St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-09-01

must take choice between the candI-
dates presented by party nomination,
or abandon altogether his duty and
privilege as an elector. While Il free
government does not impose pains or
penalties on any citizen for refusing to
exercise this right, proper regard for the
duties and obligations of citizenship re-
quires that none shall neglect it. The
higher his position in intelligence and
personal independence of the emolu
ments and forms of government, the
more important is it that ne should eX-
ercise all proper influence and control in
the choice of chief magistrate of the
nation.
The Two Parties.
At the beginning of the second cen
tury Of our national existence. two
great political parties present their re-
spective candidates for the offices of
president and vice president. Each has
made declaration of principles. and
upon these and the character of thciI
nominees they invite the Judgment OF
the people. The party organizations
are not now, for the first time. in
the field. 1t is proper that the primci
pies which they now profess should he
examined in the light of the past pro-
fcssions and conduct of each.
The Republican, party claims the sup
port of the people Oh the ground that
it is still true to the principles which
brought ii into being and which it has
-teadfastly maintained. At the same
time il profcs>es tn he at all times ready
to progress in the science of govern
ment. and to deal fairly and courage
"uSly with new ISSUES as they aIise.
On the other hand. the dcmocatic party
claims popular confidence and support.
not on the ground of adherence to it,
own record and teachings. but because
II claims to have east off its ancient
traditions and To have been regenerated
and completely metamorpho>cd. 1t l.
important To inquire whether these pro
fc>>i"n> are sincere, and even if 50.
whether III the view of the past. Il party
which has undergone 81 great change
can he trusted t" protect, defend and
preserve the new order OF things. which
has been established against its will and
in spite of its tierce>t oppositlon.
The history of the democratic part,
is inSrparable from the defense of hu-
llislll SlaiN anu lllt ln'Nl
of its traditions has been its readiness
To obey the hehests of the slave power.
which dominated American politics :"
long as that party maintained its ascen-
dency. Judged by its record and poll
teal teachings. the chief end of th,
democratic party while il held power
was, not onl Ia preserve and pcrpctu-
ate slavery where ii existed. but to give
II opportunity for expansion, following
the extension of our national domain.
A> a party organization ii should have
died whcn slavery peri>hcd. Entrusted
for many Years with the control of th
national government. il used withou'
stint the powers of every department
Legislative. executive and judicial. fui
the protection and extension of slavery
Claiming always that the general gov
elnment WAS mere confederation ot
states, possessing only federal power
and not entitled to he called Il nation oi
To lcgISlatc for the protection of ClVi'
rights OF personal liberty. it did no
hesitate to enact and enforce the mos:
stringent and arbitrary statutes for re
turning to slavery the few culorcd pco-
pile who, inspired 10y the natural long
ing toI freedom. fled from bondage t.
the free states of the North. 1t com
PEELED every man to hc slave catcher
OF violate the law of the land. 1t de
MED to men with African blood in then
veins all the rights and privileges of
citizenship, even though they had hccI
lawfully cmancipated from statutory
slavery. while it cNerted the civil ant
military power of the general govern
ment in the streets of Boston tor the
capture and return of Il single fugitive
from bondage. Cargoes of imported
slaves were permitted to land on um
southern shores and Ice sold aS chattels
throughout the South. Under the die
tation of the slave power. it adopted Il
rule of construction of the national
constitution which led directly anG
logically To the right of the slave
states to Sccede from the Union at THEN
pleasure.
In the course of events, this tree
planted and watcred 10y the democratic
party. bore the bitter fruit ot scceSSion
and disunion. When the political lead
erS of the South had sufficiently in
famed the passions and prejudices Of
the people of that unhappy section o.!
the country, and led them into open
hostility to the Union, the Democrat,
administration then in power stood mis-
erably weak and imbecile in the pres
ence of the national danger. 1t an
nounced the monstrOuS doctrine that
the same government which had. but :,
little while before eNcrtcd its civil ana
military authority for the capture an,i
return to slavery of single man. had
no constitutional right or power to pre-
vent the complete diSmcmhermcnt of
the Union 10y violence and arms. Thu
the democratic party held that there
W:S ample power to defend and pcrpct-
uatc slavery. but none to preserve the
government itself from overthrow and
destruction. The right of one state to
withdraw from the Union. OF rather the
absence of all constitutional power to
prevent its dong o,nccrssarily implied
the same right to all the states, and
thus, according to democratic teach
ingS the whole structure could he de
stroycd and the government possessed
no inherent or constitutional power of
self-prcscrvation.
Democracy In the War.
The rebellion, which cost both sec
tions of the country 81 enormously in
blood and tIeaslIrt W:Is tI,. uiIn,.t an,