The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-08-26
nopub,scau Conr.ssion. OF railur

- Fifteen years after the war closed
the Republican papers and leaders
keep up their constant bowling about
the Union being in greater peril than
ever before. AS they have been in
control of the Government during
that time, it would seem tbat they
should bo held responsible for the
condition of affairs W hich they allege
to exist, and step down and out. Up
on this subject Hon. Joseph Puliz,r
said in his great speech at IndiaDapO-
liz on the 14th inst. t..s'is ....t
Ii we ask the Chicago plat
form for single living question or
real issue or principle, we hear but
this answer: We c3 me from APP
.pomatlOX,- WE preserved the repub-
l;c-WE suppressed the rebellion-wE
abolished slavery" Now, happened
t. be near AppomatioX myself in an
almost entirely Democratic regiment,
aud you all know that whoever tells
you that the Republican or any other
one party. saved the Union, instead of
The people, regardless OF party, tells
YOU a colossal lie. But let Us assume
Tor arguments sake That all Of these
glorious Republican achievements
were true, that the Republican party
and not the people, saved the Union
and suppressed the rebellion-what
Of il? Is that 2 reason why it should
remain in power forever? Does that
Justify the disfranchisement of q ma
joriiy of the America people? What
has that to do with the questions of
today? Suppose the Republican par.
ty really did save the Union then, is
that q reason why it should destroy
the republic now? But, my friends,
there is most humorous conflict be-
tween the Republican assertions. On
the one hand you hear that the Repub
lican party must be held in power be-
cause it saved The Union, suppressed
he rebellion, abolished slavery, etc
etc. These are the Republican corner
stones-their great achievements. But
on the other hand, we hear hOarse
paign line that the Republican party
must be kept in power because the
Union is as much in danger as ever
that the country is in great poril that
Democracy means COnfederacy that
the election of HANCOCK would mean
the complete triumph of the very reb-
els who had tried 10 destroy the gov.
ernment, the subjugation OF the North,
the payment of the rebel debt, etc. !;
that the negro in the South is practi.
cal!y still in stale of slavery, and, III
one word, that every result of the war
would be upset by the election of a
| Democratic President. Now submit
whether the Republican party does
not otconVict itself opt of its own mouth
| Ii the Unien is as much in danger to-
day as in 1860. the Republican party
certainly did not save it. If the Con
federate Brigadiers as seriously threat
EN- the government today as In lS6O
aud the spirit of treason is still ram
pant, and the negro is yet in practic.
al state of slavery, the Republican
party did not really Tree him nor sup.
| press the rebellion at all. ] submit
| whether there is an escape from this
alternative - either their hoastfpl
achievements about The past, or their
| fiery appeals about the present danger,
are utterly false. But let US for argu-
meni's sake admit the other end of the
Republican theory, that the country
really is in great danger. Let us ad-
nit everything the Republicans claim
about the horrible plans OF the rebel
leadera. and the terribls condition Of
the South. What does ii show except
the utter failure of the Republican
party in everything it undertook. If,
with the most extraordinary powers
ever welded by any political party,
aud most unscrdpulousiy welded for
twenty years, the South is what the
Hepublicans CLAIM. the Repnbl lican
party confess TO have failed lii pacify-
ing the South, failed IN establishing
equal rights. failed in restoring the
Union, failed in protecting the negro
-ignOminiously fLiled in everything
it undertook, and in everything for
which it falsely claims credit. Ac-
cOrdiug to its own showing it is not
lit to govern any longer. According
to its own showing it has accomplish
ed nothing after rule of twenty years
but failure upon failure. According
to its own showing IL is time to intrust
the control of the South TO another
party. Gf course the truth is that it
is not the republic but the Republican
party That these lies are intended 10
save.