New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-14
FJGUTiNG rex PRINCIPLES.

What are tie principles Lee and Jackson
fought for The question has instant prac-
ticgl importance for every Northern citizen.
For Wade Hampton, who represents the Solid
South with It's 1873 electoral votes gained
mainly by fraud, publicly asserts that the
Democrats of the South are contcnding for
the same principles for which Lee and Jack
"son fought for four years. These 13S cleo
toral votes give possibility OF success. II any
Northern states are OF the same mind. w hat,
them are the principles for which Lee and
jackson fought, and for which Northern
State viii vote, if 1t votes with the Solid
Southl
The right Of secession was the princi pie for
which Lee and Jackson pro tcsscdly contcnded
ANY State, they claimed, could dissolve the
Union at its pleasure. a simple resolution to
secede, adopted by the temporary majority OF
the people or their representatives, in any
State. was enough to rend all ties be-
tween the people of that State and the United
States Against that doctrine of secession the
loyal people OF this country raised powerful
armies, spent money by the thousand mil
lions, and sacrificed the lives OF two hundred
thousand patriots Arc they to vote that they
were wrong7 VIII the people OF Il NoIthein
State vote that the blood and treasure of the
North were spent i'll an unholy and unjust
effort7 VIII they mark with dlsh0nor the
graves of the brave men who died that the
Nation might liyc9
Secession had cause. The principle for
which the Southern States seeded was one of
the principlcs for which Lee and Jackson
fought. Secession was to preserve slavery.
70 man
and women in bondage, and to treat them in
every respect as cattle, was the principle Tor
which the Southern States seeded. The iron
hoofs and wheels of war have passed over the
institution of slavery, and it is dead. Every
foot of the soil OF these United States has
been made sacred to freedom by Con-
stitutional Amendment. Nevertheless, it
seems, we have to fight the battle all
over AGAIN, for the Democratic party is
still concndns for the principles for which
"I.ee and Jackson fought for four years"
Does the South still fancy that it can restore
negro slavery Apparently. Civil rights are
denied to the c)lored race. Social freedom Is
denied. Political rights, especially, though
,uoronteed by the Constitution, are COM
pleicly denied to those unhappy people who
were once slaves. Democratic papers at the
South boldly declare that the negro race is
doomed to extinction OF slavery; that 1t can
continue to exist at the South only asa serilc
and enslaved race. But is this one of the
principles for which any Northern State is
ready to vote l!
The Democratic party, we may as well re-
member, has never yet consented to the cX-
| tinction of slavery. In some places and at
| some times, its platforms recognize abolition
as a fact accomplished, but not ~ Il fact ire
| yocable and irreversibe. There is not Il trace
of proof that the Democratic party, If it
! should gain power again, would not revoke
reimbursement, undo abolition, and remand
the colorcd people, by various legal devices
| which Democratic States can easily cOntrivo
| TO a condition of slavery. The acts passed by
Southern Legislatures, Immediately after the
war would have rcmanded the colored face