The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1879-02-27
Democratic Doctrines.

Before the Democracy had an organ In this
County, the Chief gave them room for notices,
communications, etc., on party business; and
since the collapse of their organ, We shall grant
them the same privilege. Mr.. Henshall, this
week, lays down synopsis of the princi.
pies of the party. We cheerfully give him the
space, and thank him for the contribution for
it is better for the Republican party than any
thing else could publish. We thus prove,
by a Democratic witness, the truth of the charg-
es that Republicans have made, that the Demo
cratic party is the same old Bourbon organiza-
tiou that it has been for generations, entertain
ing the same principles that prscipitated the
South into rebellion, and which the people of
the United States have repudiated for the last
twenty years. This platform originally
laid down by Ben. Hill, of Georgia, a rebel Gen
eral; and the Southern rebel element of the
Democratic party controls il, it is fitting that
it should dictate its platform.
The FIRST plank is a determination to pay no
more war losses, either loyal or disloyal-plac-
ing the friends of the Government on the same
footing Is its enemies. They know very well
that the country will not submit to the pay
uent of rebel losses, therefore they declare that
loyal losses should not be paid. They should
70 rs far As Ben. Butler, and declare in favor of
pensioning disabled rebel soldiers, the same as
Union soldiers. The Republican party will
never consent to place the destroyers of tho ma
tion on an equality with its preservers. The
meu who fought for the Union the ones to
be pensioned, not the men who assailed it. Aud
il there any just claims of Union men, they
should be paid but losses of disloyal men, new
er. The treatment that Bragg, of Wisconsin, has
received for his speech against the payment of
Southern claims, shows how sincere the Democ-
racy are in making this declaration.
Opposition to a standing army is new Dem
ocratic doctrine. In Van Buren's reign, stand
ing army was a leading Democratic idea; and
never q word did they say against it, until at
tor the war. The regular army was the saliva
tion of the country until the volunteer forces
got into the field, and the army in the South
protected the loyal people for years after the
war. 1t is because of this great service that
the Democracy now hate the army.
The remainder Of the platform is principally
State rights. 1t is the same old doctrine by
which notification and rebellion were justified.
1t was the doctrine that was thrashed out in
the rebellion, but now pokes mp its hand again,
rs the rebel element comes into power. a
strong central Government is what the United
States need-one that will force the States to
obey the Constitution, and promptly crush all
attempts at rebellion. Notification practically
prevails in the South to day. Men are dspriv.
ed of their rights, and the laws of Congress are
set at defiance. A strong central Government
is wanted to deal with the case, in the hands of
q man-not a thing, like the present Executive.
The authority of the Government should be
maintained, even if it smelled of bayonets, and
felt of them. II the Southern Democracy have
such distaste for the bloody shirt, for which
they were responsible, let them refrain from
acts that will lead to scenes of blood. The pros
pect is not encouraging, when they offer plat
form upon which they were once tried and
found wanting.