The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-12-31
from the New Lexington Herald Esd.
Our Politics ana Purposes.

Once more II ~ our happy privilege 70 /
assume the editorial management of I
Democratic Herald in Perry County.
When we parted with il some years ago, |
we thought the separation final, and |
with many regrets, and a heart fnll of
good wishes for the journal with which |
We had been SO long identified, we de- /
parted for a new field of labor in the |
same cause, not so remote a. to diminish |
our interest in the movements and for
tunes of the Democracy of Perry County,
with whom We consequently, never lost
sense of personal identity, bnt with no
expectation of again assuming relations
to the organ of that party. But when a
boy we drank from the magic spring of
Somerset, and raced colts in Fowler's
lane at Lexington, and every one knows
these are causes powerful enough, il none
others existed. to call home the Wander-
ing sons of Perry county from any place
in the world.
thine and chance happen 20 all mem"
and accordingly we stand aRain ia the
post we vacated, to defend the same
stronghold against the same, foe, with
equal courage for the fight, and higher
nope for the victory.
In the conduct ofthis journal We shall
take no new grounds, and make np new
departures. In fact. we are essentially
opposed TO new departures. The Demo
.ratic party can make none without dis
lster, because all are in the line of aber
ration, and alteration is folly, and
nlunder, and misfortune altogether. and
nothing else. Back from all departures
into cloudland. with 6rm fooshoId on
he solid ground of Democratic princi-
pie, and guided by the landmarks of
Democratic policy, set up in the past by
the wisdom OF the fathers; we hope TO see
the Democratic host marching, and to
this end we intend to exert our strength
and give our counsel ------
In the future, as in the proud past of
the Democracy, before defeat wrought
decentralization which invited disaster,
and drew down humiliation on the party
for almost score Of years; the policy of
she party must be the policy Of the Con-
4titution of the United States: nothing
more; nothing less: for "whatever is
| more than these, cometh of evil" This
is the Platform, the confession of faith;
the creed and political religion of the
party, and anything not in harmony
with this is heresy, rank, foul, fatal
heresy; not at all to be tolerated, merit
Irious only of anaIhema and excommun
ication major, to be relentIessly hunted
iown, and mercilessly cruc6ed when
found.
In all the past the Constitution, and
al the rights and liberties il shields and
| protects, has had no friend, no defender,
10 preserver, but the Democratic party.
We know what we are saying; and the
orce of it. We know the surprise with
which many will read this declaration,
md the scorn and indignation with
which others will assail it. We know
the strom of invective, and derision,
md malice, with which political priRs.
hugs and bandit, and their honest,
'gnorant dupes and retainers. will hurl
.gainss us; and we know too, that many
Who are neither fools, prigs nor bum
.ners; men honest Of heart and patriotic
mt sadly befogged and misguided, will
-eriously question our candor in that
statement. Yet, in view of all this. we
; deliberately reiterate the sentiment, and
; add. that but for the force and power oi
Democratic ideas, as engrafted upon the
people, and ingrained in their very ma
, ture, by sixty years of democratic legis.
; lation and administration. the constitu
: ton would now be only thing of the
past; a memory imbedded in history,
! but not now thing OF life and power, al
it is this day.
Il During sixty years the legislation o
E the country was controlled, and its poll
E cy shaped by the Democratic party, fo
, even when out of power for brief per
iod, the policy was not changed. AnC
I during those sixty years the democratic
: Interpretation of the constitution becam,
: alike the mental habitude and 6xeC
faith Of the people, And during al
that period, there was no legislation il
: violation, or contempt, or defiance of tn,
sacred instrument.
: How il it now? How much of tn
y legislation of Congress since 1860 ha
j. stood the test of comparison with tn
4 Constitution? How much of il has beel
II found and declared by the Suprem
Court to he in violation of il? Examin
# the Supreme Court Reports, and see.-
J. The usurpation of power. and the reck
: less violations of the constitution by tn
is Republican party, are astonishing. /
e all. they have been steadily opposed wi,
II unfiinching fFmness by the democrat
'e party, who in every contest have fnall
'r prevailed, and saved the constitution
'e from the wands of those determined I
ID rend it TO atoms, and build an oligarch
j. upon the ruins of the republic. The r,
1t cord of the last fifteen years is full {
TO proof of all this; the Statute Book
r the United States is literally cramme
So with proof, while the record of congre
Is sional proceedings is overlooking wit
at evidence Of fixed purpose to subve
Of the constitution by SO enlarging an
I'd centralizing the powers of the Feder
Government, shat the States should
OF only suhjugated provinces and the pei
at pie at the mercy of the central power.
he In all this they were faithfully fouel
ut and foiled by the Democratic party, vi
it, held the constitution against all q
er schemes of the oligarchs, whole al
ne sound. though sadly battered by Il
he blows. and befouled by she hands
e conspirators who clutched at it to destro
Al But the wors is only half done. II
ay plot thickens. and another battle for d
AS life of the charter Of liberty, must
es. fought against the combined host
Of. oliearchs and bigots. The opposite