Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-08-31
PoIiticaI ISSUES of lhe DaY.


In all political issues those in the
wrong are. of necessity or design, forced
to meet them obliquely, never fairly
not unfrequently ignoring them alto
gether. Those obseryant of the pres
ent, and familiar with the history O
the past need no argument here. The
truth has to grapple with slippery
deceit, and error has its dupes undel
its feet. Professional politicians tall
about live issues and dead issues, abou
old issues and new issues, about pas
issues and present issues, as also abou
primary or leading issues, and subordi
nate issues. Times, and men, and par
ties change, while errors, disguised al
they may be, change but little. All art
aware that subordinate issues offer
change more or less, and that for rea
sons politicians of the professional
character aim to manipulate them fol
party ends. And here Democratic po
litical managers make it a profession
to mislead the reliant and ignorant
masses. As in military campaigns, SC
in political often, the shrewd manager
will deceive by skirmish and maneu.
yer, diverting from the real point ol
attack-from the o6jectire point.
Can any living man tell from Demo.
cratic platforms, from the letters of &C.
ceptance of candidates and from the
history of the Democratic party fol
the last sixteen years, all taken togeth.
er, what is the real issue made by that
party to-day? Can it be known from
all that comes up from the different To-
calities whether there is really any pri.
mary issue at all, or whether there are
not dozen issues, each primary to it,
particular locality? Rather, is not any
issue adapted to the locality, true or
false, primary or subordinate, made for
the time and place, the Democratic is
sue? Hence the issues East, West,
North, South, and to all these their su-
bordinates for clap-trap.
In looking back over the last half
century, retracing the zigzag politics of
the Democratic party, one conclusion
will force itselfupon every candid and
intelligent mind, namely: that that
party has lost all sight of principle-of
primary issue having vital principle as
its a''inaus; unless, perhaps, the mega
tion of the self-evident truth that all
men are born free and equal, and have
equal rights that are inalienable, and
should be protected by law and equal
For fifty years past one element, more
or less, has had a place in political is
sues. Finance, National credit, reform,
party loyalty, love of name high
sounding-all may have had some plan
in party organizations, end may ma
terially shape the campaign of the day;
yet, the 0'linlats of all is the same,
confessed or denied, as party
success may seem to demand. The
one great question of abiding principle
is the primary around which all 9TH
ers as subordinates revolve- Human
tights and legal guarantees for their en-
jOynaent.
Human liberty and slavery, yet
pending in Europe and America, have
been the issues of the centuries. Here
hat issue had its elimination in the
asst Southern rebellion, but yet unset
led in its political relations. Nor is it
beyond the question of contingency
in its military aspects every
hing is permanent. Slavery lives in
he hearts of Southern rebels to-day,
ust as hope for the lost cause lives
here. Rebel sympathy lives in the
leart of the leaders of the Democratic
'arty to-day as certainly and as strange.
y as it did in 1864. 1t needs but the
ppropriate incubation to bring it from
IS thin cockatrice shell, and, a little
ime and appropriate aliment to give
t courage and revolutionary power.
Its desiderGt,m is to have at the head
f government faith in the right of
'tates to revolution at the will of
states. And this is Tilden faith, docu-
nented.
Let no American freeman suffer him
elf to be deceived. The wounds of
he rebellion were not deadly, but its
pirit lives. Those who dyed the
american shirt in blood, wave it still,
tain it afresh with inBocent blood of
he weak and unoffending, and hurI
efiance in the face of law and its pen.
lty. What jury dare apply the law
o the cowardly Hamburg murderers?
Whether Republicans can freely vote
4 the South under the protection of
aw, and so secure the existing majori-
les there, without intimidation and
ne terror of the dominant party, is the
uestion now at the foundation of all
ther questions. The success of our !!
arty will secure the desired freedom !
to the issues of the war and |
he guarantees of the Constitution as it l
J, without respect to race, color or pre- |
ious condition. The success of the !
ther will embolden terror and intim-
lation, and put in jeopardy human G
ghts, and foster the spirit of rebellion, I
ow seeking to secure by the ballot :
hat it lost by battle. Are we ready i
} welcome the reign of terror, the
loody shirt, or the bloody carpet of =
,merican Senate chamber, the blud. I
con or the bowie-knife, as in the days Z
Bully Brooks? We have en- g
,yed in the past Democratic reign e
1ough of these. That the election of II
ilden and Hendricks will put back o
ne cause of human freedom as secured G
y the issue of arms is dictate of rea. II
IN and history.
The Democratic terror of the So call a
issues of the dead past, is suggestive s,
the true issue underlying all subor- s.