Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-07-28
Matertnwn Repnbiran.
WATERFOWL, WIS.
There is No Essential Difference.

ocrats to convince the people that "there
is no essential difference in the beliefs
and doctrines of the two parties. The
old battle cries are all worn out, therefore
vote for HANCOCK and new DEAL"
Whatever similarity there is in the "be-
liefs and doctrines" of the two parties, is
found in the fact that Democrats come to
Republican "beliefs and DOCTRINES" when
they have been tried and found popular;
but no Republican measure, IS an orig
inal proposition, ever failed to receive the
combined and violent opposition of the
Democratic party. That party has been
driven, year after year, from one position
to another, until the leading measures of
the Republican party have been firmly es-
tablished, and then, it claims those meas
ures as belonging to the Democracy. The
boast of principle in that party is quite
amusing. 1t has not been very consistent
in the past, and what guarantee have the
people that a party that could not be
trusted in 1860, nor at any time since, can
be trusted in 1902 Let US for "a monet
look at some of the twistings and incor-
sistencies of the Democratic party, since
1860.
In 1861, 1t supported platform that de
clared it to be unlawful to coerce State;
and the last Democratic Executive sus.
tanned this view of the matter.
In 1862, it declared itself in favor of
vigorous prosecution of war, but gave
aid and comfort to the enemies of the
union of States.
In 1864, in its platform, it was declared
that the war was failure.
In 1866, it rejoiced in the successes of
the war.
In 1868, the Democracy opposed the
Constitutional amendments; and in 1870,
accepted them as necessity; and in 1879,
approved of them as wise.
Such is brief outline of the positions
of the Democratic party in its past career.
It did all in its power to prevent the sue.
cess of Republican measures, but when they
were adopted, in spite of the Democracy,
then the party steps forward, and by easy
stages-tsking a part at a time-adopts
them, and deems them wise. It is not
from any principle that the wise measures
of the Republican party are adopted by
the Democracy, but from knowledge
that they must do it, or the party will not
have particle of foothold IN the country.
The Republican party swept the country
in 1860, and hurled from power this time
serving Democratic party, because it was
entirely under the control of the South,
and the country feared the predominance
of Southern sentiments. The same is the
case with that party now; it is fully un-
der the control of the South; and do the
people of the South give any proof that
the fears of the people in 1860 were
groundless? or that there are not equally
grave apprehensions of danger In now
permitting the South to control the affairs
of the country? Was the attempt at seces-
sion and the consequent civil war calcu-
lated to restore confidence in Southern
rule? Does the fact that since the war
the South has repudiated 500,000,000 of
State and municipal indebtedless encour-
age the people to intrust the National
finances to the keeping of Southern finan-
cierss Is it equitable, to say nothing of
its being safe, that the expenses of the
General Government should be subject to
the dictation of the section which con-
tributes next to nothing toward the gen.
eral revenue? Did the recent attempt of
the South in the extra session to bully the
Executive and compel the Federal Gov
eminent to abdicate its supremacy con-
vince anyone that the spirit of notification
and secession was dead? Does the pres.
ent attitude of the South toward the freed.
men show that the temper which made
slavery possible was changed when slavery
was abolished?
On the money question, the Democratic
party has been no more consistent than
on the questions growing out of the war,
above noticed.
Ii 1909, democracy denounced the
legal tender act as unconstitutional that
The paper was not, and never would be,
OF the value Of the paper upon which it
was printed.
In 1878, that party insisted that green
backs should become the entire curren-
CT of the country; and shouted In favor
of doctrine as to greenbacks as ex-
treme as the most ultra member of that
party.
In 1872, that party pledged itself in
favor of the resumption of specie pay
ments.
In 1876, the same party advocated
the unconditional repeal of the resump-
ton act.