The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-04-15
WHAT IT is.

III All its puhsco huu uintuioo1, ~ MI
its tricky expedients and cunning sub
terfuges, in all the names which it as
sumes and all the combinations to
which il resorts, the Democratic party
OF the North is the ally. the friend and
the active confederate OF the solid
South. It's character. fer the last thir-
ty years. has never for one moment
been changed IN this essential feature.
IL the party has ever refrained from q
full and open manifestation OF this
trait, has been because policy dictated
that il should seek by indirection what
il could not hope TO secure by any
other method.
The history OF the party during this
period presents dark page, unreliev-
ed by single act which contradicts its
uniform record OF subserviency TO the
conspirators who in 1860 and in the
years previous, made the extension OF
slavery a condition of their allegiance
to the Republic; who in 1861 plunged
the country in the greatest inter-necine
strife known in the world for centuries;
and who, since 1865, have been steadi-
ly pushing themselves again into pow
or, until at last they have succeeded in
gaining control OF both houses OF Con-
gress. In all this time, at every Pres
idential election and every other elec-
ton, the Northern Democracy have
sought to take, and have taken, that
course which they thought would give
the most effective aid to the Southern
leaders, and restore the supremacy to
their hands.
In our own State, and in other States,
il is also noticeable that, in most in
stances, the very same men have been
conspicuous in oil the sevarious phases
in which Northern sympathy with the
South has been manifest. The men
who, before the wal, declared that the
election of Mr.. Lincoln would be an in
vasion OF the constitutional rights of
the South; who fostered secession up
TO the very moment when the rebels
fired upon Sumpter; who, in the Sec
ond year Of the war, were for "peace
at any price," meaning that the war
should close on terms wholly dictated
by the rebels; who, in the last year OF
the war, proclaimed the Union cause
failure and nominated Presidential
ticket on that ground, just as Atlanta
surrendered 10 our heroic troops under
Sherman; who, at the final winding up
of the Confederacy at the fail Of Rich
mond, turned their immediate atten.
tion 10 devising methods Of reconstruc-
tion which should enable the rebels TO
win by the ballot what they had failed
to secure by the bullet; Who persist
emily aud obstreperously resisted
every one OF the three Constitutional
which were intended
TO secure the nation the results of the
war and 10 prevent the restoration Of
slavery and the payment Of the rebel
debt; who have ayailed themselves Of
every specious pretext possible, with a
view 10 place the men who saved the
Union, under the heels Of the ex- Con-
and who have now the inn
pudence tn taunt the Republican party
for showing towards the rebels a mag
which, at the time, they de-
nounced as severity; who have watched
with incessant vigilance for every occa-
sion for aspersing the Republican adj
and have raised the false
cry OF reform with the sole intent Of
placing the party represented by JEFF
Davis again at the head Of affairs; who
proffiting by the corruption Tammany
and apologizing for assassination in
the South, have still had the brayado
to make official purity and free bal
lot, their watchword: who have studied
with the most ingenious assiduity TO
put the fairest face upon every act
by rebels and ex-rebels, and
have not scrupled TO misrepresent and
distort every act OF the administration
in which there was the least chance for
making political capital for themselves;
who have even met President Hayes ef-
forts OF sectional Cancellation with the
cry of "fraud," and made their last
10 consist almost wholly in
an attempt TO brand him as an usurper,
while they gladly welcome the propo-
sition to pension JEFF Davis; the men
who have been identified with this long
and shameless party record are now
their entire effort TO preparing
the way for the final triumph OF their
cause in 1880.
In the past history which we have
thus briefly recalled, the Democratic
party in our State has rallied under
quite a variety Of colors, and has made
use Of numerous expedients to achieve
the desired object. Knowing that the
only hope OF success for their national
organization lay in consolidation and
reviving n united Democratic South,
they have Joined with their fellow par
tisans elsewhere in throwing every pos
sible embarrassment in the way Of
peaceful reconstruction. They have
tried to make the South be-
lieve that il was grievously wronged,
and that the real traitors 10 the Gov
ernment, and the real disturbers OF the
public peace we're the Republicans Of
the country. They have denounced
Grant as q tyrant, but il must be re-
membered that these self-same men,
whom we all know. and who are still
leading Democrats, denounced Lin
coin, in the same way. Grant may
have faults. We are far from giving a
blind approval TO all he has done; but
It should be borne in mind that the
reason why he is condemned by the
Democracy OF the country. both North
and South, is almost wholly 10 be
found in the simple Fact that he was a
Republican President who could not
be used TO promote the scheme for n
Democratic or an Confederate re-
storation.
The people, therefore, very readily
see what this same class OF men are en-
deavoring 10 accomplish under cover
OF coalition with the Nationals" in
the more general disguise Of "Citizens"
or in any other shape that promises
success 10 their scheme. Great en-
phasis is now laid by them upon the
importance OF ''rebuking Grant and
Chandler" when every body knows that
IL is the entire Republican cause as en-
bodied in the last eighteen years OF our
history which they wish not only 10 re-
buke but 10 utterly expunge.
They desire the defeat OF the Repub
lican party everywhere, not because
they differ from il on side issues, but
because they are arrayed against il
now as in 1851, and every moment
since, on the general issue. The South
must again put It's foot on the neck OF
the North. in order that these men may
haua s.Iaaa onI sx,wcw -. Al.