The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-08-21
Democratic Policy.

The following article from the Re
public is SO true and to the point, that
we publish it without further comment:
We lay aside our Democratic exchanges
and admit confusion of ideas never be-
fore experienced. A few years ago we
could locate Democracy III our sleep;
but DOW, with our eyes open, and in the
full possession of all our faculties, we
are puzzled to know where to find it. In
vain we read the State addresses of the
unterrifed; the more we read the more
We become befogged; and like skipper
in the midst Newfoundland fog bank,
we are forced to guess at the situation,
and accept with caution everything we
hear and see. Like the bill-poster' dream,
we see protection, free trade, imitation,
contraction, paper money, specie pay
ments, redemption, and repudlatlon pass
before us in such hopeless confusion
that we dispair of finding but one point
of agreement among our Democratic
brethren, and that one, opposition to the
Republican party. We believe on this
one point the Democracy of the coun-
try, from Maine to California, are UNI
ted. They are willing to accept any
creed, preach any doctrine, abide by any
faith, to effect the overthrow OF the Re
publican party. In one section they
favor the practical reputation of the
public debt as the easiest way to Tighten
the burdens of taxation; in another they
| would have the nation keep faith with its
creditors, and do away with all promises
to pay by 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 Of all classes. They clamor
everywhere for what they term con-
stituational exercise of personal liberty,
and yet denOunce as an invasion of their
rights any effort on the part OF the Gen
eral Government to protect and secure
the exercise of personal liberty on the
part of our citizens everywhere. While
they stand rendy to applaud the Govern
ment in its efforts to protect a single
citizen III foreign land, they stand
equally ready to denounce as tyrannical
the protection of American ucitizens in
our own. In word, the Democratic
party to-day is without policy, except
the vague one contained in five words:
Opposition to the Republican party.
Yet to tens of thousands of thoughtless
men this one declaration is sufficient to
unite them in combined movement to
overthrow the party in power. They
never stop to ask why they seek its over
throw, or to speculate on the conse-
Quences which would follow: The de-
struction of our financial system; the
depreciation of our credit at home and
abroad; the terrible dangers which would
threaten our newly-made citizens; the
Iy7.yat nf al
tile, manufacturing. and agricultural in
terests, are nothing to them compared
to party success. It is from this class
of unthinking men, who blindly follow
the fortunes of Democracy, that we have
most to fear. To defeat their combina-
tions, and thus turn aside the deadly
weapon which they would aim at the
heart of the Republic, calls for the clos
est union of patriotism and intelligence
"a union which rises above mere part
isanship, which has for its object and
aim the safety of the nation and the ad
vancement of civilization. Our greatest
dangerlies In our overwhelming strength.
1t tends to beget feeling of security
which may prove fatal to our cause. In
the presence OF an active and unscrupu-
lous enemy we should leave no point un-
guarded. A thorough organization of
our forces should be completed in every
town, city, and State. Every thought
full man who has weighed the conse-
quences of Democratic rule should be
urged to join hands in the common de-
fense. Local issues should be laid aside
until the national work is over. Keep
the General Government in the hands of
true men, and, with this assured, we can
settle local questions at our leisure. Re
member the political battle to be fought
this fall has for it's stake the House of
Representatives. Permit Democracy to
gain q foothold there and the wheels of
progress will be turned back at least
score of years.