The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-05
A Glance Backward.

A Glance Backward.
4 elrospecs Of Republican policy for
the Lass lparleen years, Is not calculated to
mollify, in the least, the opposition which
such policy naturally engenders in every
Democratic breast The so-called recon-
strucsiou and enforcement acts, were but
the continuation Of that sectional hatred
which had vented itself il arms Negro
franchise and bayonst rule held the south
ern States for awhile as conquered prov
iuces, and Radicalism dominated the coun'
Try. Both houses Of congress, the exseu-
tive, and the Judiciary, were Radical, and
they ruled with high hand Democrats
received little consideration except that of
wrong aud oppression. The Radicals ear
ried things to such extremes that reyul-
sion ensued, and their grasp upon the lower
house Of Congress was broken. The Sen
ate still remained in their hands, and that
body opposed every obstacle in its power
to all the measures Of reform and retrcnch-
meut which the Democrats inaugurated in
tho House. A saving in one year Of thirty
millions Of dollars was effected in the pub
lie expenditures despite the opposition Of
the Radical Senate, but the cry went up
from that party that the Democrats were OBJ
structing the operations off the government.
They hoped by such means to create
panic and excite popular indignation
AGAINST the Democrats and profit by it so
as to regain possession Of their lost power
IN the House. The Presidential election
Of 1876 came on, and although the Dem
ocrats cast majority Of over a quarter Of
million Of votes for their candidate, they
we're, b. the most shameless fraud ever
practieed upoa any people, cheated out OF
the electoral votes Of two States, and Q
man was inaugurated into the presidency
who had no moral or constitutional right
10 Il whatever. This fraud has been made
As plain as the sun at MONDAY, and yet the
Republicaas not only deny that they were
guilty Of iraad, but have the hardihood to
assert that whatever fraud was committed
was pcrpelrated by the Democrats them
selves. This is adding insult to injury and
isa falsehood oflhe most impudcnt and bra
zen character. They seem to think that
they can screen themselves by charging
frand upon the Democrats. Having de-
stroyed the topographic evidences OF their
own guilt Tor fraud accomplished, they hop
ed to fix the stain Of fraud attempted upon.
the Democrats. For this purpose the n
j. Tribsae's cipher dispatches were pub
lished Bet they failed Of their object.
The Investigation officially made by . COM
miitee Of Congress, while Il implicated one
nun for ildiscretion only. was a com
plete yiudieation Of the Democratic party,
and especially of their candidate. They
affect TO held Pelton's attempted negotia-
ton for electoral rotcs which belonged of
right 10 his uncle, but which his uncle
stopped as soon as it came to bis kDowl-
edged as gross an act Of moral tarpitade
as their own fut accompi. The one was
an unauthorized attempt Of an individual,
the other was faet accomplished BY the
agents Of the Republican party, and the
whole party have made themselves rcspon-
sible for the base transaction BY ever since
defending it, and are to-day enjoying its
fruits, stolen though they be.
10 sun up this retrospect of the past
fourteen years--Hayes is the de Jaeto
President, and will be so, unless removed
BY the hand Of Providence. TO the end of
his term. But no receiver Of stolen goods
was ever more morally rePrehensible than
be. and If be bad been actuated by high
and honorable principle he never would
bare consented to accept the place stained
all over as i is with this black and damn
ing crime agaiast the people and against
che purity and fairness Of popular elections.
Let Democrats cherish the remembrance
of their wrongs, and let thatrcmemsraDcc
nerve every arm in every contest until
1850, to tie work of redress, aud let them
abnte neither jot nor title Of their determi-
naiion 70 wipe out their opponents, as
party, ~ with the bosom Of destruction.
Tie Republicans have sown the wind, for
these long weary years, let them reap the
whirlwind Of Democratic power in the
next great quadrennial contest