The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-11-12
[From Harpers' WeekIy.l
The Democratic Party.

As the Western elections are supposed
| by many persons to foreshow Democrat
ic restoration in 1876, it is worth while
to see what such an event means. The
Democratic party lost power in 1860
For twenty years previously its policy
had been determined by Southern lead
ers, and it had but one obiect-the
strengthening and extension of the sys-
tenn OF human slavery. To enable it to
| detendsa policy so repulsive to the prin-
ciple of the government, to justice, and
| humanity a prolonged sophistry and a
studied contempt of the moral senti-
ment were indispensable. The conse-
quence was that in 1860 its most power
ful leaders were, in the Southern States,
men like Davis and Slidell, and Mason
and Toombs, who had extorted from Ia
ney the Dred Scott dictum and, in the
North, Douglas, who said that he did not
care whether slavery was voted up or
down. The party despised the doctrine
of civil rights, trampled upon juctice and
liberty, and scoffed at the obligations of
"the higher law" as sentimental folly.
Meanwhile the perception of the purpo-
ses of its leaders had become so clear in
the mind of the people, the shame and
contempt into which, under Democratic
ascendency, the American name had tal-
len had so stung the national honor and
so aroused the public intelligence and
conscience, that in 1860 Abraham Lin
coin was elected.
The Southern wing of the Democratic
party flew to arms, and was passlvely sus-
tanned by the Northern wing, which In
every way obstructed the prosecution OF
the war for the Union, and IN 1904 de-
clared in its Convention that the war was
a failure. The patriotism and good sense
of the country utterly despised the par
ty and its leaders; and having su6dued
the rebellion triumphantly and without
conditions, the loyal citizens, organized
as the Republican party, proceeded to
reconstruction The Democratic party
opposed every measure, and advised It's
Southern allies, the defeated Conteder-
ates, to refuse to take part in the govern
ment, and to maintain a position OF sui
len protest. The same party, by its ma
tired of the negro, fostered the formation
of the Ku-Klux and White Leagues, and
denied their crimes. 1t denied the pow
er of the United States to protect those
whom it had freed, seeing that anarchy
in the Southern States would tend to
discredit Republican rule. In its Ma
tional Convention it favored reputation,
and nominated a man for Nlce-Pres1dent
who had advised forcible overthrow OF
reconstruction, and two years ago in It's
madness for power its leaders threw over
every principle professed by the party IN
nominating candidate who had always
opposed and heartily despised them.
During all these events, which have
occurred within fourteen years, the Dem
ocratic party has remained the same Or
sanitation, and has followed, and follows,
the same leaders, excepting that in New
York Kelley and Morrissey have replac-
ed Tweed and Sweeny. In New Eng
land Mr.. Eaton, recently elected Senator
from Connecticut is its representative
man. In New York Mr. Seymour and
Mr.. Tilden, whose hostility to the war
and to the reconstruction policy is fa-
miliar, are now party chiefs, as they have
been for twenty-five years. At the West
the elections show fthat Mr. Pendleton
the real sentiments OF his
party, and in Missouri the Democratic
party is so plainly and frankly rebel
that Carl Schurz, who worked with 1t In
1872 for Greeley, is now openly opposing
it. The Democratic twaddle about hard
money is disposed of by the fact that
the only open repudiation platforms OF
the year are Democratic. Its home rule"
means black codes in the Southern
States, and its Free Trade in view OF
the financial situation and traditions OF
the country, are sheer Buncome.
The national restoration of such a
party, would be merely disastrous reac-
ton. 1t could only defeat and delay the
process of reunion. 1t could settle moth
ing whatever, for it would be entrusting
the amendments and the laws which
have been adopted and enacted to iX
and secure the results of the war to
those who were vanquished in the strug-
gle. No sensible man can suppose that
Mr.. Eaton's, or Mr.. Seymours s, or Mr..
Tilden's, or Mr.. John Kelly's or Mr.. John
Morrissey's views and policies upon the
great questions of the hour are such as
the interests of the highest national well
fare demand, for they represent the par
ty of reputation, of negro hate, and OF
hostility to the whole modern movement
of the country. Personally, some OF
these leaders do not favor reputation,
and can only be called political negro
haters. But we are speaking of the party
and of its spirit and tendency. The
Democratic Conventions of Ohio and of
Indiana were initiation and Reputation,
not hard money assemblies, and Mr..
John Forsyth, Democratic candidate for
the Legislature in Alabama, is obliged to
apologize and explain that when Mayor
of Mobile he admitted negro evidence
in his court only because the law COM
PEELED him.
Parties, we are told, are dissolving and
there is immense dissatisfaction upon all
sides. The Republicans, too, we hear,
have been culpahle and reckless, and
may thank themselves for the uncertain
ty of their prospects. But it is undenia-
BILE that the control of the national gov