Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-09-15
nnmooraov Past and Present.

What is II to be a Democrat 7-and, IL man
who is not, wants To become Democrat, how
should he 20 10 work to make himself one Is
there any process by means Of which, being
something else, he can infalibly transform him
self into Democrat and, if so, what is III
The new departure, as II is called, suggests this
inquiry while II throws difficulty in the wNv Of
a satisfactory answer. One man accepts the
new departure, considers himself Democrat
because he has accepted It, aud refuses the title
to all by whom Il is rejected another repudates
the new departure, considers the repudiation
proof Of his Democracy, nd regards those bv
whom II is embraced as no Democrats.
Formerly, before the caucus system was in
vented, platforms constructed and now depart
ures contrived, there were o such difficulties.
II may be astonishing how they managed to do II
bnt they did get along, and very comfortably,
without the machinery which is now considered
so essential. Men with no guidance but the light
Of nature fell into their places as Federalists,
National Republicans, Wings or Democrats, and
seldom failed so.fnd their proper political aflin
tiles an party associations. There was good
deal Of freedom of opinion inside Of the party
which was conducive to harmony of action and
the candidate being a man and not a platform,
care was taken in his selection. When elected
confidence was reposed in him, that, being a
Democrat or whig-as the case might be-h
would conform himself to the principles which
the term Democrat OF Wing was understood 10
| indicate.
! Now the case is different. What is DemOcra-
cy or Repubcanism, depends upon the. fat OF
the next coming Democratic or Republican Con-
ventiOn. John Doe, being q Republican, does
not know what his principles are until the part y
conclave has decided upon and promulgated the
platform for the campaign and Richard Roei
being Democrat, is in a similar condition Of
blank vacuity. In good time the Convention as.
sembes the platform, with great labor, much
wranRling, and no little comprumSe, is finished
and then, and not till then, the aymcn of the
party learn what they are expected to believe
This is reducining human free-dgency in poll
tics to a minimum quantity.
And what is platform7 Is Il declaration
Of principles or The recommendation of admin.
istrative measures having reference to So m,
fundamental proposition in politics? Nothing :,
the kind. II is trap TO catch voters, withnu
regard to any rule of con sistency an appeal I,
passions or preiudices existing or supposed [,
exist in the popular mind. Its "livimg issues
are points upon which ii Is supposed appeal.
may prohtably be made To passions or preju,lice
and its end is not to elevate or IN dep0se prin
ciple as rule of political action, but to elect
candidate.
| Just at this time the Democratic party is il
qu st of living issues. Its leaders are tired I,
being out of power. They would disband Tia,
party they knew how, and were not afrai,
that the place into which they would fall wsul,
be worse than that which they now inhabit
Unable to do this, they looking for new de
parturcs means Of escaping from the old leav
EN- Of Democracy which, in spite Of them, ha
adhered to the lay masses Of the party, and o
starting anew without the mpediment. Bu
here is the difficulty there is ground tie
which in spite of their effrts. remains IN a grea
degree, unsnphislicated and while success
with this element is very doubtful, it is hopeles
without ii.
The South was the citadel of the Democratic
party. In the North il nsver amounted to any
thing. Its strength was perpetually frittere,
away through the wrangnEs ofits demagogues
II was little more than the attenuated tail Of tn
Southern kite, dangling in hopeless Inceritud
over the border. The head has suffered par
alysis without the gain Of any capacity for di
rectiou ou the part Of the tail, and in all of il
movements it does little more than make contin
ual manifestation of its own mbecility. 1t
idle to hope for anyhing from it but folly in con
, tnual repetition.
In search of living Issue and a new depart
ure, and the practical effect Of the movemcn
3 which commenced with Mr.. Yallandigham is tn
, extinction of all issues. In the better DAYS q
the Democracy the issue between the Democrat
c and the Federalist party and its successor
was very broad, and NJ eff,rt was IN tde, on tn,
part of the former, to make it appear narrowe
I than it was actually Then the leaders wer
bold, and the war was open. There was some
! thing for which to fight and to sacrifice, and
. victory meant something. Men embark ed ,hei
: intelects and their eonsciences in the strife
They grew honest as they grew earnest, and
whichever party gained the victory, the peopl
: were educated. Now the ambition of the Demo
cratic leaders is to obiterate the Democrat
o record Of the past to shuttle offthe Democrat
garment. living issue is an issue that is i'm
p rcepube either a a fact or motive and
y nsw departure is to borrow a suit Of second.han
f Republican regimentalS, and in that disguise,
steal a victory. There is none the pluck OF tb
) ancient Democracy in this cowardly polio
which savors rather of the spirit of Jerem
Diddler than Of any more reputable character
| lbi,.T0o RNnubIicun