The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-28
The Democrats.

Ths Democrats OF the North and West
hove not Inherited the wisdom Of their party
Of other days. They begun their party SRA
serv after The war by, refusing to act win
the more sensible part of the Republican
nsr,r. and compelling them to submit TO the
r,,rss In the framing Of the reconstruction
laws. !. e., the Democrats adopted the pol
icy Of sndeavorins to make those laws as
.hho,.en: al possible, thinking that in that
way public sentiment would be horflneo'
ard revolution would follow enuring TO
their advantage. So, when milder propo'
s;.ioa was presented in lien Of Que that was
worse, they voted against IT, and with TIE
ul:ra Radicals defeated It. Then, OF course,
:he o,scy cane up, and the more liberal he.
7,uh,;aps voted for it under the conviction
that they could carry no other. II is true
the Democrats voted against the worse mea.
sure; hu. their opposition 10 it, il earnest,
vas In vain, for they had united the Re-
publican party.
The true policy Of the statesman would
have been to accept the best of two pending
propositions. ard thus take the chances Of
ut least mitigating The rigors Of Objectionable
laws. Had the Democrats pursued this
no,i,y we here in {, ae South would now, in
ali human probability, be better oil.
But this the Democrats did not do. aud
we are the sufferers from their mistaken
,.olicy. 1t is almost certain that regro SUI
Trace would not have been imposed upon US
at all had the Democrats pursued different
course: and if imposed, We believe it would
have been prospective in its operation
placing the negroes on probation for time
before according TO them the exercise OF a
privilege for which they were not fitted: Ii
was the Democrats who voted negro SUI
trace into tho reconstruction measures.
The Democrats have not shown more Wis
dom in their subsequent policies. Beaten
md beaten successfully for nine years, they
continue their war, in season ana OUT OF
season. and succeed only in keeping The
EcputIieass united and inyDcible. Stand
icc BY themselves, they canpot conquer;
and whenever there is a project for COM
u;siDg with party elements exfoliated from
TIC ruling party, or Libcraists standing be-
tween the two great parties, there are enough
@: !mprcticahles opposing all compromises
ard an nominees but "wool-dyed Demo
eats" to bring defeat upon the coalition;
aud thus 1t is all the time defeat, defeat.
And tie war party still holds the power and
ra.:ousee Of the Government.
we see continually indications Of Demo-
o.: lie combinations in Congress on med
sures that every mau should be left to vote
upon with reference TO his own sense OF
duty TO the public interests. This is only
proof that the Democrats are not improving
in practical good sense, and that they ale not
frightening their prospects of triumph.
Can't they be quiet and bidc their time
And il party divisions and reconstructions
thould open the way to change Of rulers,
shall they FORBID the formation of new
rarts and sacrifice the interests Of the Re-
public by STIMULATING That Zone but Demo-
arats or Republicans shall "rule the roost,"
and thus dash the chances Of victory Of the
p.orle7
The patton IL getting very tired Of this;
b !; The Democrats are not likely to profit By
tho public feeling. In the South. from the
nature Of those measures which we are sorry
, believe arc made the more oppressive by
tle misguided sction OF the Democratic
party, VIC are compelled to fight our battles
irrespective Of national parties. We have
II? peni3eiatie party; and even that party
which styles itself Radical in no sense reSem.
bles The Republican party at the North.
The white people struggle to keep their |
governments out Of the hands Of the incom-
,,...r!., the unreiiableS, and the barbarians.
F!rGiEij, for instance, breads the fate Of her
>agii" IN sisters who are fallen under the
con::o' Of this terrible population. Wei
di.cs!.. no national issues. but fight for our
lo.,! i..terests and the safety a1dl order Of
society.
We Lave no ill.feeling towards the Demo-
cats, great as have been their errors. But
W., believe they will help to relieve us and
The country if they will change their tactics
and think more of the country and less OF
party. II they can't triumph. let them help
those who may, and in whose triumph the
condition Of the country may be bettered.
And by all means let them not be ever show. |
ing their hand and teaching their opponents |
how to beat them.
We OF the South are left hopeless and are
drifting. We shall drift finally into the
nearest and safest harbor. We cannot be
tossed forever upon the sea while an inde6- |
nite war, without any good results for us, Is |
" = r.en cid party issues.