Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-04-21
The Position of the Democratic Party

Within 4 month the country has had pro
nbetic vision Of the inevitable results of renewed
democratic escendancy. 1t has seen in the
Southern States men and women, whose otiense
Is their color. or their fidelity TO the Union and
10 the government, harried and murdered This
disorder. occasioued by Democrats and levelei
At Republicans, has swelled to the proportions Of
Instruction, SO thst Congress and the country
could not be deaf 70 the cries Of citizens out
RACED sui slain that others might be kept from
the polls. and democratic majorities assured by
reign Of terror. In the midst Of these events
the country has also seen Jefferson Davis sud
denly conspicuous, and in public speech de-
c'ar:ng that the lost cause might yet be won
Mr.. Linton Stephens, brother Of Alexander II.
STEPHENS. and a respected democratic leader IN
his section, demands at Augusta the overthrow
Of all the reconstruction acts, and 50 rea1Just-
nent of our institutions upon renewed consutu-
tons" Leading democratic newspapers in the
Southern states loudly echo and applaud the de-
msnd. and accept the New Hampshire election
As a sign that the wo-k Of the war may be IN
done. Tie most representative OF these papers
remind their readers that the last National Dem
ocratic Convention declared the reconItruetlon
acts unconstitutional, revolutionary, anu
void, and claim that they aye not less 50 now
and that they must, Of cCurse, be the issue II
ISL
While thus the country sees that the declAra-
ton Of the Democratic party in the Southern
States is for oyerthrowing the great settlements
! Of The var, 81 perceives also that the Tammsny
! Ring, supreme in the Democratic party Of New
/ York. aul aiming 10 grasp the national govern
] meut. confirms the Inonstr0us fraud Of the Enc
bill. which strikes al the most vital right OF the
| control Of property repeats the registry law,
] To make cheating at the polls more practicable
and in the city Of New York sssumes powers 70
i-,DerialIy absolute thst the better men even Of
| its own party protest. Gaining power II Mis-
] s1uti. the D1m cratic party sends General Blair
I ~ tie Senate upon his BToaihead letter as "a
rlatform-;hc letter which appeals to civil war,
| advising the use Of the army TO undo recon
/ structisl and from his sea. ia the Senste be
writes to Southern Democratic editor that the
issue in 1872 should he the reversal Of all the
settlements and thai by Democratic success
cal the c8ntrirances by which the Radicals
] have sought 20 trsmud the people, and tortiiy
themselves 80 power, can thus be edectuaiIy
swept away.
NleauFiIe tie Democratic declaration that
the reconstruction acts are unconstitutional, re-
vo!uuousr7. ard VOID Iemaius No Stale con-
yeatoa has withdrawn assent 20 such state
meat d. authoritative leader e the Democratic
lar-v hiss GET anLouLceI ls entire acqules-
/ eLce ig I,-oustrlcti1n- ace " e. lndeeI'
.uo,as SIT. Fernando Wood But Nj. Woods
declarations carry 10 weight, an inspire no res
! pect. ltq-.tes Nr. John Qllncy Aiaus- but
/ Mr.. Adams sueerins.y says 81 the party winch
| he has lately J9.uel, inst II mus begin ny u5-ns
I uemocI4uc---.-. BE- 30 say, lt r4I.t ilsoAti all
It's policy and OIL. lis leaders. The Mobile H'yl'-
/ Ter is much s.uaier AMI more geneIa-iY &C
cep,ei authority ~ the pemocfauc party 'lAu
Mr. Alamf. sud iAe htyi,'sI insists ihst recon
f-ruetion is the issue Nor can the % ora re nc
ceptei as on authority iniis party II oPlo-et re-
3udil-.ll IA l-l' t1t reIaliston vac pnt INTO
The Dem. cti,t platform l. ia'creI MI T. lss-,
dlt l--. Seymour was nomilaiei- II a4'is1i
the al and .-ueut 10; uclefI b.ar' ana j. was
heartily cursed n7 rs party. u 'lFosel 'ls
Ere t--.. a4- MS GOVERNOR ,islei IT, anu i's
party las A-3r iei H. 10 declared war against
The lta-' and Tie King e--encei li- Inc u or'+
has advocated lle roAcy winch IT'S party mas
steadily ri ctei aad ne de.Iec4ieTy zone ~
It's article upon General Bar p9si'-n' ali he
confession iba. .' the ; aialln democracy is
- i5''A- Us -.-' '-.'' '-s 3-' is
<5-g-,l s,v s7s viii, Observes closely doubt
it, II the Democratic party had carried Con
ne--.Gt, as 1t di1 New hampshire It could mo-
long nave I i.,,l .' W. ''' S,r len en- mare
shs5..tsl. mastered av the Southern democracy