Weston weekly leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 1878-189?, 1880-10-30
SLIGHTLY INTERkOGATORY.

DEAR SIR Il see your answer to an en-
quirer and telling why you are Democrat.
/ have read it through and cannot see the
point. One reason is that the Democratic
party is older than the Republican party. AS
you state it the Democratic party dates back
to the time of jefferson, while the Republican
party anIy dates back to Lincoln. 1t is the
same argument that Paul uses to show that
man is superior to woman, for he says imam
| first was then woman" By that argument
| the ape would be superior to man, for he was |
made first. You say the fundamental princi- |
pies are the same with the Democratic party |
to-day that it was in Jefferson's days. Moth
ing could be more erroneous. Do you sup
pose Jefferson would have voted to place
Benedict Arnold in the U. S. Senate? or do
you suppose that the Democrats of his time
would accuse him of waving the bloody shirt
had he refused to vote that way? Before you
claim to be Jeffersonian Democrat, would
ask you do you think that Jefferson looked
upon treason as crime or not! Do you think
be would have voted to turn out Sargent-at
arms at the Capitol who had held the Office Of
General in the Continental army and put
Tory in his place? or do you think he would
have voted to put Benedict Arnold as chair
man OF the committee on pension claims! You
believe in States rights. You leave it as clear
as mud. JEFF. Davis is a States rights man,
and every man III the rebel army was States
rights mau Define yourself. There is not a
Republican in the U. S. who does not hold to
States rights. But there is limit to it and
i II -
party of to .iey low hot aud cold with the
same breath They are gold men or green
: hackers to sui Sl1e voters either way; to suit
like Pats horse '';f he was any better TOR
having the heaves ne had 'em." Any one by
reading your letter would suppose that the
Republican party acted the part of traitors
:. during the war and that the Democrats OF
Missouri restored the Union. Isee you claim
\ Lincoln as Democrat, and condemn Blaine,
Conkling, Cameron, Logan, Garfield, ETC.. as
deadheads, enemies to the country, but moi
one word of condemnation of such men al
Hampton, Toombs and the host Of men that
tried to destroy the best government on earth
h You would make people believe that if Demo
Gratis succeed in electing their men and ge
control of the government that northern Dem
~ ocrats would have something to say abou
g g running it. You can make u, no one Oeliev
" this If Democrats win it will be the solit
south who is master of the situation, and yo'
know what their feelings are towards tn
70 "Lost Cause" Do you think that the ''prin
nn nn ciples that Lee and jackson fought for" ar
dead with them? Do you think such a Con
oo gress with President that they elected woul
look with favor on union pensions? Do yo
think they meant it when they said the
would tear your amendments from the Const
- tution?" I will say one thing more abor
+ Democratic principles to show you how the
are two-faced. They have contended sine
the war that military man was not ma
for President. They supported Tilden WI
B. boasted in '66 that he had not given one doll;
to aid the unholy war, and Seymour who d
'm nounced the war as failure lin a speech
and Chicago in 64). They support English wi
oos so was in sympathy with the rebellion al
ter; claimed that Democrats in Indiana return'
,ich runaway slaves to their masters and call
,h1s n, Republicans blackhearted Abolitionists.
ned the same time they support Hancock VI
ues. risked his life to fight such principles. If
.,.s is not a mixed up mess, what is it! Do y
OF. remember that the Democratic party foug
the homestead bill for years? and that th
- party passed the first railroad grant? NJ
viii you be kind enough to give this pla
in the LEADER! l write this because there
., two sides to the question and both should
read. Truly yours,
- 81. H. NICHOLS
sssd sa We are pleased with the energv
Mr. Nichols letter. 1t is so much me
OR. satisfactory to find man openly, a
n without personal feeling, advocating
views, and combating those With VIII
he differs, than grumbling and abusi
'o in private. To the argument. We st
" ed the comparative duration of the t