Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-10-01
Democratic Consistency.

The advocates of the bogus Democ-
raticp party talk Justify of its consistency
and eminent responsibility. In its plat
form it adopts, with great flourish,
the old-time principles of the Demo-
cratic party, and prates about its per-
manency and consistency. The fact
is, as all intelligent men who reflect on
the subject know full well, that the only
principle upon which that party acts is
what will best aid it in beating the Re-
publican party. 1t is anything to beat
Republicanism. 1t will favor this year
what it opposed last year, if there is
hope of catching few votes by it. 1t
is honest money or fiat money, to suit
circumstances. 1t is anything to obtain
power. 1t is shy of its record in the
past, especially so much of it rs in
cludes the time between the storming
of Sumter and the closing scene of the
war at Appomattox; it does not admire
reference to its action on the Constitu-
tional Amendments rendered necessary
by the altered condition of affairs in
consequence of the abolition of slavery.
In Congress, as rule, the Democratic
members opposed the amendments;
as a rule, the Democrats through
the country opposed them in
States where Democrats controlled
the Legislature, the amendments
were not ratified. These positions
represent the honest sentiments
of the Democratic party, but, finding
the people will not indorse such posi-
ton, the party processes to accept of
the amendments; not from conviction
that they are right, but because the Re-
publican party cannot be beaten with
out this pretended acceptance of them.
Let that party come into full power,
and it would soon be found that these
amendments would be wholly unheeded
"a dead letter on the statute book, and
would be "wiped OUT =. as soon as it
could be accomplished. The party is
ruled by its worst elements; it stands
ready to sacrifice its professed princi-
Piles to the most sordid eXpediency; in
its pursuit of success, it stops at no dis
honorable act; it pursues the course
that anything is fair in politics that
whatever will insure success is right A
reference to the recent Maine election
affords fresh proof on this point, if
proof were necessary. The party in
that State became an annex to the
Greenback, fiat money party, in the
hope of beating the Republicans, 1t is
true, the scheme failed, but it never
theless revealed the utter want of prin-
ciples and character in the Democratic
party, as such, and in its managers.
" Pretending to be friends of honest
money, pretending to accept the Gin
cinnati platform which contains an
honest-money plank, pretending to be
| q party of convictions, nevertheless it
was no sooner approached by the
Greenbackers than it threw honor and
consistency and decency to the winds,
and agreed to fuse with them on a spoils
basis. The history of political organi-
tions in the United States contains no
record of a more cOwardly surrender of
honor on the altar of greed for Office.
Before the war the Democratic party
obsequiously truckled to the slave pow
er. During the war it obsequiously
truckled to treason. To-day it truckles
just as obsequiously to the Greenback-
ers and all the other elements in the
country which advocate financial theo-
ries that have only to be put in practice
TO work vital and irreparable injury to
the business interests of the country
- Wisconsin State Journal.