The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-11
The Mission Of tho Republican
Party.

A Democratic friend Of ours is Of the
opinion that the Republican party has
fulfilled its mission and that there exists
now no good reason why it should be
continued in power. And 30 the Demo-
cratic party affected to believe imme-
diately after the war. Having put down
the rebellion and abolished slavery, and
being party Of one great idea in its ORR
gin, what necessity was there, after john
sons term expired, to keep it in control
OF the government? We might reply to
our friend in variety OF ways on this
subject. We might ask what necessity
exists why the Democratic party, At.
ter having proved itself incapable Of
preserving the government, should again
be. entrusted with It's destinies? OF
coursehe would tell us, as indeed he has
told us, that the Democratic party OF to.
day is not the same old Democratic party
of 1850, although II bears the same name,
but that the name issimply the designa-
ton Of the opposition to the Republican
party. We admit this statement to u
qualified extent. So far as the pcrsonel
of the old Democraticparty is concerned,
there has been some change, but We do
not admit that the change has been Of a
radical or essential character by any
means. On the contrary, we recognize
as fact that no man can deny, that
vast amount OF the same men
and the same spirit still abide
in the party and still inspire It's ideas Of
public policy. Just before the war the
Democratic party had come to be mainly
Southern party. It was largely con-
trolled by the extreme men OF that sec
ton. 1t was so completely under that
influence that when the war broke out
there was scarcely a dozen well known
public men in the North belonging to the
party who did not either show unmiS-
taxable sympathy with the secession
movement or. else remain passive spec
tators Of the withdrawalof tile Southern
States. The records Of 1851 are full of
resolutions passed by Democratic con-
ventions that gave aid and comfort to the
South, and it was rare spectacle to sec
one that gave similar aid and comfort to
the Union cause. ID. ~
Now the point we make is this, that
the Democratic party has never under.
gone any essential change as respects the
men who gave tone to it at that time,
and there are yet vast numbers Of them
still alive and within its ranks. So far
as they are changed at all they are simply
changed by force OF circumstances, They
have not seen the error Of their way and
repentAd OF it. The old feeling L. still
strong within them. They have been mere
ly dragged along by what has Happened.
They have never willingly accepted a
single result Of the war. There has not
been an amendment to tho Constitution
Of the United States that they .haye not
resisted to the full extent Of their. ability.
They would not have abolished slayeryifI
they could have prevented it. They
would have restored the rebels to power
in the patton Immediately at the close Of
the warif they could have done so. In
deed they would have restored the whole
status quo II ithad been in their power.
Whatever We are to-day as a nation, we
are in spite Of the Democratic party. We
owe them nothing as party. AS aparty
they have neither lot nor part in what
has been achieved. @
This arraignment Of the party brings us
to the logical answer to our friend, and
the answer is this, That no party with
such a record can claim THAI Il has with.
in it the elements to inspire Ipvralar
confidence. The public may be willing to
rebuko the Republican party, as indeed
It has rebukedit, butith has shown that 1t
is not willing oturn 1t out Of power and