The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-05-05
z CONSIDERING.

The shadows Of the Presidential
struggle begin to be seen and felt, AID
the fact that it is drawing near, Is be-
ing impressed on the minds Of the
people. We have already mentioned
some circumstances which show that
it will be an unusually severe strug-
gle. The Democracy have captured
all the Southern States bat four
and two Of these, even, are in doubt.
By fair e or foul, they viii seek
to possess themselves Of The electoral
votes of those States, aEG in that
event, they will be within "a eiector-
al votes Of the Presidency. Suppose
them successful-what then? They
have not changed their plans, meth
DDS, ideas or principles since 1860.
The controlling section Of the party
still believes in slavery, and will not
hesitate at any measures to restore IT,
in spirit or form. In all its old ha-
tired Of freedom and favoriuism to-
wards the worst elements ia the
country, it is what it always was.
Is there any probability, that once
re-possessed of power, it would peace
fully surrender it? Look at its past
history for an answer.
The last half dozen years during
which the Democracy were in power
in the country, were employed in the
most desperate measures for retain
ing it. 1t fully controlled the slave
element, and hence, in violation Of
the Missouri Compromise, and Of all
honorable agreements, it sought to so
extend slavery, that it might have a
larger representative power. The
free State population was growing,
hence the need Of more slave State
representation, unless they would
risk their hold on power. This, to
90 farther back, was the Of the
Mexican war-Texas as a slave State.
being the product. The Kansas
struggle, at the time Of Buchanan,
was, however, specifically in this in
terest. 1t was not that there was not
room enough at the South, and with
in the compromise lines, for all the
slaves thst were owned; not that
slave owners were Of a migratory
disposition, aud wished Rew terrific
ries in which to operate. In the ma
tRre Of things, slavery compelled
quietness, and permanent settlement.
Hence the remogal to Kansas, and
the struggle over that State had more
in it than the mere question OF priv
ilege. 1t was, chiefly, whether the
State should be counted as adding
to the political strength Of the slave
party-and this involved the perma-
nency of power, with the Democrat
ic party. They were beaten in this,
and %outvoted, SO that Republicans
were put in power-what then?
The shareholders rebellion. Strip
ped Of all the special pleadings that
were put up in its favor, this meant
that so far as the Southern section Of
the party was concerned, it would
not surrender political power. So
long as it held this. the Union was
sell enough. When it no longer re-
it, toe time had C me TO break
up the Uaion, in order that, ia the
fragment broSen Of, i: might still be
in power. For this, AID nothing
the var a preeiPitsted. and
maintained during four bloody, waste
years. IN brief, the wal Of re-
represented the refusal Of the
to let 60 Of power. 1t is
boast Of their papers that they
are still the same. Can the conelu
sion be avoided. that to entrust them
with power is to base again the old
ordeal! 1t is not to be overlooked.
reaching a conclusion on this sub :
'ect, that the party at the North fully !
'ympatbized with those in rebellion