Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-07-20
The Northern and Southern DemOc-
rBcy.

THE fact that Mr.. Alexander 81. Ste
phens has become the editor of the At
lanta San, and distinctly repudiates the
new departure of his party, is but another
illustration of the serious division of that
party. Mr.. Stephens is Democrat who
has proved his Democracy by his conspic
uous fidelity to the rebellion. He is Dem
ocrat whose Democracy is not questioned.
He is Democrat who announces that he
stands upon the national platform of his
party promulgated only three years ago.
He is also by general consent politician
of experience and ability. He is uIques-
tionably a more powerful and acknowl-
edged Democratic leader than any who
has yet declared for the new departure
He can not be contemptuously silenced
by sueer of "a burned out rocket" ard
when he returns to the political field and
states his position distinctly, he may not
represent majority of the votes of his
party, but he does represent its traditional
| principles and policy, and the latest and
most authoritative declaration of them and
it may fairly be supposed that he repre-
! sents also the real convictions of his party
IN his own section of the country. MIR.
Stephens denies that the recent amend
ments to the Constitution are valid, and,
recalling their denunciation as usurpations
of the Democratic party of 1868, he adds,
mo people devoted to constitutional
law need ever expect to secure rectitica-
ton of admitted usurpations of power by
accepting them as accomplished facts, and
granting in advance complete absolutlon
te the perpetrators of them"
When, therefore, the New York World,
in the face of such declaration by one OF
the most conspicuous, and certainly the
ablest, of Southern Democrats, says that
Northern Democrats deny, as they have
always denied, the right of secession, and
Southern Democrats accept the situa-
ton" its remarks need only fidelity to the
fact to be effective. If, as probably many
of its own party would seriously question,
the World may assume to speak for North
ern Democrats, there is no question that
Mr.. Stephens may speak for the Southern
And when he, and Jefferson Davis, and
the Mobile Register, and other acknowl
edged Southern Democratic leaders and
organs declare emphatically that they dc
not accept the situation, it is in vain that
the World declares that they do.
And the Northern Democratic accept
ance of the situation in the new departure
, is very well defined by Senator Sherman
, in his speech at the Ohio Convention. L
admits the amendments, but opposes tht
laws for their enforcement. tits the coun
! terpart of the Democratic acquiscence IL
the war, with opposition to the measures
necessary to carry it on. So that the ex
act Democratic situation is this: Some o
the Northern Democrats profess acquies
l cence in the amendments, and Immediately
I proceed to qualifications and explanation
which leave everything in doubt; whil
the chief Southern Democrats declare tina
they cling to the last national platform 0
!, their party, and regard the amendments a
, usurpations, and void. These are the opln
1 ians, distinct upon one side, obsCur
and suspicious upon the other, whicl
: will divide the Democratic Nationa
d Convention as did the Democratic Stat
Convention in Ohio. And as the part
placed General Mcclellan upon their SUI
render Chicago platform in 1864, and NJ
It Seymour, who had professed hostility t
+ reputation upon their repudiating plat
: form in 1868, and General McCook, VIII
= virtually spurned the amendments, upo
:, the new departure platform in Ohio, Sc
= following the same practice, the Conver
e ton of 1872 will probably pronouDc
i vaguely for acquiescence, and then nom
| nate candidate who does not acQuiesce.
/, The important fact for all American cit
r zens who are looking for stability and II
j lease from the questions which the wa
virtually settled is that the Democrat
If party is still torn by desire to cling [
e the old issues as all that remains of the
e traditional policy. While some Norther
1, organs and conventions vociferously shot
: that all is settled, Southern organs quit
3, as authoritative, contemporary retort tht
e nothing is settled. Is this party to con
g mand the confidence and support of hol
l. est men who are resolved that, as SLAYER
y is abolished, all taint of slavery in laN
n and customs shall also disappear? and tina
n as the political excuse for the rebellio
was the doctrine of State sovereignty, ii
o sovereignty of States to defeat the natiol
y al will shall be as fl ctually abolished {
IS slavery.-Harper'S Weekly.