Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-03-06
THE SITUATION.
PRINCIPLES NOT DESTROYED BY THE waH

A fair view of the political horizon
of the country reveals much that must
encourage and should clate all true
Democrats. There are some, how
ever, who call themselves Democrats
that seem to make these favorable
auspices the occasion for gloomy mis-
giving, and seek to dampen, rather
than encourage, the hopes which they
naturally inspire. Occasionally we
see II Democrat, well read and intelli-
gent or nearly all the important mat
lers, who imagines that it is impossi.
bic to return again to the state the
country was in before the war. They
think the work of revolution has nl-
ready gone too far, to cherish the
hope of going back to the Constitu'
ton as IL was. They take the posi-.
ton that the havoc which political
party has been able to effect through
n reign of terror must stand MS per.
mancnt condition of things. The idea
of such people seems 10 be that the
only object the Democratic party has
in getting into power is TO avail itscll
of the spoils Of Office. In their en-.
Iarged patriotism, principles pass for
nothing. They have an indisiinct
and mistaken notion about some sort
of policy, but principles appear to
be something entirely beyond their
Imagination. The principles Of De-
mocracy we have studied, teaches us
that no Democratic statesman and no
Democratic patriot will take into tho
hope of success a thought of the cmol
umcnts of Office. In this great and
dangerous emergency, the grand cen
tral idea of all success is to save our
country from the crushing despotism
which the war has brought upon it.
The work the democratic party has Ia
do is not TO confirm this despotism
but to raze it from turrct TO founda
ton stone, and TO do the work &c
thoroughly and so inexorably that nc
political party, however bad, shal
ever venture upon the task of cffccting
such revolution again. The business
tho great Democratic party has upor
its hands is to get all the way back tt
tho Constitution, from which il ha'
been dragged by tho negro party now
in power. With the principles, policy
and the doings OF that party, Dcmoc
racy can have no compromise there
is no half way ground between thcil
principles and tho Constitution, OF
which alone we can stand. IL is per
fcctly consstcnt for tho Radical par
ty, on account Of tho doctrines they
advocate, TO declare that they tav.
"rcpudiated tho Constitution" Mon
strous and criminal us their position
il, it is nevertheless consistent will
them. But there is no logical groun'
for the Democratic party TO stan'
upon but tho Constitution, and thi
must carry the party back to groun'
it occupied with so much honor ant
with such great, good results to on
country, from tho da,o Of the Virgins
and Kentucky Resolutions. in 1893, Il
1861. These over memorable rcsolu
tions were brought forward BY Thoma
Jefferson and Mr. Madison, the found
ers Of tho Democratic party, for til
purpose Of saving the country from
conspiracy set on foot by the Federal
ists, designed TO overthrow the sovci
eighty OF the States and to consolidat
them into single despolic govern
mcnt. This the Federalists, under th
leadership of tho elder Adams, n'
tempted to do, and IL was this yer
attempt to strip the States OF ihci
sovereignty that hurled tho Fedcr'
party from power and buried II $
deep under the popular obloquy
that day, where II remained withou
a sign Of life until IL stole into powe
again, us reptiles crawl into dungeons
under the administration of Lincoln.
/, On the subject Of the powers OF III
. Federal Government and the sove1
cignty Of Tho States, the Domocratl
cartv avar had ono and thu aau