The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1873-09-25

OF soldiers murdered TO give them
room. The question need not be
asked why he referred to the record
and character of the Democratic par
ty. He had no choice in the matter
The old party, with allits deformities.
has thrust itself into the face of the
nation, demanding recognition. The
Democratic party has done no good
thing in the last twenty years, but
has sinned continually. 1t is not only
incapable of reform, as declared by
Groesbeck, but scarcely makes seri-
Gus pretense of purpose in that di-
rection. It has made dalliance with
civil service reform; it may fondle the
farmers movement; but these do not
enter into the serious purpose of life,
which is to restore the Democratic
party to power with its ancient prin,
ciples, and set at defiance, as far as
possible, the march of events and the
progress of the last twelve years.
The men who control the Demo
cratic party to-day, were educated in
the belief that our government is but
a compact or alliance between SOW
ereign States; that the government
had no constitutional power to pre-
vent the secession of the Southern
States or to repress the rebellion.
They mourn the abolition of slavery;
do not believe in the natural rights
or capacity of the colored race; and
abhor the thirteenth, fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments They look
upon the changes of the last ten years
as the old party in Japan look upon
Christianity and the civilization of
Western Europe. These opinions
crop out continually in speeches,
State papers, conventions and news
papers. Governor Hendricks in his
inaugural said he would attempt to
maintain friendly relations with the
United States and preserve fraternal
comfy with other States, showing
his view that he was Governor of a
sovereign and Independent State,
which is the very spirit of the resolu-
tions of '98.
Last years Presidential contest
was, on the part of the Democracy,
an attempt to gain a victory under
false pretenses. They took Republi-
can candidates and q Republican
platform, and the Liberals thought
they had captured the Democratic
party. This year, the Democratic
State platforms significantly ignore
last years acceptance of the situation,
and declare that on all great ques-
tons they stand where they have al
ways stood, and as up to last year,
they denied the validity ofthe amend
ments, and opposed colored suffrage.
The nation can have 10 faith in such
masquerading politicians. Many
Democrats resisted last years coali-
ton; among these was Senator Thur
man.
Senator Morton then began a re-
view of the Democratic State plat
form, declaring their position in re-
gard to public lands, ridiculous, from
the fact that when the Democrats
were in power every proposition to
donate public lands to actual settlers
was rejected by them. Grants to
railroads were inaugurated by Demo
Gratis, and grants to settlers by Re
publicans. On the subject OF finance
the party has no policy whatever.
Some oppose banks, others favor
specie payment, others are for green
backs. On the tariff they have no
position that anybody is bound to re
spect. In 1868 they declared for a
tariff for revenue, to give incidental
protection to American manufactur-
ers. In 1872 they took high pro-
tective tariff candidate and put the
taritfinto each Congressional district,
admitting that they were divided on
the question. Now Ohio Democrats
declare for free trade and make it an
issue, when no Congressman are
elected. The uniform practice OF
Democratic Congressman has been to
vote for high protective duties on ar
ticles manufactured in their districts.
Passing then into a definition OF
the fundamental difference between
the Republican and Democratic par
ties, Mr. Morton declared that as the
Democratic party had no financial OF
thrift policy, it took position Of
blind opposition to the Republican
party. The differences of these par
ties grow out of their different theo-
ries of the nature of government
The Democratic theory is embodied
in theresolutions of Virginia and Ken
lucky, 1888 and 1899. These have
been the bane of the nation, produc
ing the doctrine of notification and
secession-the devil of our politics
Opposed to this theory, is the Repub
ican view, that the. government is
formed by the people of the United
States in their raggregate and primary
capacity; that the government is one,
and not thirty seven sovereignties
The States have their rights by the
agreement of the nation. When this
idea is fully embodied all danger ol
centralization will pass away. The
absurdity of the resolutions of '9S ap
pears when we reflect that twenty
four out of thirty seven States were
made States by Congress. The ter
ritories out of which we were formed
save Texas, were the property of the
United States, and by the Constitu
| t;O,, ,o1oooJ 1,D5or tho ayolrciva nOn.