Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-05-18
The Democratic Programme

L uc Icha1VCGdtlC AOSs esss sssCs
A friend has sent us, from South
Carolina, a copy of the Columbia, s.
c., Daily Phgpir of the 9th inst. On
the marginuf the paper are written
the words "Rebel to the backbone" !"
and the contents Of the paper amply
justify the remark. In this paper
we find an editorial copied from the
New York World, which is the
accepted chief organ and exponent OF
the Democratic party in the North.
This editorial, from such source,
and SO copied, may fairly be consid-
cred as Northern Democratic gospel
with Southern Democratic endorse
ment. 1t is headed, "What the
Democratic Party Will DO When in
Power;" and it lays down the Dem
oclatic programme in ten separate
planks or paragraphs, two of which
we would refer to now. Plank No.
I reads as follows:
7. IT wilt repeal all laws which
permit the Federal Government, or
any of its officers, to interfere with
elections in the States.
According to this, if the Democratic
party comes into power in 1872, the
New York Tammany ring will rule
the United States without possibility
Of remedy. Noto1ious:y, as every.
body admits, the elections in New
York City govern the State, and ARE
always carried by frauds-reck less,
monstrous frauds. The Tammany
bosses-Sweeny, Tweed & Co.-mak G
the ballot-box their playtling, and
stuff it all they please without let or
hindrapce. Under the above Demo
cra,ic programme, then, the Govern
ment could not in any manner pro
tect itself, and Sweeny, Tweed d Go.
would choose the President Of the
United States, and have the whole
nation under their thumbs. There
is no need of comment on this-the
whole thing is so plain that every
body can see H. May Heaven defend
us from such a fate!
The 9th and 10th planks in this
Democratic platform go well togeth-
er, and follow we'll upon such an
arrangement as the 7ih proposes.
They read thus:
Q. The Democratic party Will re-
move all the poi;icai disabilities and
disqualiiicaiions imposed for partici-
patton i'm the late civil war.
10. 1t will recognize the binding
force Of the three new Amendments
TO the Constitution, so long as they
are held to be valid by the Supreme
Court. l----
When all disabilities are removed,
every ex-rebel in the iand, from
JEFF. Davis down, will have an equal
voice with every other voter i'm the
control Of national affairs. This
alone, or this with the proper condi-
tons and Safeguards, might be
endured; but in connection with the
10th plank above quoted ii assumes
an additional meaning.
The "three rev Amendments 10
the Constitution" are: the 18th,
which abolishes slavery; the l4th,
which declares the right Of citizen
ship, specifies the equal rights Of
provides for fair aud equal
representation in Congress, and de-
clares the foil yaIidiiyand obligation
Of the Public Debt; and the 18Th,
which gives the suffrage 10 the
colored citizens. The Democratic
partyannounces that twill recognize
these Amendments only $50 long as
they are held To he valid by the
Court"
1t has always been the tendency Of
the Democratic party 10 eyalt the
Supreme Court, and make 1t over
ride the other branches Of the Gov
ernment-simply because 1t Is q body
50 easily tampered with and made
subservient 10 the Slave-power and
its allies. Only within the last few
weeks we have had an instance Of
this Court'sreversing its own decision
on an important point Of Constitu-
lional law. How easy It would be-.
when the Democratic party came in
power, to change back the Supreme
Court to the complexion it had when
Taney was its head and the bred
Scott decision its rule Of faith and
practice! And this is part Of the
st