The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-11-07
can the REPUBLIC Be SAFELY EN-
TRUSTED TO THE DEMCcRATlC
PARTY?

Is grave question-and one that,
we believe can only te answered in
one wav. Wesay most enaphotically
no. Not twenty years has YET
elapsed since the Democratic party,
regardless Of consequences, commit
ted treason and plunged this country
into the most devastating war of
modern times. The party had, for
years previous, been preaching State
rights, and in some instances had en-
devored to nullify the laws of the
general government. State rights, as
taught by ante war Democracy,
and the rebel brigadiers since the
war. is the most damnable heresy
ever promulgated by any party or
class of men in any age of the world.
The idea that State, creature of
the constitution and laws, is superior
to the power that created it, is the
most senseless dogma Of the age. Il
simply has no foundation, in fact, law
or morals. One might as well say
that the child should dictate to the
parent the mode of conducting the
family, or that a school should fix
the rules of conduct for the teacher
or that the employees of factory
or mine should prescribe the mode
of conducting the business, and fixing
salaries, &c. 1t is too absurd to
think of, seriously, for moment.
Can it be possible that any
reasoning, thinking person can
believe any such foolish doctrine,
much less teach and advocate it :?
And yet there are thousands, yea
hundreds of thousands, who belong
TO the Democratic party Of this coun-
try who at least profess to believe it,
because the leaders of the Democ-
racy tell the masses ani their adher-
ents that such is the case. The great
mass of the Democratic party are
excusable for believing the heresy,
because they know no better. But
we have no patience with some of the
members of the Democratic party
who know better, and ought to be
ashamed to talk so palpable an error.
The idea that State is sovereign.
and the government subservient;
that the United States is league of
States and not a Nation. is too pre-.
posterous for any intelligent man to
mention. much less attempt to make
those who take the que from him be
lieve; yet the Southern Democracy
advocate this doctrine, promulgate il
in their party platforms, and pro.
claim it from the rostrum; the Dem
ocracy of the North bow in submis-
sion, and adopt what their Southern
Brethren dictate, for the simple rea-
sen, in many instances, that by 80
doing they. may be let into the con-
troll Of the government. The idea of
States rights, as taught by the mod
ern Democracy, was exploded long
ago, and was forever settled in this
country by the results OF the war of
tho Rebellion. 1t is useless for the
northern wing of the Democracy to
attempt any reforms, or the prrmul-
cation of any new doctrines, that are
in opposition to the wishes of the
Democracy of the South, for it will
not be tolerated for one moment.
The plain facts are, however dis
tasteful they may be to the intelli-
gent Democracy, that the Southern
Democracy propose 10 have 1873 elec.
toral votes in the next Presidential
election, solid for the Democratic
candidate, who will not be selected
for his patriotism or craftsmanship.
but simply and solely for the purpose
OF personifying the idea of State SOW
ereignty. Probably the party stand
ard bearer in 80 will be one that not
only fought to destroy the govern
ment he had sworn 10 protect-but
repudiator of honest obligations as
we'll for every Southern State, except
Texas, has been engaged in the nefa-
rious business.
Can it be possible that any sane
person will, for a moment, seriously
think of allowing the government to
pass into such hands? The whale
object of the Southern Democracy,
through the aid of their Northern
allies, seems to be to accomplish, by
legislation, what they failed to &C
complish by an appeal to arms. Rep
resentative Blackburn, Of Kentucky,
during the last session, said that they
6he Democrats) proposed to wipe
ont the last vestige of the war legis.