Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-08-16
TIE DANGER TO BE SHUN1ED.

ocratic majority.
An examination into the history of the
, democratic members reveals the startling
fact that seventy-four of them were in the
rebel army. Only little more than ten
Years ago they stood in arms against the
best government the sun shines upon.
They had trampled the flag of the country
under their feet, and caused the loyal
North to pour ont its blood like water in
defence of the Union. Most of them were
Shareholders. holding Slavery to be di-
vine institution, and they went into REBEL
ion in order to cut themselves clear from
the free North and establish new gov
eminent in the South with Slavery as its
chief corner stone.
Now, then, the country stands face to
face to-day with the fact that the element
which took up the sword and fought four
years to destroy the government and es-
tablish Slavery permanently in the South.
now holds the control OF the popular
branch of Congress in its grasp, and by
the aid of its allies in the North is aiming
and hoping TO obtain control of the Exec
utivc at the Presidential election next year.
1t is easy to see that these seventy-four
Confederate officers will be able to link to
themselves enough Northern democrats
many of whom are as much attached to
rebeldom as any who fought in the rebel
army--to direct and control all the
movements of the democratic majority in
the House. and thus become masters of
the House itself.
Thus one great step is accomplished hy
the late rebel leaders in their assault upon
the government by the ballot. They failed
when they tried the bullet, and now
the grave question arises whether
they are to be more successful with the
ballot. If the republican party neglects
its duty in the campaigns of this year and
next, most certainly the cause of the re-
bellion will achieve a victory. Such a
victory will give the government into the
hands of those who sought to destroy it,
and place the coorcd people in the power
Of those who will return them to slavery
at the first opportunity. To prevent such
a catastrophe the republican party is
arousing to action. Much is said about
the issues OF the war having passed away
and the reconciliation of the North and
South, bnt until the South withdraws its
leaders of the late rebellion from the politi-
cal front and shows other signs than we
have yet seen Of its genuine acceptance OF
| the situation. the issues Of the war are
all-important and must be kept In
mind by every man who desires that free.
dom and equal rights shall prevail. OF
the disposition of the South Senator Nor
ton says "Bnt we are told that
1.-THE issues of the war are settled,
'that old things have passed away, and
AL things have become new. | would
THAT this were SO, and that the mighty
tissues of the war We're settled forever,
land accepted by all. But the truth is that
1.-THE unsettlement of these questions, the
"restoration as far as possible TO things
"ante-belum, the placing of the Confed-
"erate upon the same footing with the
Union soldier, the payment of the Con-
deliberate war claims, the abolition of all
"distinctions in the law between loyalty
land disloyalty, the expulsion of the ne
"gro from the platform of political equal
"ity, and finally, payment for their slaves,
"are to-day the cardinal, all-absorbing,
"overruling purposes of the Southern De-
"mocracy, compared to which questions
"of currency, tariffs and banks are but as
"dust in the balance. To-day service in
''the Confederate army is the only pass
"port to Office in the Southern States. As
against the Confederate soldier, the IN
lion soldier who may have turned Demo
"crat has no possible show for an office
adherence to the rebellion is the sole
''touchstone in the South, not only lor po-
ethical, but almost equally SO for social
land business recognition. Even in Ken
"tucky, just over the river, no Union SOL
''der be he ever so loud In his pro-
"lessions of Democracy, can be elected
constable if any Confederate soldier
"wants the place. And in the North the
men who opposed the war by every means
lin their power, of the kind have before
"described, are the only accepted and
"trustcd leaders of the Democratic party.
" The Confederate Democracy of
'the South constitute the body and give
vitality to the whole Democratic party.
They compose majority of the actual
membership. They have definite aims
land an intense policy. They are bold
land aggressive, and are confident of
controlling the party in the future as in
"the days before the war. The Democ.
tracy of the North have no policy, no
"scheme of government, are not agreed
"upon any questions Of political economy,
"are harmonious only in their desire and
"strHggle for office, and are merely clay in
ssthe hands of Confederate potters ~