Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-09-14
Decentralization of the Democrat
ic Party

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This statement should not be made
without substantial facts, or at least
moral evidence. National morality
lies at the foundation of National hon.
or, prosperity, power and stability. A
nation of rogues and banditti, destitute
of National good faith, would soon be
covered with shame, and be the scorn
of all. No civilized nation desires to
be ranked with Turks or Algierenes.
The United States, as Nation, has a
name and fame among the national
tiles of the world. Every true citizen
cherishes pride in the honor and dig
nifty of his country and its institutions.
In the management of our political
campaigns we are in danger of expo
sing ourselves to the charge that vice
is the rule, and virtue the exception.
Political parties can scarcely fail to reap
benefit by honest reflection here. The
world sees our shame in our political
campaigns, while on the other hand
we are honored by all nations in the
respect paid to our flag, and the firm
confidence in our Bonds, doubly in
creased since the Buchanan admins
tration. To what and to whom these
are due, would well repay honest stu
dy. If certain political parties had
succeeded, how would have been the
state of things to-day? No better time
than now for their study.
The Democratic party was once, in
many respects, noble party. Parti-
zan politics began to appear very early
in the history of this country. At the
time of the framing of the National
Constitution party crystalization
commenced having for its distinctive
principles, the Jeffersonian views of the
Union, as opposed to the views of
Washington, Hamilton, &c. The con-
federate idea, instead of National uni
ty, began to crop out in the develop.
ments of Calhoun and his followers.
Jackson, had he been President in Bu-
chanan's place, would have hung JEFF
ferson Davis and his coadjutors, as GER
tainly as he uttered the timely threat
in regard to Calhoun. But Calhoun
was prudent enough to confine his Sc
cession views to talk. Hence, the gal
lows, high as Haman's, was not erect
ed in the days of brave old Hickory.
Then, the party had some nobility,
some noble patriotism, that would
have sternly resisted treason. or any
insult offered TO the American flag
whether by foreign foe, or from do
mestic traitor. Is'it so now?
Two Democratic seeds, which found
soil in the Democratic party, have been
its bane. One, the Calhoun heresy of
State Rights, which grew up and ripen-
ed in rebellion in Buchanan's admins
tration. The other, sown under Jack
sons administration, namely-"That
to the victors belong the spoils," find
ing generous soil and ganial sun and
showers under Buchanan, ripened in
to rebellion; and now, not avowed in
plain Jackson terms, but in the decep-
tive triekery terms of Tammany-
" Istdeo and Reforna." suited to the
times.
The fairness of these views is con-
firmed by the issues of the present
as planned and prosecuted
by the Democratic party. The princi-
pie is embodied in the motto, 'Tilden
and Reform which means, the victo.
ry of the party and possession of the
spoils in the band of the notorious
Tammany-trained swindler and PERU
rer, ,guarantor of reform. Mark well here
the two guarantees given-Tilden's
pure character, and the past record of
the reforming Democracy. Without
the complete regeneration from the
of these two seeds, and their
corrupt Outgrowth, no security will de-
tend the Nation from the danger of the
rule of the treasOn-trained Democracy.
The ignoring of its past record and is
'ues as the winds shift anything for Of
ice, all demonstrate the decentralization /
If the party. ,
The tenacity with which the party SO
ong adhered TO slavery, the greatest
Of the Nation, and its de ;
noraliziGg effects the most blighting .
urse now threatening the peace of this I
Union, are evidences of demoraliza- /;
ion- At time when all Christendom ,
vas cooperating for its abolition, the
Democratic party was its bulwark, not
ecause it was good, but because its de- {
'nsc secured the offices and the spoils. fl
md now, does any intelligent person, Il
om the standpoint of the past, doubt Ii
lat If the legalizing ofslavery and the to
ave-trade would place the party In "a