the other side warred on all the war meas
ures of the Government, SO now at the South
it inspires or pallates organized outrage and
assassination, and at the North denounces
every effort of the nation to punish such hor-
rid and unexampled crimes as tyrannical and
unconstitutional.
In the issues they have voluntarily made on
this question they have been smitten with po-
litical blindness-perhaps misled by the fact
that some able republicans doubted the wis
dom of all the details of the Ku-Klux bill
But our opponents could not have made them
selves weaker before the people at large than
by the bitter denunciations which have been
the staple of their canvassing speeches this
year.
1t is because the people at large recognize
so fully and detest so utterly the wicked and
bloody deeds of these dangerous bands at the
South, who rob, burn, beat, main, shoot, and
hang; it is because they reject so sternly all
palliations for these atrocities, which dshonor
the republic; and it is because they demand
that, under our amended Constitution, the
weakest citizen shall be defended against the
most powerful organization and conspiracy at
home, as he would against the most arrogant
or powerful empire abroad, and by the whole
power of the nation, wherever the exercise
of that power becomes necessary, that all the
democratic arguments against the ku-Klux
legislation of the republicans haye not only
fallen so pointless, but, recoiling, indeed, on
their authors, have proved to them so unmis-
takably an element of weakness.
Nor is this all that has tended to sap the
strength and blight the hopes of the demo-
cratic party. There is dangerous class,
North as well as South, which the people feel
it would not be safe to install in power, in the
person of its favorites or apologists.
Go into any of our large cities, East or
West Ask any of its citizens of any party
this question. "In the quarter of this city
where vice and evil reign supreme; where
everything that is good and just is trampled
under foot, and everything that is wicked
and iniquitous is dominant; where you would
not dare to let your wife or daughter walk
after nightfall unattended; to which party do
its denizens give their confidence, their en-
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