Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-08-25

he monstrous doctrine that the same gov
eminent which had but little while ago
exerted its civil and military power Tor the
capture ar d return to slavery OF single
man, had no constitutional right or power
TO prevent complete dismemberment OF the
Union bv violence and arms. Thus the
Democratic party held that there was am
pie power to defend and perpetuate slavery.
but none to preserve the government itsei,
from overthrow and destruction. The right
of one state to withdraw from the Union,
or rather the absence of all constitutional
power to prevent its doing SO, necessarily
implied the same right to all the states,
and thus, according to Democratic teach
ing the whole structure could be destroyed,
and the government possessed no inherent
or constitutional power of selt-preservation
The rebellion which cost both sections OF
the country so enormously In o.ood ana
treasure was the direct and Immediate re-
suit of the teaching and practices OF the
Democratic party.
l do not forget when war became IN
eyitable and an armed foe had expelled the |
civil aud military power OF the general gov,
eminent from the Southern states ana
threatened the capital OF the nation, many
true men who had hitherto acted with the
Democratic party obeyed the behests oil
ment in the hour of danger. But such &C
ton on the part Of individuals was In spite
of. and not in conseq OF the teachings
of their party. As party organization the
Democratic party not only laid the founda-
ton for the rebellion by its false doctrines
and teachings but its record throughout tho
war does not show single act OF hearty or
cheerful support of the government In its
struggle for self preservation "hlle the
war was fragrant the Democratic party as
sembled IN convention at Chicago to nomi
nate q candidate for the Presidency ard
there deliberately declared the war TOR the
Union failure. BY this act 1t gave en-
couragement and fresh hope to the rebels
| in arms. and so far as its power and lnhu-
ence extended discouraged the patriotic
purpose of the people to suppress the rebel
| lion at all hazards and at Whatever cost.
The fact that individuals performed their
duty LOYALTY and well Notwithstanding their
connection with the party, which gave e1-
preston to such unpatrlotic views, Is great
| ly TO the credit of themselves as citizens,
| but does not relieve the party as such. from
the charge of disloyalty and false teaching.
| The leaders of that party-men who actu-
ally did, or by reason OF their position IN
the party had the power to shape its policy
and control its action ARE responsible before
the country for the inception OF the rebel
| lion and for the prolongatlon OF the war.
The present Democratic candidate for the
| Presidency was member oil the Chlcago
convention and of the committee which re-
norted the resolution to which | have re-
ferred, IL is now claimed by his friends
that he did not originate the resolution and
il is even denied that he favored it;butth
ia no public record of his dissent. On the
contrary. the resolution went out TO the
public as the opinion and utterance OF Mr..
| Tllden. as well as of his colleagues and oil
the party of which they were leaders IT'S
effect upon the public mind and its lnhu-
ence upon the struggle then pending was
precisely the same as II he had originated
il in the committee room. lie ought not,
and cannot. escape his Just share Of respon-
sibilty for this unpatriotic declaration Ii
II he true. as is now asserted by his friends,
that Mr. Tilden did not oppose the resolu-
ton, but acquiesced IN 1t by his silence 50
far as the public knew, for the sake OF har-
mony IN his party, this only serves TO snow
that in the hour OF his country
danger he Acknowledged an aIleglarce
to his party paramount TO bis duty As pat
riotic citizen to his country. The occasion
was no ordinary one, nor was the principle
involved or the tendency of such sentiments
| at that time of so little consequence that
one could afford to yield has Individual
opinion for party purposes. There are oc-
/ casions in the history OF nations and IN the
! lives of men when the duly OF hearty ana
active support Of government rises above a.!
