The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-21
The Northern Democrats.

latinp southern men with reference to the
northern Democrats. Those men are few,
and it is a matter OF no great consequence
what they say. But we should be sorry to
know that even one deliberate or properly
biased person should Join in the asper-
stems uttered by the few.
We should remember that northern Dem
ocrats, save very few, did not approve the
doctrine OF secession. Virginia repudiated
it by large majority and only entered the
Confederate war upon point OF honor,
and under the obligation forced upon her
to side either with the South, with which she
was identified in interest, and custom, and
sentiment, or with the North. with which,
although she was in peaceful relations, she
had not that identity in interest, custom,
and feeling that she had with the, south.
Under circumstances that might have re-
licyed her from these impelling causes to
association with one side and dissertation
with the Other, Virginia would not have
entered the war;. e., she never would
have fought upon principle for secession.
We hold, therefore. that it is mere mad
ness TO claim that northern Democrats
should have fought on our side, and
should have gone into bloodshed with
their own neighbors. 1t is madness no" 10
complain that they did not do so. 1t was
"the very error of the moon y to have eX-
Npec.ed them to do so then.
still, hundreds Of proud and brave DEM
ocratic public men boldly declared their
opinions in favor OF the just settlement OF
the difficulty between the sections and
against the war. We should remember now
many OF them were cast into prison and
subjected TO outrage because they spoke
like frccrren and like just men-iEen not
blinded by fanaticism nor passion.
After the war we remember how the party
OF the war, which welded overwhelming
power, wreaked the utmost Oh their Fln-
dictiyencss upon the South. TO the I'M
pulse OF yindictiyeness there was united the
crafty and ruthless scheme OF reconstruct
in" The South so rs to put her ever under
tie control OF the negroes, guided and gov
crEcd by party Immigrants from the North.
Oh, how cruelty and how yilainously the
wretchcs sratifed their hate and maturcd
their plan at the same time.
What hand was lifted up to protest
against these scoundrelisms OF party!
What voice to proclaim against them as ill.,
human olltrages and gross violations OF the
Constitution and 4 wpr upon civilization!
What save the northern Democratic hand
and the northern Democratic voice! Is
our memory so short that we should forget
these things? 1t would lie an accurscd in
gratitude indeed which could so soon rem
der the memory inscnsible to such noble
conduct-such fidelity to right and Justice
such sympathy for the South in her hour OF
greatest atlliction, her distresses from hui
initiation and cruelty worse than war.
. Shall we not only be dead to such grand
devotion to an equal and just administra-
ton OF the republican government-such
brave intervention TO arrest, If possible, the
arm Of power rs it fell brutally upon an
oppressed and helpless people; but turn
upon the men who thus acted and asperse
them with want OF independence and
courage, and disparage them IN advance as
men who will not resist when there shall be
occasion for resistance?
We take this sort OF talk to be as idle as
it is unjust We have just passed through |
the most hotly-contested presidential cam
paign ever known in this land. 1t was !.
contest wagcd chiefly in the North. Dare |
any one say that it was not fought bravely
and manfuly by the Democrats, who fought |
over the field, yiel ding never, and winning
some of the most iiercely-contested strong
holds of party!
Aud what was the peculiar nature of that
war? 1t was this The vicious, vindictiye,
and cunning enemy discovered at the be-
ginning Of the fight that he could not de-
fend the corruptions and outrages OF the
Republican party. To rest the conflict upon
such an issue was inevitable defeat. lie de-
termined at once to revive the issues OF
South and North, Of southern rebellion,
southern crueties, and southern war
claims. In vain the Democrats struggled
to contnc the issues OF the campaign to the
Radical administration, its corruptions, in
facilities, and outrages; and they were
forced to meet their antagonists and re-
taliate their blows directed at the South.
On the part OF the Radicals the contest was
as mean, and as deccitiul, and as delibe-
rately atrocious as was possible. On the
side OF the Democrats it was bold
and gallant, and as fair as ever was
battle fought by generous men and patriots.
Throughout the canvass the Democrats
were compelled to receive the shafts aimed
at the South upon their own shields. They
shirked not, but stood face to face before t
their assailants, and bravely and effectively |
exposed their nefarious attempt to divert |
the public mind from their own. party |
crimes by mendacious attacks upon the |
South to revive the sectional passions OF the
North. Though repulsive contest, it was
nobly and CALAMITY conducted by the Demo
cratic debaters and newspapers. They
showed that iealty to their southern friends
VIII o. was due to the wronged, and with a
generous energy that is entitled to our
lasting admiration and gratitude.
What right has anybodyto impugn the
indepe ndence' and pluck OF the northern
Democratic party? Certainly no imputa-
ton should be put upon them fromthe
South, which should regard them, as we
have said, with admiration and gratitude
as friends 10 distress, and defenders in fields
where the South could not be heard in its