Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-08-27
NO ILL.

are any among the hundreds Of thousands
who opposed the Union, who are not now act
ing with the Democratic party, their po-
sition is so singular that all men speak Of
them, and their number can be reckoned
on your fingers.
Longstreet and Mosby, We are told, are
Republicans. Let us be thankful that any
have had the bravery to do right in the
face Of social ostracism, and all manner
Of persecution, 1t is idle for me to ask
whore the other rebels are? Noone doubts
in which party JEFF Davis will be found;
or Toombs or Hill, or Lamar. No one
doubts where the votes Of every member
OF the Confederate Cabinet and Congress
will go, or Of every rebel State officer or
keeper Of rebel prisons. No one doubts for
whom the midnight riders, the KuKlux,
the White Liners, the ballot-box suffers
and the false ensus-takers will vote. All
these and their sympathzers vote the Dem
ocratio ticket. That party in the South is
composed, in a great measure, Of these
classes. And in the extreme South very
few Republicans can remain and enjoy po-
litical freedom. However sad and dis
graceful it may be, it is too true. The
only question that properly comes up is,
whether this party, thus composed, is bet.
ter suited to rule this great country than
the Republican party, so far as the
South is concerned. In the North very
different state of affairs exist--owing to
an entire lack of confederate or ex.rebel
strength.
The foundation Of the party, if we may
use such an expression, consists of very
respectable and honorable men. They
give character to the party, and are found
in all the various walks of life. Some of
them are members of churches, and few
of them are actively engaged in promoting
various reiormatory and charitable objects,
but it can hardly be said that the strictly
charitable and-religious organizations Of
the day are indebted to that party for their
inception or support.
Nv NANNo w hblNll L lbltI are llOSlll Ill
favor Of political honesty and fairness, as
well as strict economy and a sound cur
rency. They are opposed to fraudulent
voting, and any wholesale disfranchise-
ment of voters-especially il practiced by
Republicans. Many of them voted for
Valandingham, secretly sympaLhised with
the rebellion, and reioiced at the rebel
victories and the assassination Of Lincoln
while Others were truly patriotic all
through the war AS a rule, they are
ready to condone any fault or crime, il it
works the success Of their party. This
class have little to do except to vote at
elections and give respectablity to the par
ty. Around these, for a nucleus, gather
the political wire-workers, the saloon-keep-
ers and the rilf-raff Of civilized society,
and the solid Roman Catholic population.
We may fairly estimate that tho first men
toned class includes one-half OF the party.
Why the Roman Catholics should aiRli.
ate with the Democratic party so entirely
is mystery. But such is the fact, It
may arise, in part, from the innate hostili-
ty OF the lrshman for the negro, and the
fear that sometime the negro may be ri
val, but more likely from persistent at
tempts of Democratic leaders to curry ia
vor with leading Catholics. OF the class
we call wire-workers or political managers,
about an equal proportion are born Demo
Gratis, adyenturers and sore-headed Re-
publicans. Although saloon-keepers and
frequentors are not peculiar to the Demo-
cratic party, they undoubtedly form a
larger proportion Of that party than OF the
other and are power which the party
leaders do not offend.
The component elements OF the Repub-
lican party vary in two or three important
respects from those OF the Democratic
party, while in many respects they are
identical. In the extreme South instead
Of ex-Coniederates and their descendants,
there are only freedmen and their descend
ants, with few white Republicans in the
larger towns. In South Carolina, Florida,
Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana they
outnumber the Democratic party, but are
practically disiranchlsed by fraud and
violence.
In the North, the principal difference
between the parties is, that the Republican
party includes in its numbers, instead Of
the Romish church, a very large proportion
Of all the members Of the Protestant
churches, and also the greater part Of the
negro vote. It is very easy to understand
why the latter class vote with the Repub-
lioans, as that party always defended them.
Although from force of circumstances
tho working Republican party is now in the
North, it is not in anywise a sectional par
ty. While in full power they showed no
design to peIseoute the South, but always
treated tho robellious States and popula-
tion with marked kindness and considera-
tion. No orcbels were hung for being rebels,
and no estates were oonRseated. The
whole effort and desire OF the party has
been TO promote peace and prosperity at the
South, and secure all the blessings Of
education, civilization and safety to all
classes. HOMO.