Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-12-10
COinlnR Back 90 the Ante. War Demo
cratic Principles and Practices.

lFEOtn the new lOfk Republic, Dec
The most jealous, il not always the most po-
itic, organ Of Democracy in this countryside
New York World-informs us that when the
Democratic party regains possession Of the Coy
ernment, the nation is to be drought back TO
the PRACTICES and principles that obtained before
ehe war This announcement is doubtless made
Dy authority, and, there is every to believe
10 substantially true; buH we appreheId it will
be regarded 10 somewhat serious, IL not start.
ling, news TO majority Of people in the North
ern states. Most of us have Apretty lively recol-
iection OF the practices and principles that OBJ
tanned before the war !" but III view of the fact
that they are to be revived again. according to the
Worm Two years hence, it may not Ie aniiss to
recall some Of them 1t this time. And first as
to the principles: The leading .'pnncple" that
obtained before the war, At least III the Demo-
cratic party, was the sacrodness, ii not the d.
yinity, OF negro slavery. The chief mission Of
the great American Republio-"the only free
Government OIL earth"--was held to be the
maintenance and extension Of this divine insti-
tuition. Tie negro was declared to be an infe-
rior animal . species Of monkey, forming the
connecting link between man and the brute he
was utterly untitled for liberty, to say nothing
OF self-government and had ''no rights which q
white man was bound to respect" This
last proposition WAS even announced from the
supreme Court Bench BY a Democratic Chief
Justice With this ~ the leading "prin-
ciple" which obtained before the war, the "prsc-
tces' were Just what might have been expected.
ihe Government was administered solely IN the
interest Of slavery and Shareholders. The DEM
ocratlc party North were the supple tools Of some
3O0. 600 slave-owners who ran the whole mschiu-
cry Of Government for more than twenty years.
They were represented on the floors Of Congress
by their flre-eaters and bules, who cracked their
whips over Northern dough-faces, challenged
those who were not dough-faces to fight dnels
on me most frivolous pretexts. and, when they
hNhf tHaH fbnvv th.,t 4
BROOKS for words spoken in debate. The DEM
ocrstic party always stood by rejoicing and cried.
Served them right" And hnally, when the
North could stand it no longer, and resolved to
put an end to it by electing Republican Presi-
dent, the Southern States Withdrew from the
Union under the Democratic ''principe" Of State
lights, and Democratic President decided that
there was no power in the United States Govern
ment to maintain its existence.
The principles" of the Democratic party OIL
before the war, were no better than their doc
Lrines about slavery and State rights. Under the
theory Of hard money and specie payments they
Hooded the country with worthless shinplasters
sminating from a thousand State banks, with
out security or responsibility, aud liable to fail
obliged to supply himself with half dozen coun-
.erfeit detectors, and no citizen could travel
from one State to smother without sacrificing |
arge percentage OF his expenses to meet the |
iiacount Oh the money he was obliged to carry
With him. Panics were far more frequent be-. |
Tore the war than since ten failures occurred |
where one occurs now farmers, mechanics and |
aboring men reaped less than half the fruits of |
heir toll than they have since the war capital |
vas scarce, enterprise was dead, the people were |
Door. the Government WAS corrupt defaulters
we're numerous border rui1iahs in the interest |
u slavery, guarded the entrance Of our fairest
Territories immigration was impeded murders
we're rife Northern men, unless with Southern
were not safe in single State south
If Mason and Dixon's line the public con-
cience was demoralized, and the country was
inrryin9 on with break.neck pace to the devil.
These were the principles and practices that
obtained before the war;" and which, we are
old on the highest Democratic authority, are to |
,e revived whenever the Democracy again |
'omesinto power. A pleasant prospect, surely. |