The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-01-28
THE DEMORALIZED DEMOCRACY.

Iii Congress it was party Of negatives,
and in its opposition TO Republican
measures it was united The Republi-
cans, too, were divided, and there was
great deal of corruption exposed by in
vestigations ordered by Republicans.
All this worked in favor of the opposi-
ton. and upon the general adverse sem
timent created Throughout the country,
the Democratic party gained its vieto-
ries. Now the Republican party is in a
minority, and the Democratic party has
a large majority in the House of Repre-
sentatives The latter Is therefore COM
PEELED to adopt a policy. 1t is forced,
in other words. to show its hand. And
it has been showing its hand, and here
IS where the country is benefited.
The last fifteen years have been mo-
mentous ones in the history of the Ma
| ton. There has been war with all its
evils and all its results 1t cost the
country heavily in blood and treasure.
The closed graves of the dead soldiers;
the widows and orphans scattered
throughout the land, and the heavy pen
| sion rolls, are evidence of the former:
while national debt, deranged finances,
and tax collectors, are evidence of the
latter. The results of the terrible strug-
| gle to be entered on the credit side are
saved Union; the abolition of slavery;
the establishment of equal rights before
the law, and decision against the right
of secession on the part of any State or
any number of States. These were vir-
tually the issues, and these were decided,
if anything was decided, and unless
these results can be maintained in letter
and spirit, the advice to 'Iet the erring
sisters go in peace might better have
been adopted.
The question that now comes up for
consideration is whether the results re-
ferred to are in danger? So long as the
people, who sustained the government
in the war for the Union, held power,
they were not in danger; but are they
sac in the hands of the enemy! This
is a vital question, because the enemy
at this time controls the popular branch
of Congress, and nearly half the States
of the Union. THIS has proceeded,
too, from Republican magnanimity. No
rebel was punished for the crime of trea-
son. On the contrary, the ballot was
restored to every man who had taken
up arms against the Government, and
was alive to accept it. Furthermore,
every man who asked had his disabilities
removed, so that he could not only vote
but hold office. The presence of seventy
or eighty Confederate officers in Con-
gress is ali the evidence that need be
quoted in proof of the liberal policy of
the Republican party. 1t is now pro-
posed to remove all remaining disabili-
ties, excepting only Jefferson Davis, and
he is excepted, or sought TO be excepted,
not because he was President of the
Confederacy and Ccinmander-inC Chief
of the rebel armies, but because he was
responsible for the inhuman treatment
of Union prisoners. To this proposition,
with the exception noted, the Republi-
cans in Congress assent, and it was upon
this point that the controversy turned,
and the discussion that resulted exhibit
ed the spirit of the party now in the
ascendency in the House of Representa-
tives. This is the important feature of
the controversy. The Democratic party
was represented ty Mr. Hill, of Georgia.
He was sustained throughout by North
ern Democrats. He carried the whole
strength of the party in the House, and
when he charged the responsibility of
the rebellion upon the North, eulogized
Jefferson Davis, and declared him to be
superior TO Gen. Grant as a patriot and
man, no Democrat rebuked him, and
the sentiments of Mr. Hill stand as tie
sentiments of the Democratic party.
New, the rebellion was a crime, or
! the war for the Union was 4 crime. II
the rebellion was justified; If it was
right to take up arms to establish the
right of secession. and build up a con-
federacy based upon human slavery,
then the war for the Union was wrong,
and the South would be Justified in re-
newing the war, or ia undoiog all that
has been done in recOnstructing the
States that rebe.led. Admit the prem
ises of Mr.. Hill, as assented by by North
ern Democrats, and this conclusion Is
irresistible The Southern Democrats
who hold their seats in Congress by the
grace of the Republican party do not
admit that they did wrong. Such an
admission can not be wrung from them.
They are not repentant rebels, of cou sc,
for no man can repent for an act that
he believed to be right. Dir. Hill, and
with him the Democrats acquiesce--that
is to say, he submits 10 what he can not
help, but further than this he does not
go, nor does not mean to 90. aud under
Mr. Hills declaration the Northern
Democrats either applaud or are silent.
1t is plain to see, therefore, what
might be expected if the Democratic
party, which is now controlled by such
men as Mr.. Hill, should obtain complete
control of the Government. They could
not Immediately change the Constitu-
tional amendments, but they could ig-
more them. The amendments are not
self-enforcing. Without legislation and
and an Executive to enforce the laws
the amendments would be practically OF
no account. Neither is there anything
to prevent the secession of one or
dozen States except the President and
Congress, and if these were in the hands
of the Democracy, controlled by such
men as Mr.. Hill, Of Georgia. secession
would be easy.
But, aside from tine fact that the
Democratic party i controlled and di-
rected by tine rebel leaders, it is trne
that it has no policy on other important
questions. Upon the question of refus-
! ing to except Jefferson Davis from a
general amnesty ball. and upon the sen
timents expressed by Mr. Hill in defend
/ ing the rebellion and arraigning the
loyal people, the party in Congress is
united. but upon all other questions of
u