Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-04-20
Pure Democracy.

try: that it has done more to dehauch
the public conscience than any other,
and that it is mainly responsible for
the social decentralization which now
prevails. This assertion is not made
in partisan spirit. nor In the heat of
newspaper controversy. 1t is sustain
ed by history, and will stand the test of
time. No political organization known
in the history of the United States, has
been the slave of blind, unreasOEing
prejudice as the Democratic party none
has been so false to liberty; none has
betrayed so many promises; none has
done so much to debase the standard
of public morals; none ever so obse-
quiously did the bidding of the slave
power, or labored so aSsiduouSly to
prostitute every department of the gov
eminent to the support of that institu-
ton. 1t is not only the party of political
corruption and prostitution, but the
party. also, of treason and rebellion.
. Not only has it never done anything to
advance the cause of liberty, but it has
been the most insidious and persistent
enemy of liberty. 1t has stood in the
path of progress like a rock, and when
at last it found it could not control the
government in the interests of slavery
it attempted to destroy it, thus show
ing the spirit of a burglar, who, having
robbed and murdered his victims, sets
fire to the house to prevent detection.
If slavery was the sum of all villainy,
treason and rebellion were the rlpened
fruits of slavery, and as the earlier ca
reer of the Democracy was devoted to
unfolding the former, so its closing
years of power were spent i'm encour-
aging the latter. A hundred years
will pass before the country will out
grow the influences of slavery or fully
recover from the effects of the ruinous
and destructive war inaugurated by the
Democratic party in defense of that in
stitution. And this is the party, with
such history and such a record, that
is now prating about publication and
reform, and asking to be entrusted with
the control of the government.
We are well aware that two wrongs
do not make right. We do not need
, to be told that Democratic rascalities
in the past do not justify Republican
rascalities in the present. But we
maintain that it is perfectly legitimate
to call attention to the reasonable
records of the Democratic party as an
evidence OF the insincerity of les pro-
LESSONS of virtue. and the danger of
entrusting it with power, The whole
history of the party, state and Nation
al, abound with evidence of fraud. Not
to go further back than the time of
Gen. Jackson, the great apostle of mod
ern Democracy; his whole administra-
tion was succession Of political out
RACES and social scandals. He first gave
practical application of the doctrine
that Ito tie victOrs belong the spoils, "
and 10y sticking to his friend through
| thick and thin established the rule that
a Democrat can do no wrong-in other
words that devotion to party covered
all sins. His secretary of War, Lewis
Cass of Michigan, was mixed up in
some very doubtful transactions, and
laid the foundation of large fortune
by organizing Il company for specua-
ting in Western lands while he was
Seer, tary of War. AS Secretary he
had special advantages and inform
ton in regard tn the location of lands
and opportunities of securing for ms
company monopoly of choice tracts,
which were afterwards sold to the gov
ermment for military posts, etc. This
was matter of public comment ut the
time, but no Democrat ever moved AN
investigation.
a little later Colonel Richard NJ.
Johnson. "a confidential friend IF Gen.
jackson, IA Democratic Senator. and
ice-Presi,lent during Van Buren, 5
administration, became the agent for
the prosecution of IA claim for one
Buckner, for removing the Chickasaw
Indians. johnson prosecut, il While
lie Was Vice-President. and the claim
WAS allowed and paid 10y Democratic
officials. 1t is probably the only Case
on record of Vice-Presidrnt of the
/ United States prosecuting "A claim he
fore Il depart ment and receiving IA fee
for 1t. In 1872 the Wings appointed Il
committee to investigate the matter,
and i'll their report, submitted to the
House OF Representatives, said:
The whole amount thus paid IL
Captain Buckner Was SIG. 293. 80; of
this amount the sum of S37, 7i9 was, be.
you'd doubt, improperly paid. Ii the
| Committee have been correct in the
view they have taken of this case, tie
Chicka>aw fund has sustained loss ol
! ST., 243 80, attributable To the want
of prudent economy and faithiulness on
/ the part of those connected with lis
disbursement, and the accounting of
| ficers.'
The testimony showed that johnson
first demanded farm in Arkansas and
some negroes as his fee. Subsequently
he agreed to take $4,000 and actual,
received it. Did the Democrats how
at this exposure of corruption on the
part of Democratic Vice President
Not bit of it. 1t made no difference
in Johnson's party standing, and SID
years later, in 1913. the Democracy va
ted him $4,000 in payment of an old
Indian claim, by way of showing thai
they still considered him a good Dem
Ocrat.
In 1884, w. Il. Harris,.a Democratic
receiver of public moneys at Columbus
Miss, was found to be a defaulter. Til,
Secretary of the Treasury threatened
his removal, but the Democratic Rep
resentatiye from that district protest
ed, and Harris was retained. Two
years later he resigned and nominated
one Gordon ID. Boyd as his successor
indorsiag him as IA main pillar o.
Democracy" and IAN ardent support
er of your (Jackson's) administration
and an unyielding advocate of thu
principles of Democracy" Boyd wa
appointed, and the accounting officer
of the treasury quietly closed account
with Mr.. Harris by the following Ell
try: Balance due from Mr.. Harris
S109, l7S,0S." Neither he nor his bond
men were ever prosecuted, and TIN
event did not cause a ripple in Demo
cratic circles. In less than six month
Boyd was found to be stealing also. Ii
June, 1887, Levi Woodbury., Secretar,
of the Treasury. appOinteda Democra
to examine the books and account
of Harris, and reported the latter de
faulter tn the amOunt of $50 OOO Wa