| other considerations Of a puble nature
When hundreds of thousands OF our TEL
/ low citizens are suffering the ylciSsltndes
/ and confronting dangers of open, fragrant
war, and all are bearing heavy bardens OF
| taxation and earnestly praying Tor the sue
| cess of the cause which involves the very
/ existence of the government. patty which
/ meets IN Convention and proclaln- that the
| effort is idle and that the whole movement
| is failure. l. guilty Of great political
/ crime and show. Itself unworthy 10 DC
| trusted with power The leaders OF the
| party who promote OF permit such def.ara-
rions are not the men Of whom Presidents
should be made. This revolution OF the
! Democratic party was not exceptional or
/ Inconsistent with its known wishes and pur-
poses thrOug hout the war. Since II pro-
! claimed. through its Administrator, that
there was no constitutional NIGHT OF power
to prevent dissolution OF the l mon by coer-
| GiTe measures 1t has continued 70 be party
of oD5truct!on and negatlons. Ii not only
failed as party organization to give nearly
and fervent support 10 the war Tor the pre-
servatlon OF the Union, but al every step
il threw obstacles IN the way OF Its successful
prosecution. Who that observed the pro-
gress OF the war Can doubt Tor moment
that the conduct Of that party gave encour-
agement TO the rebels In arms-or that 1t
prolonged the war and added millions to
Its cost. besides increasing largely the num-
Der of those who notify died IN the cause OF
,hair coCntry9 When the Republican party,
rlsing 10 the importance OF the occasion and
recognizing tho necessity OF the hour, deter
mined 10 remove absolutely the cause OF the
rebellion by ENGRAVING upon our written
Constitution an amendment abOhshlng
slavery. the Democratic party gave neither
aid nor cOuntenance to the effort, but obstl-
nately resisted its adoption. 1t now asks
TIE people to elevate 10 the second utt,e IN
then gift man who as Senstor IN Con
gress from Indiana, bY his Toice and vote.
opposed the submission Of that Amendment
to the people.
The thirteenth amendment is now the
crowning glory Of our Constitution. Not
only did it have the effect to abolish slavery
of the blacks, but it makes 1t impossible 10
enslave any race or class so long as the Con
stltution shall stand. The Democratic party
had no share in this grand achievement. IL
asks YOU TO pat in office men who, by their
speeches snd votes, openly and persstently
opposed 1t. Will such u EN- be more likely
to give their influence and powe. IN uphold
ing and enforcing this amendment in the
spirit of its adoption, than those who sd-
vocsted ard supported it because they be-
lieyed in it And so of the fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments which embody
principles of great value and importance.
the maintenance and proper enforcement
Of which is essential TO the peace OF the
country and the perpetuation of the liberty
Of the citizen. The adoption OF these was
opposed and resisted by the Democratic !
party and even after their ratification By |
the re. uisite agGber OF States. 1t was open |
" asserted By Its party leaders hat these |
amendments were frsudulently adopted and |
therefore were not valid as parts of the Con-
stitution. Every measure of the Republican |
party for the enforcement of these anne nd |
ments and for the reconstruction and paci- |
fcation of the Southern States has met fierce |
snd unoompromislng opposition and resist |
anGe i.cp the Democratic party. Can IT |
be trusted noV &c maintain and preserve |
what has been gained IN spita OF its onposI- |
ton? Is it not both wise and safe to select |
as guardians of the new order Of things |
men who took lpart in the work because
they believed it TO be right? Grievous as
were the waste and damage Of war, and |
burdensome as were the taxes imposed
upon the people to raise and support our
splsnsid amy and to maintain and preserve
the national fditk apd credit We have gain
cd much Of value 10 us ss q ps;ion. We
have secured an indissoluble Union. We
have implanted in our Constitutions guar
antics of civil liberty and personal rights
which should endure while free gov
elnment lasts. All that has been
added Is IL the interest of freedom
and equs!ty OF righl and privi-
lego Shall these be endangered Ly being
turned over 10 the guardianship ola party
fresh from the conflict in which 1t reristed
them at every step; Have the people be-
come so Indifferent to the work Of their own
hands, as to be willing TO place it in the
keeping Of party which has all along de-
nounced it AS subversive OF the Democratic
theory of government, and at war with the
traditions OF that party? VIII the future