National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-16

so did that purpose.
With a sagacity, a steadfastness, and a
clearness Of vision which, If employed in
a good cause, would be Of inestimable
value, the Democratic party found that
covert, narrow, and devious way which
lay between loyalty and treason, and
they pursued that way from the middle
of the year 1882 to the end of the war,
always avoiding the rebuke Of their
country's laws and also the reproach OF
their country's foes.
But even for this stinted measure OF
loyalty there may have been some excuse.
1t may have sprung from lack Of faith
and not from want Of love. They pro-
fessed to believe the rebellion invincible,
and, ifthey really believed so, they could
hardly be expected to display much zeal
in struggle they believed to be hopeless.
The spirits are rare and very choice who
lead forlorn hope with anything like
gayety. But those who lead a real hope,
nc matter how forlorn, and do not
merely follow dread, are not apt to
look so dismal as these Democrats did
when the rebellion was finally crushed.
Possibly, however, even that singular
detection was but the effect Of morti6ca-
ton at their own misiudgment and want
of provision. But when the rebellion
was crushed and they were invited to aid
in removing its cause, as well as a
cause for future rebellions, by abolishtng
slavery, they refused to do that How
can that refusal be excused or for
given2 The great act of emancipation,
while it is the grandest in history, is also
the least expensive. 1t cost nothing but
a vote, yet even this they refused to give.
BY simply writing Eyes upon their bal
lots, instead of no." they knew they
could give freedom to four millions of
human beings. They were sure of vic
tory if they said Eyes > they could only
hope for victory if they said "no ''-and
vet they said mo" 1t was mere ques-
ton of volition. The question was
squarely put to them after they had been
led shu6dering clear through the Red sea
and stood dry on the other shore-stood, |
too, in that marvellous blaze which |
irradiates the nineteenth century as it
sinks into the twentieth-they were
plainly asked g Are you willing the bond
should be free ?" and they said mo"
When is that generation coming, and
whence is it coming, that shall excuse or
forgive that impious refusalP
And when, in spite Of Democratic re-
sistance the bond had been made free
and secured against return to slavery
by an amendment to the Federal Consti-
tuition, this same opposition was asked
once more, MAY the freedmen become
and be admitted to civilrights P'
And again the answer was mo"
And when, in spite of that resistance,
the freedmen had been made citizens the
Democracy was asked, MAY these citi-
zsps, though they be black, have the pro-
teetion of the ballot which the law be-
nignly grants to all citizens, however
humble, Of every other color ?" And
again the answer was mo-"
And when the Kuklux, armed with
brand and bludgeon, hunted the new
made citizen by night, hunted him
through swamps and pursued him to
leath-when the local authorities stood
oowerless in the presence Of organized
murder and arson, and this opposition
vas appealed to to lend the protection Of
he national tribunals to the victims of
uch incarnate hate, they still mockedat
uch calamities and refused all relief.
1t is often fiippantly said that all these
,rimes and horrors are past, and it is
.bsurd to attempt to maintain politi-
al party on the memory of them. Per-
laps so. But would it not be insane to
rust a political party that could so
eadily forget themP 1t is not magnani-
nous, it is indeed hardly manly, to per-
ecute men for sins Of which they have
eally repented. But that is not repen-
ance, it is Hypocrisy, which processes to
epent of sins and does not forsake them,
ut embraces worse ones. Such is the ,
repentance displayed by the
Democratic party. 1t never ceases to
enounce the Republican party for what
has done or is trying to do, but it
thunders with fercer de-
Of what the party has not /,
one and is determined shall not be done.
he moment Democrats forget to decry ,
republican policies they begin to belle J
republican motives. For twenty years /,
hey deemed it sufficiently opprobrious /,
D call Republicans f" Radicals" now :
hey claim to be radicals themselves and
Republicans as rascsls.
DEMOCRATIC PROMISES.
Since the early part Of 1872 they have !
cen diligently seeking to suborn rene G
ade Republicansto turn states evidence 2
nd to swear that all political virtue is I
lthose discounted forces which resisted
he progress Of the last decade, and all
illsiny is in the forces which marshaled e
rat progress. To such witnesses they /,
ave lavishly offered honors, Offices, O
Ignities, presidencies, everything which