Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-08-07


party Of which | am so much afraid? nee,
not say that it is not the original Democrat,
party-tbe party Of my childhood and youth
That was worthy party-a party for human
rights and human equality. 1t was the reform
party Of It's day 1t iayored universal suffrag,
and the abolition Of imprisonment for debt, anc
many other benefcent changes. But this mod
ern Democratic party--this degenerate Demo
cratic party-is very unlike the original Demo.
cratic party 1t is utterly unworthy of the
name it has so falsely, not to say so knavishly,
assumed. IL had, for many years before our
accursed rebellion, sympathzed with and served
the slave power Of our land Hence. when, a
'lozen years ago, that mighty power became "a
infatuated as to fall upon our nation with the
purpose Of breaking il up entirely and forever.
It found the Democratic party ready to help
carry this malignant purpose into effect. In
Heed, but for the well-known proslavery spirit
Of that party, the rebellion would not have
hcen. 1t was the slave powers reliance on
that spirit and on the impliedly. If not in fact
expressly, promised aid Of tens Of thousands o
Northern Democratic troops, which supplied
what that power lacked Of encouragement and
boldness to plunge into the rebellion. when
'peaking Of this degenerate Democratic party.
l. Of course, do not include in it the thousands
Of loyal men who, on the breaking out Of the
rebellion. forsook It and espoused the cause oil
their country. All the way through the war
this infamous party continued in more or less
active sympathy with the slave power-ever
hostile TO the emancipation Of the slaves and
ever hating and despising the colored race
NJ the way through the war it mourned over
iur successes and rejoiced in our defeats All
the way through the war, it di,fivored enlist
ments in our army. and opposed the drafting Of
men to Gil up our wasting ranks All the way
through it, it did what it could to weaken our
paiional credit both at home and abroad and
20 reduce and cripple our means for carrying
IN the war. And since the war its conduct ha.
been in keeping with its conduct during the
var. Reputation Of our national debt. and
mpossibiity that it could ever be paid, when
not the cry upon its lips, were still the deep
lesire Of its heart Departing Of the literal
eensla,cment Of the negro, it went for heap
ug upon him as much Of other injustice and
ruelty as was possible. IL refused him the
right to vote and to be educated To this day
persists in refusing him his full measure Of
Evil rights and his equality before the law
Worst aud most satanic Of all, it opposes all
Gectual legislation for suppressing these South
'rn Associations, that whip and hang and shoot
thousands Of innocent blacks, and not a few
nnocent white men also. who dare stand up for
usice to these innocent blacks Let me here
ay that nothing surprises and alarms me more
han the sof'ened tone in which this hel-born
\u-Kluxism is now spoken Of in certain quar-
ers where, until quite recently, it was de.
iounced with the utmost vehemence How
'reat he change, at this point. in even the New
York Tr,JHael Does it but reflect a change in
n, former eminent editsr? How sad, il so .
This and few other newspapers. styling them
elves Liberal Republican (als,, they are
quite too liberal toward this superlative wicked
,ess y continued until within few months, to
nveigh against Ku-Kluxsm as the most horrid
II all the crimes OF earth. But, now, these
newspapers would have Us believe that Ku-
<luxism was only little and short-liyed affair,
which has already passed away. leaving peace.
harmony and love to SIMPLY its place. ad-
nit that there is. just now, lull in the storm
ut the storm is not yet ended. admit that
dness are less frequent, but there are still
thousands upon thousands Of men and women
sho are in constant dread Of their recurrence.
Let President Grant, who so faithfully executes
he laws against Ku-Kluxism, withdraw his re-
ressing hand for only single week, and the
lanes of hell wonll again burst out there as
uriously as ever, and the whip and halter and
ullet be again as busy as ever. 1t is true that
thirty-six persons, convicted Of Ku-Klux crimes
were sent few days ago to the Albany pcni.
trntiary, and that hundreds. and more nearly
housands Of others. arc now under Indictment
'or such crimes but the spirit Of Ku-Kluxsm
viii not die out SO long as the Democratic
oarty exists to sympaihize with that spirit. Let
rs not be deceived by the representation that
ku-kluxism is confined TO the al low whites of
he South. Many Of the influential Southern
Democrats are involved in it. No small proof
4 this is that not few Of them hrd the coun-
~ as soon as President Grant undertook to
nforce the laws against the murderous scoun-
lrtls. No wonder that he is unpopular with
hese scoundrels, and that they prefer for Presi-
lent some softer person than this iron. and in
sincible soldier. Nevertheless. the dread be
inspires is Just what is needed few years
onger to restrain and subdue this worst element
n the ponula'ion of our country. il not indeed
he worst in the whole world. Not only did
'onsent to have my name at the head of the
ames OF Jefferson Davis bail bond, hut. as
YOU are aware, | felt so kindly toward the
South, as to be- from the very first, in favor Of
Universal amnesty. When, however. the reign
Il KuKluxism set in, | paused, and doubted
whether that portion of our country. which
breeds and cherishes such monsters, shoulI re-
;eive any more unmerited favors Heartily did
concur with the motion of our old neighbor,
Senator Nye, that the candidates for amnesty
he required to purge themselves by their oaths
Of all participation in Ku-Kluxism.
Such my neighbors. as have described it, is
the Democratic party. But what occasion bad
for describing it? The occasion is the present
rekindling Of its zeal and renewing OF its efforts
to get the rens OF Government once more into
its own hands But by all that 10 precious in
Justice and mercy, the Republican party must
be kept in power; and by all that is abhorrent
in oppression and cruelty and murder, the Dem
ocratic party must be kept out of power. 1t is
said, however, that the Democratic party ha-
heen kept out of power dozen years, and that
il is now time to forgive il and to let it try its
hand at ruling again. No, it is not When,
then, will it be time7 Never Never! What
not if it repent2 1t cannot repent. 1t has
sinned too long and too deeply to be capable OF
repentance. Ii cannot rise up out Of the bot
tomless depths Of its political wickedness. As
that generation of Israelites which rebelled
against Heaven, was shut out from the promised
land, so must this generation of impenitent