Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-05-17

followers of the Cincinnati movement,
with many of them personal and
not patriotic motives must be inferred.
Leave The question of motives aside.
Suppose that the Convention nominates
the best man who has been named. Sup.
pose that its platform demands every good
reform and asserts every sound principle.
The fact will still remain unchanged-thc
hard cruel, fatal fact-that the candidate
must look for his election TO Democratic
votes, and the greater purity and econ
my of administration, which will he de-
manded must be expected of the Demo
cratic party.
We are told that this is an idle and fool
ish fear. We are asked if old issues are
not settled. and whether we propose to
slay the slain forever 1t is declared that
the name of the Democratic party is
bupaboo with which children may be
scared, but not men; and that 1t may be
trusted for all good purposes and reforms,
with the protection of the new citizens,
and the payment of the debt and the
pacifcation of disturbed parts OF the
country, and with every other living issue,
as surely as the Republican party. Mean
while, however, there are certain facts
which are perhaps as well worthy of CON
sideration as rosy assertions. The cleo
ton in New Hampshire resulted well, but
the figures show compact and organized
Democratic party. The RepuDlcans
carried Connecticut, but it was a lean
majority enough, we grant; not SO wlue
as a churcn door, but enough. Yet in
that State also there is compact and
organized Democratic party. In New
York, where the Republican feud is tierc--
est, the World claims that Cincinnati and
the Democratic party will carry the State
l.. IL .,,l ,osT tfxr
where, indeed, the Democratic party is
thoroughly organized and every where it
has been for two months alert with hope
as it calculated the chances at Cincinnati.
And what is the Democratic party? III
is the political organization 10 which the
great body of those who were known as
rebels eight years ago belong. IL includes
every element not only of opposition to
Republican administration, hut of hos
tility to the Union and the Government.
1t is the patty whose active leaders and
members to-day were educated in the
dogmas of State sovereignty, and in the
| Virginia and Kentucky resolutions, as
| sound doctrine, who were trained in con-
tempt of the equal rights of the colored
race, and who, many of them-the active
Democratic leaders of to day-palliated
the rebellion, and sought in every way
short of actually taking up arms to en-
| barras the Government, struggling desper-
ately for existence. 1t is the party whose
| National Convention four years ago was
controlled by Wade Hampton and men
who exulted in declaring themselves
rebels, which pronounced for virtual
reputation, and which nominated Tor
President Governor Seymour, upon whom
rests, in our judgment, terrible share OF
the responsibility for the New York mas
e I'll. aV,1 tnr PpngI-
dent General Blair, who had just written
the Brodhead letter, which plainly sug-
gested revolutionary overthrow OF re-
construction. 1t is the party whose last
| Administl alton we describe elsewhere
the worthy tool of slavery and treason.
1t is the party which steadily resists in
Congress every measure for equal rights,
which is vociferous for interference for
doubtful American citizens in other coun-
tries, and hostile to the defense OF the
most hapless and innocent of American
citizens hunted and murdered in their
native land.
This and such as this is the Democratic
party. But if we say it, we are told that
it is undoubtedly so, but that hts is the
sentimental view of parties. We are as
sured that parties change, and that parry
chiefs adapt themselves to situations. We
are told that the doctrine of State Sover-
eighty is dead, that slavery cannot be re-
stored, and that reputation is improba-
be. But the active men of both parties
have not changed since the war. There
t are new voters, doubtless, but few new
leaders. 1t is, therefore, not sentiment
al theory; it is a simple question in human
nature and experience. Do Republicans
of go, '64 and '69 trust the Democratic
: party, call it what you will, and making
hat
choosey Do you who have proved, who
knew only too well, the party and the
, men who sustained the aggrcssions OF
: slavery, the party and the men who tried
to throttle liberty in the North as she was
: crushed IN the SOuth-do you, who knew
and who still know the party and the
7 men who made the war possible, who pal
: lated it, who prolonged it, and under
| whose cruel heel the flower of American
; manhood was trampled in blOod-do you,
in your souls, believe that this party and
these men, eight years afterward, can be
safely inrusted with the government
{ which was so hardly saved?
1t is not vindictiveness, it is not folly,
2 it is not refusal to accept the present stu
G alton, nor insistence upon fighting battles
! that are won, to declare that it would be
u grave day for the country when the
Democratic party under whateyer name,
e the party and the men whom we all know
return to power. And we are as sure that
l. such is the deep and wise conviction OF
the great mass of patriotic American citi
q Zens as we are that is our own and thai
il is because General Grant is felt TO h(
q the representative of the new epoch hos
( tile to that party that he is the sponta
:. neous candidate of those who hold thai
Z conviction. Great political tendencies
d the traditions sOf generations, theories
and principles long asserted and defend
l6 ed, habits and prejudices carefully foster
"A ed, the hates and bitterness of civil war
party pride, and party spirit, are not for
ever at an end because victory has beer
y won in the field, or party defeated a
- the polls and in political action unde
- such circumstances, while we do not far
3 anmosities, we must certainly not forge
"A them.
le If the Cincinnati Convention nominate
10 candidates who are adopted by the Demo
ie cratic party, and they are elected, tha
oi party will return to power II will no
~ probably undertake to restore chatte
~ slavery, but its success will necessarily b
reactionaTy movement against the spirl
80 and policy of the government since 1856
81 under Republican control. If the Gin
,e cinnati candidates are not adopted by tn
n Democrats, and they make separat
, nomination, those Republicans who pre-
IL fer a Democratic restoration to Republ
q can success with General Grant will SUI
% port the Cincinnati candidates, But i
1s that case their votes might be as well cas-
directly for the Democratic candidate
8 Unless the Republican party deserts il
g organization in body, either its regula
candidate will he elected or the Democrat
H. will return to power.-Hdrper's Weekly.