Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-01-21
The Choice Between Parties.

~
IL the ardor Of cancellation which VIC are
told Is 70 mark the centennial year upon |
which We have now entered, we must not \
forget factsnor disregard human nature and |
the lessons OF experience. The antccedents |
and action Of The Democratic majority In |
the House Of Representatives suggest grave
reflections; and, as Presidential election
occurs this year, It Is useful to look at the
general considerations which should inHu-
ence the decision OF the country ii
Political history Is continuous In the sense
that there are no abrupt and radical changes
~ political feeling. The end OF the war of
the rebellion was no more the end OF the
principles, habits Of thought, sectional and
political differences, from which u sprang
than the coronation of William and Mary
was the end Of Jacobite faith and politics
In England. We gladly welcome every sign
OF greater herInony between .thc late Con-
fedcrates in this country and the supporters
OF the Union. But no pleasant episodes like
those in Boston last summer, and no ncws.
paper vocifcration that by-goncs arc by
gonos, and that we are all loving brethren,
and he is fool or a rascal who docs not
know 1t, can change the fact that those
who were bred In hatred OF the Yankees and
the Union, who, as friends of free popular
government, sustained and defended the
bnrDRrism OF slavery, who were essentially
aristocrats and monarchists, and who held
wholly alOof from themoyemcnt Of the age,
and the expansive, generous and progress.
i've spirit of the rest Of the country, have
not suddenly changed their natures and
convictions, and become released from all
the influences of their training and trOdi-
tions, merely because they have been con-
quercd in the field. Such a result was never
known In any country, at any time, and It
certainly has not been accomplished here.
In speaking Of Mr.. Morton's "national' res.
olutions, the Mobile Register, edited by John
Forsyth, one of the original Confederate
leaders, and the best exponent in the coun-
try of the late Confederate sentiment, says,
frankly:
Mr. Morton wishes to force the Southern Sen.
ators to say that when conquered they did not sur
render their belief in the principles OF bur Gov
ernment. What does no gain by thisl man
who believed In the right OF secession In 1860 be-
neves in 1t to-day, whether whipped or not. The
remedy for wrongs In the Union by peaceable sep
nration Of the States ia dead question. Every
body knows II is dead and buried in a million
spaVes' Inc inc Northern people do not expect us to
put, we hope our Southern Senators will vote
ooldly, lnst exactly as they please and let the
consequences rest with Justice and with God.
That is to say, the late war has shown that
secession cannot at present he enforced. 1t
Is precisely what an English Jacobite would
have said after the failure of 1715.
We make. all allowance that can be claimed
for pride and anger and folly and "cusscd-
ness But we Unionists know what we
should still have thought and felt IL VIC had
been beaten, and we need not suppose that
our opponents are not made of the same
clay. Now the important fact Is that the
strength Of the Democratic party lies in that
part OF the country where the feelings and
opinions of the dominant and ruling class
are expressed by such papers as the Register:
That class for many years before the war
determined the policy Of the Democratic
party, exposing the country to the Just
scorn of the world by its insolent slavery
propaganda, by which also it sought to de-
Hn M 11l nttfsh I'm matt. nal ,,l,u
1t ruled the party because il had positive
and definite purpose, and carefully trained
its political agents to secure It, The party
to-day in the other States is strongest among
the worst population of great cities. In
iority, 1t is in the city OF New York, and I'D
the least enlightened parts Of the city Ii
New England, in New York and Pennsylva-
MIA, in the West and Northwest the party is
not strong Its citadel Is in the Southern
States, aud the ruling class there hasits own
feelings principles aud purposes 1t is
united, able and rcsolute. Because of this.
and because 1t Is absolutely essential to the
party success, it will naturally and neces-
sarily control the party policy. The Demo-
cratic party In the other States has no
common principle or purpose. Itproclaims
reform, but nowhere does it even pretend to
attempt 1t except in the State of New York
and its prestige there Is entirely eclipscd by
the sturdy and successful reforms of the Re-
publican Secretary Bristow. Meanwhile it
is hopelessly divided upon the financial dues-
tion. The one part of the organization
which is heartily united is that in the South
crn States, where the strength of the party
lies, and where its real drift should it obtain
power must bO sought.
Is this the leadership to which the Gov
ernment should be confidcd in the centen-
nial yeary As the political principles and
convictions of the North as deeply rooted
and inteXible as those of 'tle South"
have after a long and terrible war finally
prevailed; as the Constitution has been
amended in accordance with them us the
Government and the Union have been re-
newed in the spirit of the North ;" of which
the Republican party is the political Organi-
zation-is it reasonable to suppose that
party naturally and sincerely hostile to that
spirit would administer the Government
more wisely and safely than the Republican?
Great changes in consequence of the war
and of emancipation have undoubtedly
taken place, and will not cease. A more in
telligent and sincere sympathy is springing
up between the long-alienated sections.
Many OF the soldiers both of the blue and
the gray are full of chivalric feeling, and
spurn yindictive recriminations. The folly
of the doctrine of constitutional right Of
secession is more and more evident even to
the most Bourbon element of the South"
All this Is true, and he would he very fool
ish who did not see and acknowledge II. But
he would be equally blind and narrow who
supposed that because concliation is NEST
desirable, and is to be patiently and persist
emily sought, 1t is therefore accomplished; !;
and that, because they have been beaten in
the field, those who have always held the
sovereignty of the States and the rightful-
ness of slavery, who were really monarch
lists, and wholly without sympathy with tho
American idea of equal rights before the
law, have become the best friends of the
Union and Of political justice, and the safest
guard. ms Of the Government. Neither they
nor the party of which they are the main
support, whatever candidate they may nomi-
nate and whatever professions they may
make, should be called to power in prefer
ence TO the Republican party with aIfy can.
Ndate against whom no reasonable objec-
tion can be urged At the present time
nothing seems more certain than Republican
success with such a candidate, for the nomi
nation of such a candidate would be the
proof to intelligent and patriotic men that
administrative reform, u sound financial
policy and the truest sympathy with the pro.
visions of the amended Constitution could
be more reasonably expected from the Re.
publican than from the Democratic party
Harper's Weekly