Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-06-29
A Little History.

A LlGtI6 hIStOTys
THE action of the Ohio Democratic
Convention ends, for that State, a chapter
of political history in this country which
every man who wishes to vote wisely
should carefully study. In the year 1860
the Democratic party was dominant in the
Union. Its great policy was the denial OF
the fundamental American doctrine of
equal human rights, and, under the plea of
State sovereignty, the confirmation and
perpetuity of human slavery.
The rise of the Republican party was the
protest of the national conscience against
this monstrous policy. The protest be-
came SO commanding that the most logical
and resolute of the Democratic chiefs, fore
seeing the ultimate catastrophe of their
course, brought on the war of the rebellion.
The mass of the Northern Democrats de-
nounced the Republicans as morally re-
sponsible for the wa by their unconstitu-
tional hostility to the extension Of slavery,
while some individuals like Butler, Dick
inson, and others, cordially supported CO.
ercion.
But during the whole war the steady
opposition to every necessary measure of
war proceeded from the Democratic party.
1t called the war wicked, fratricidal, and
unnecessary. 1t derided the President
with every epithet Of contempt. 1t nomi-
mated notorious Copperheads for Office in
the various States. In Connecticut its
candidate for Governor was the we'll
known Mr.. Seymour of that State. In
Ohio it nominated Mr.. Vallandigham, who
had so openly espoused the cause of the
rebellion that he was sent beyond the
Union lines. In New York it elected
Horatio Seymour, who melted the July
riots of 1863 Everywhere and always it
paralyzed action and demoralized opinion,
until in 1864 it solemnly declared the war
failure, and demanded surrender to the
rebellion. Meanwhile the faithful and
patriotic citizens of the Union stood fast
and united against the cannon of the rebels,
and the moral support of those cannon
offered by the Democratic party, and un-
conditionally subdued the rebellion.
Then came Mr.. johnson and his treach-
cry. He denounced Republican legisla-
ton, and the Democrats supported him,
declaring the whole Republican recon
struction, as they had declared the Repub-
lican conduct of the war, to be unconstitu-
tional, revolutionary, and void. Embold-
ened by the possibility of their ascenden-
cy, the smothered feelings in the South
ern States showed itself in the massacres
at New Orleans and Memphis, and the
loyal people of the country, seeing these
things, and hearing Democratic speeches
and resolutions, closed their ranks and
elected General Grant.
At last, perceiving that the people of
the United States have repudiated the ira
ditions, the opinions, the policy, the can
didates, the spirit, of the Democratic
| party, some of its leaders are trying to do
the same, in the hope that when every
| thing distinctively Democratic has disap-
| peared, the people may not be unwilling
to trust a party which retains only
the name. The Ohio Democratic Con-
vention, therefore, under the presidency of
a gentleman who was in favor of seces-
| sion, has nominated for Governor sol
| dier of the fratricidal and unconstitutional
war; and at the instance OF another gen
tleman, who wished to surrender to the
rebellion in 1861, and who declared Repub.
lican reconstruction revolutionary and
void in 1868, resolves that Republican re
construction is valid and must be enforc
ed. Yet, even this action was by no means
unanimous. After a stormy struggle, q
vote was 365 yeas against 129 nays.
This history shows that the Democratic
leaders, despising the conscience and
undertaking the intelligence of the Ameri
can people, fell from power. Their policy
was inhuman, their appeals were odious
their methods were corrupt. The Demo
cratic party became a national curse II
struggled to perpetuate slavery, and, in
order to succeed, it debauched and degrad
ed the public mind Yet it continually
claimed to be peculiarly a constitutional
party; and in the name of the Constitution
connived at the rebellion to overthrow it
1t now proposes, in Chic, to ask for the
| popular confidence on the ground that il
has never deserted it. It accepts as much
OF the Republican policy as it can moi
hope to defeat, and now calls the rest OF
it, as it formerly called the whole, uncon
stitutional. And what to-day it brands as
unconstitutional, revolutionary, and void
it will tomorrow commend as valid, if il
is necessary to obtain power
Meanwhile is the Union surer with those
who have fought and suffered for it, OF
with those who practically connived a
secession? Is freedom safer with thost
who have been its friends always, or will
those who were yesterday its flercest foes
Is honest administration more probable
with intelligence and conscience, or will
Ignorance and contempt of "moral ideas p
Are popular Institutions more stable witt
the answering friends Of the public schoo
system, or with those who are allied will
ecclesiastical enemies2 Is respect for tn,
Constitution more probable with thos,
who amended it, as itself provides, to en-
large the securities of equal rights, or witt
those who are willing to acquiesce il
"usurpation" under it, and to declar
what they call its most hagrant violation
valid? The action of the Democratic
Ohio Convention is the most signal vindi
cation of the Republican ascendencY il
the government, and the frankest confes
sion that the general conduct of that part,
is approved by the good sense of tn
country.-Harper's Weekly.