The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-04-25
THE PRESS
THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL IS, 49,
~. az Fxtravapant Prediction.

Senator Norton's declaration that the De-
mocracy If restored to power, would ignore
the constitutional amendments and, so far as
practicable, return all things to their condition
before the war, is very moderate statement
of the evils which may naturally be expected
to flow from a restoration of the Bourbons.
And there wSnld be no appreciate difference
in the result whether they reached Wasnlng-
ton by way Of Cincinnati or by an lndepehu-
ent route of their own. Most peoPle "o"u
go much further than Senator Mor'oi I'LL
their premonitions of evil. For our part we
cannot see that the Democracy have sincere
" abandoned. absolutely and forever, any
ono of the atrocious heresies for which they
have been prescribed for the past eighteen
wears. Indeed they are only trifing num-
Der of members of that party who profess to
have changed their opinions; they admit that
they adopt more liberal tenets only on COM
pulsion. There is every reason to suppose,
guided by the history of the past, that if the
pressure of an adverse political majority in
the national and State governments should
be removed, the Democracy would with con-
siderable unanimity, disclose their continued
adhesion to their old political dogmas.
Among the results that would ensue would
be these:
The reafirmation of the extreme doctrine
of State rights, including denial of power
in the general government to secure the civil
several States.
n
The expulsion from the late slave States of
all Northern settlers not in political sympa-
thy with the white oligarchy.
The instant expulsion from the South of
''Yankee school-teachers," and the abolition
of the freedmen's schools.
The subsection of the colored race in the
South, by means of vagrant and apprentice
laws, to condition not much better than
slavery.
The undisputed sway of the Ku-K Khan,
South of the Potomac. a4-J f'- .
The revival of the movement for repudi-
ating the national debt, or, as an alternative
measure, the assumption of the Rebel debt.
The presentation and allowance of an i'm
mense number of claims of disloyal citizens
for losses suffered during the war.
Unlimited greenbacks.
An attack on the system of paying pen
sions to disabled soldiers, or demand of
Confederate soldiers to participate in the gov
enment's bounty. rau
The repeal of the registry laws in all the
States,
And, worst of all, either neglect OF the
educational system of the States or absolute
hostility thereto
We defy any Liberal Republican" to show
that he is not in all reasonable probability
contributing to such results as these. In
spite OF the tremendous pressure of a gen.
eral government earnestly endeavoring to
protect all its citizens in the enjoyment of
equal rights, are not the Democrats of the
South, encouraged and justified by their
Northerns associates, neutralizing its efforts
so far as regard for their own safety will per-
init? DO not insubordination and disregard
of the constitution and laws exhibit them
selves in exact proportion as the restraining
influence of the federal government is with
drawn9 Do not Democrats contend to-day
that the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
menus, adopted under duress, are not
binding; and have not some States, on pass
Ing into Democratic hands, undertaken form
ally to withdraw their assent to these amend
ments? Have not Democrats always and
everywhere repealed registry laws as fast as
they could reach them? Have they not re-
pealed liquor laws? And as for education,
the Democrats in Congress are united against
all general schemes for spreading intelligence
and accordingly they oppose granting the
public lands for such purpose. And to-day
the school system of our own State is in
ruins, chiefly through Democratic agency.
In the face of such facts as these there are
those who say there is now no appreciate
difference between the Republican and DEM
ocratic parties!