Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-09-05
Democratic Policy.

we lay aSlue our I)etnecratlc OK
changes and admit confusion Of
ideas never before experienced. A
few years ago we could locate De-
mOcracy in our sleep; but now,
with our eyes open, and in full pos
session of all our faculties, we are
puzzled to know where to find it.
In vain we read the State addresses
of the unterriiied; the more we
read the more we become befOgged |;
and like skipper in the midst of a
Newfoundland fog bank, we are
forced to guess at the situation, and
accept with caution everything we
hear and see. Like the bill.posters
dream, we see protection, free trade,
imitation, contraction, paper money,
specie payments, redemption, and
reputation pass before us in such
hopeless confusion that we despair
of finding but one point of agree
ment among our Democratic breth'
ren, and that one, opposition to the
Republican party. We believe on
this one point the Democracy of our
country, from Maine to California,
are united. They are willing to ac'
cept any creed, preach any doctrine,
abide by any faith, to effect the over
throw of the Republican party. In
one section they favor the practical
reputation of the public debt as
the easiest way to tighten the bur-
lcns of taXation; in another they
would have the nation keep faith
with its creditors, and do away with
all promises to pay by a single stroke
of legislation. In the South they
would use the party to check the
growth of intelligence among the
blacks, and in the North they agree
to accept the situation and favor the
education Ofall classes. They clam
or everywhere for what they term a
exercise of personal
liberty, and yet denOunce as an in
vasiUn of their rights any effort on
the part of the General Government
to protect and secure the exercise OF
personal liberty on the part of our
citizens everywhere, While they
stand ready to applaud the Govern
ment in its efforts to protect sin
gle citizen in foreign land, they stand
equally ready to denounce as tyran-
lical the protection of American
citizens in our own. In d word, the
Democratic party to-day is without
. policy, except the vague one con
aimed in five words: Opposition to
he Republican party. Yet to tens
If thousands of thoughtless men
his one declaration is sufficient to
mite them in a combined movement
o overthrow the party in power
They never stop to ask why they
eek its overthrow, or to speculate
II the consequences which would
Dllow: The destruction of our fl
ancial system the depreciation of
ur credit at home and abroad the
aralyzation of our commercial, ,
lcrcantile, manufacturing, and ag-
icultural interests, are nothing to +,
hem compared to party success ,
t is from this class of unthinking
len, who blindly follow the fortunes :
f Democracy, that we have most
} fear. TO defeat their combina-
ons, and thus turn aside the dead
weapon which they would aim at
le heart of the Republic, calls for
le closest union of patriotism and Z
union which rises II
Dove mere craftsmanship, which has u
" it's object and aim the safety of s.
le nation and the advancement of 81
vilization. Our greatest danger II
es in our overwhelming strength. G.
tends to beget feeling of securi- L
: which may prove fatal to our h
luse. In the presence Of an active t
I'd INSCRIPTIONS enemy we should q
ave no point unguarded. A most II
orough organization of our forces t.!
lould be completed in every town, a
ty, and State. Every thoughtful W
an who has weighed the conse- al
fences of Democratic rule should W
, urged to Join hands in the com- L
on defense. LocalissueS should be y
id aside until the national work is Ii
er. Keep the General Govern I'll
ent in the hands of true men, and II.
tn this assured we can settle the NJ
,al questions at our leisure. Re
ember the political battle to be G,
light this Fall has for it's stake the On
ouse of Representatives. Permit W
IN, onrocr tc rroiu n frnfho1I thoro w