Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-28
FOR VICE PRESIDENT,
WILLIAM 4. WHEELER,
OF NEW YORK.
FOR GOVERNOR,
SELDEN CoNNoR
The Recreant Democracy.

The Recreant Democracy.
The Indictment drawn against the dem-
ocratic party in the sixteenth plank of the
platform of the Cincinnati convention
creates terrible squirming amongst the
ex-Confederates and their doughface al
lies in the North. 1t is not any unusual
severity in the language employed which
disturbs the democracy, for the resolve is
mildly expressed rather than otherwise,
but it is so true, SO merited an arraign-
ment of the party since it came into
power in the House, that it cuts to the
quick and operates like the reading of
death warrant to a condemned criminal.
The resolve referred to is in the follow
Ing words 1--WE charge the democratic
"party as being the same in character and
Esprit as when it sympathized with trea-
"son, and with making its control of the
blouse of Representatives the triumph
"and opportunity of the nations recent
''foes with reasserting and applaudlng In
"the national capitol the sentiments of UNI
"repented rebellion; with sending union
"soldiers to the rear, and with deliberately
proposing to repudate the plighted faith
"of the government; with being equally
''false and imbecile upon the overshadow-
ling financial question; with thwarting
"the ends of justice by its partisan mis-
management and obstruction of investi
"gation with proving itself through the
"period of its ascendency in the lower
blouse of Congress utterly incompetent
Ito administer the government. We
warn the country against trusting par
''ty thus like unworthy, recreant and in
capable"
There is no man who reads the reports
of the proceedings in Congress who does
not know that the above language is liter
ally and absolutely true. The power
gained by the democratic party in the
House has only served to put that branch
of Congress under the control of men
who fought to destroy the government
They have ruled the House since the open
ing of Congress in December last. Among
their first acts was the displacing of Union
soldiers from positions in the control Of
the House and giving such offices to men
who had served in the rebel army. This
was followed by an attempt to amnesty
all who had been in rebellion against the
government, including JEFF. Davis, the
chief rebel and head of the Southern Con-
federacy. In favor of this measure Ben.
Hill spouted treason and eulogized the
'lost cause" 1t was plain to be seen by
the course they pursued that the ex-Con-
federates were determined to root out a
far as they were able through the power
gained by the democratic party the men
and ideas that were victorious at Appomat-
tox, and bring in the men and ideas
that threatened the government with des-
truction. Bold and in solent ext Confederate
Congressman had no hesitation in saving
that the success OF the democracy in the
campaign would give the South the OPP
portunity TO regain what it had lost by the
rebellion, to reimburse those who had lost
slaves by the war, to pension rebel soldiers
equally with Union soldiers, and to cause
the general government to assume the
rebel debt
Passing to the financial question it is APP.
parent that the democrats have wolully
failed TO perform the promises they made
in order to grasp power. Their hard
money promises have ended in an attempt
to repeal the chief pledge we have Of a
return to specie payment--the resumption
act. Were they to elect the next Pfesi-
dent and majority of Congress their
steps would be towards the pit into which
unlimited issues of rag money would in
evitably plunge the government. They
were speedily going to change the "hard
times" into times of prosperity, but the
times have not improved and are likely to
become worse if the democrats have their
way. They were to reform the public
service and introduce economy in the adj
ministration of the country but have done
neither. In the matter OF public service,
they began by displacing competent men
for no other reason, apparently, than be-
cause they had served in the Union army,
and they substituted incompetent men for
no other reason, apparently, than because
they had served in the Confederate army
Since then the democrats have been large