The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-09-18
Democracy and Republicanism.
A CONTRAST.

~ CoN lhASls
We are of the opinion that parties
were formed to advance some great
principle of government; that they
advocated measures and discussed
subjects embraced in that branch of
ethics of the proper mode of govern
ing a State, SO as to secure its pros
rerity, peace and safety, and to at
tain, as perfectly as possible, the
ends of civil society. But we fail to
see snch ends aimed at by the Repub-
lican party of to-day, they desire to
live, but to hate, to terrorise all that
do not believe rs they do, and hope
to perpetuate power by the FREQ use
Of all that force of the government
that was formed to protect the citizen.
Jumping from one line to another
az fast as beaten from it, is what can
now be seen in Ohio and other States,
land have led us to these rctlections)
where, strange to say, the great crime
NJ the Republican party has not yet
been used against it.
Let us draw a parallel between the
contending factions, and in so doing
we ask the calm consideration of all
patriotic men, that they may discern
upon what limits the contending par.
ties, demand suffrage from the pco-
pic.
Our government is on trial even at
this moment; the principles of the
right Of the people to self-govern-
mcnt, on which onr nation was found
ed, are now passinga crisis In which
they must triumph or perish forever.
The grand principle upon which the
Democratic party is founded; the
corner stone you may say, OF its
structure, and the principle also out
Of which onr nation was born, is that
governments derive their just powers
from the consent Of the governed.
In this contest now pending, all
questions minor to that; questions Of
grave import it is true, which under
ordinary circumstances should only
divide the people, such as finance,
tariff, internal improvements, &C.,
must now he laid aside and the eff
fort and mission of all good men
made to save the nation, for there is
no resurrection for it If once destroy
ed.
The Democratic banner is uufurled
for that battle, and under its hitherto
victorious folds must all the "sood
Knights and true" he ranged in SER
ried ranks to meet the foe.
At one time the Republican party
claimed, with some show Of consis.
tency, to have a mission, and were at
least sympatbised with by a large
mass of the thinking world; this
mission, nevertheless, was a fanatical
one; but possessed cohesive power
sufficient to hold together the mass
of the North, aud by binding their
good sense, tickling their patriotism
with sham desire to save the Union,
led them to war and a. bloody victory
a victory offanatical zealots, as it has
in thoend proved, against the slave
owners of the South. This accom-
plished, no check in their career &C.
Cured the Union saved, they then
destroyed it; and the "suspended
as a war measure" to
save. that loved az Union, remains to
them suspended" to this day. The
first crime Of the Republican party
'cas the total annihiation Of the prin'
ciplcs Of our government to SAGE its
empty name. How very childish and
absurd this seems. - ..#a
The Democratic party presents to
the people, and upon which it de-
lnands their suffrage, that Constitu-
ton Of our Union so rudely tramplcd
upon by its foes; that Constitution
named by our wise and patriotic
forefatl,ers for on, protection and
guidance, aud its strict construction,
rs their platform, together with their
bright and glorious record Of the
past. They demand that corruption
shall be overthrown; that the thieves
ia high places shalt he driven out and
punished; and that We return, after
this long wandering after false and
allurins Gods, to the first principles
of our American Government.
Can the Republicans present such a
demand to the American people: We
answer, empkotically, no! What par
ty can demand even a patient hearing
upon such pretexes as they set up.
Their reconstruction acts; the in
stigatora of bloody riots /; the friends
and supporters Of the Carpet.bag aud