National Republican., 1876-09-21


Democracy then I naturally came into
"the Democratic party, because was al
ways Democrat and it was only the
"question of slavery which kept me out
"of it." Mr.. Clay Is not conscious that
slavery is yet in politics, that his Demo-
cratic brethren hold that its abolition was
unconstitutional, and that slavery will ex-
tend its influence for generation, particu
larly if his pro-slavery friends secure the
control of the Government.
His financial science is as crude as his
comprehension Of the status of Democracy.
He should be appointed professor Of finan-
cial morally in some commercial college to
educate students into methods of avoiding
the payment of honest debts. "There is
"no Confederate debt, because the bonds
care payable at the ratification of treaty
"of peace between the United States and
"the Confederate States, which will never
abe" True, Csssius; eminently true.
The debt was clear fraud, clear steal on
the part of the Confederacy, and this is an
excellent reason why they should be re-
instated, and why Cassius NJ. Clay should
become Tilden reformer. Honesty would
recognize the validity of that debt, and
Southern leaders should hold themselves
personally responsible for its payment
Honesty is now one of the qualifications
for public trust, and this fraud and repu-
diatlon is proof that the ''solid South"
should occupy Washington, for thea, if
they could not pay the Southern repudia-
ton debt, they can repudiate the war debt
with equal facility and with no conscien-
cious scruples. Admitting the war debt
would not be paid, Southern military claims
would have good showing, as was well
proved during the late session of the
rebel-reform House of Representatives.
Southern claims were taken up at the latter
part of the session and pushed forward
with facility astonishing to Northern loyal
claimants, who introduced their claims
during the first part of the session, and yet
could get no reports. Republican lead
ers," he we'll says, "are not fools, and as
for the conscience, they are not willing to
repudiate the public debt created by the
Democratic pro-slsyery party, when Mr..
Clay was too conscientious to shelter in its
folds. but now is willing to indorse it with
all its past sins on its head, augmented by
all the incalculable evils of the war and
the frauds of the Confederacy. The Re-
publican leaders know that the Democratic
party never was reformatory. 1t was the
Tory party of the Revolution, of the war
, of 1912 and of the late rebellion, and never
once in its whole history had one honest
heart -throb in favor of any war for the ex
tension of the area of freedom of limb and
conscience. All its instincts, sympathies
and acts have been on the wrong side Of
the battles for human rights. Because it
was on that side Cassius N. Clay, born
Democrat, could not stultify himself and
smother his conscience by affiliation. Had
slavery been eliminated from Democracy
through its own voluntary action, did it even
now honestly approve of its removal, Mr..
Clay might have some reason for his conduct.
But it still protests that war was wrong
(his friends made i) and the abolition of
slavery was unconstitutional. 1t Is the
same old ass feigning the lion. The world
hitherto has deemed him q conscientious
and sensible man: we fear that his reputa-
ton in regard to the latter is gone. We
cannot, we would not if we could, for the
sake of society impugn his honesty.
"The Democrats will pay the national
"debt by the revenues, and will resume spe-
"cie payments" at some possible time in the
future, when Tilden shall have arrested
the annual outflow of $75, 600, 900 of gold,
and compelled it into the Treasury, in vio-
lation of the laws of commerce and private
obligations. But 'the Republicans will
"put these obligations off they won't pay
"the debt, and won't resume" This in face
of the fact that the debt has been reduced
nearly So, 600. 900, 900 since the close of the
war, and the condition of Hendricks ac-
ceptance that an attempt should be made to
repeal the resumption act, as we'll as the
plan of Tilden, to get .esdy first, be sure
you can do it safely, but until then don't
try.
He went down to Mississippi, and found
bad state of affairs; negroes divided,
whites leaving. Well, whose fault. Who
did it all? OF course, the Republicans.
Nobody else could be guilty. The Demo
Gratis had nothing to do with it, innocent
creatures. They are only the hopeless
victims OF misplaced confidence, (in them
selves, and mourn over Republican out
RACES. The Democrats, to his gangrened
eyes, are wholly innocent
But he reached the climax only when he
declared, with emphasis, in true Demo
cratic style, II stand here for constitutional
"hberty. I despise and spit upon that
"liberty which hold at the will of Grant
land company" [Applause.1 And yet,
but for Grant and company this same Clay,
grown weak with age, would have no
home in Kentucky; no national or per-
sonal liberty except that doled out by the
pro-slavery Democracy, with perpetual
slavery included, which, during his vigor-
GUS manhood. he lnstinctively repudiated.
What is the Democracy of to-day better
than before the war; What new tenet or
method has it produced challenging the
right to survive its suicidal act o tom