Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-07-16
Democratic Company.

In an editorial referring to the past history
of the Democratic party, the Reformer once
said
For the purpose of perpetuating its pow
err the Democratic party years ago made white
manhood, without intelligence or property,
the test of suffrage. The result is that i'll the
North large portion. If not majority, of
our voters, without character or interest in
the soil or government are the sport and
prey Of demagogues and purchasers of official
station-mcre creatures who sell their votes
as sheep are sold in the bhambles, or give
them away without price to the demagogues
who play upon their passions or pander to
their prejudices."
No one, therefore, knowing what its opin-
ion of that party WIS, could be surprised at
the uttcrances made in the town hall on the
occasion of the organization of the Hancock
club. Few men are willing to stand up and
confess that their party, when last in power,
was rotten and corrupt but the quotation
here made and the recent speech no doubt
tell the truth, not only Of the past history
but Of the present status, of the Democratic
party. 1t held on to power by corrupt means,
and did all that it could do to educate nation
in that school of political art and, only for
a reyolution-such an one as always occurs,
sooner or later, when the leaders have gone to
such depths of sin-could we, as a nation,
have been freed from their corruption and
saved as this nation has been saved. The
young men who are just now attaining their
majority do not know of the past history of
this party, and, by the sophistry of demR-
gogues, run a great risk of being misled. 1t
ia trua thaf he
of this party to-day are the same as when
they were kicked out of Office by an indignant
nation. Wade Hampton said in a late speech
TO the colored people You can aid in
choosing its rulers you can become office
holders yourselves. But you can do it only
in one way, and that is by joining this strong,
| grand old Democratic party" And while this
can be said truthfully as to men, it can be pc
culiarly remarked a. 10 measures for, in fact,
it has none. As party it is well represented
by Tony Pastor in his variety show, whose
merit consists in pandering to the popular
follies of the day. Its present platform con-
tains an attack upon the tariff laws, forgetting
that its own candidate, Horace Greeley, was
one of the strongest educators of the Ameri-
can people on principles underlying and con
trolling our tariff.
Does tho Democratic party love the Ameri-
can government? Mo- itloves only its offices
and money. Robert Toombs, in his Georgia
speech, said when they (Republicqns) got
into possession of the government, the first
object was to overthrow the South-to over
throw her institutions, to invade her soil, and
to murder her inhabitants !" and if this party,
of which Toombs is worthy exponent, re-
turns to power, it can be depended upon TO
reverse the issues settled by the late war. In
a row in Congress last winter, Blackburn of
kentucky was quite severe upon Democratic
member from Pennsylvania Coffroth, and
asked him if he thought he had been guilty of
treason to which the Pennsylvania replied
THAT was exactly what he meant, and that he
ought to have been hanged" 1t would be
raising the "bloody shirt" for Republican to
say that. The Okolona States puts it plainly
that when the Democrats capture the capitol
"they will proceed to tear your amendments
from the constitution and trample them in the
mire. Then will we recognize the right OF
seoession-A right that is not dead, but sleep
ing"
The young men need to study, not only the
history OF the party, but of tho men who
compose and manage it and if they shall
find its past history as foul and corrupt rs our
neighbor says it is-Rnd the same men are be-
hind the scenes managing it, and have in view
! tho same end of corruption and fraud-these