Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-10-08
Why They Are Distrusted.

Why They Are Distrusted.
Democrats complain of the suspicious
fastened upon them by Republicans.
Suspicious in some cases are unjust and
ungenerous, and in others they are not.
So far as they relate TO what has not
transpired they must find some warrant
in the past, or should not be indulged.
Rogues, tricksters, cOnspirators, are
apt to affect great innocence, and pro-
test against being thought capable of
doing anything discreditable, when
only extreme verdancy could fail to de-
tect some lurking, dark design. We
do not wish to strain or distort the
facts of history in order to make a case
against the Democracy; but when it
asks to be, like Cmsar's wife, above sus-
picion, the demand must, in all honesty,
be refused. For the last twenty years
"a period wiJhin the memory of ma
iOrity of the voters of the country the
Democracy have been watched and
scrutinized, chiefly to determine wheth-
er it could be trusted with the reins of
government; and the prevailing belief
has been that the time for the expert
ment has not yet arrived. 1t is not
suspicion without evidence, or predic-
ton without data, to be warned before
hand Of the damage that may befall the
cause Of the Union when there is the
least danger that the South can find its
Northern apologists and allies in the
control of the Government. These rep.
resentatives of different sections have
worked together politically so long and
so UNANIMOUSLY that right-minded people
are afraid of what will happen il they
are supreme in power. Their frater-
nization has cost the Nation dearly in
blood and treasure already, and the
promise would not be cheering if they
were again in open or secret move.
ment, backed by official authority, to
make National prosperity subordinate
to local institutions and party schemes.
If the Democracy is so much suspect
ed OF evil that it is unworthy to obtain
the ascendeucy in our Government, let
1t withhold reprOOf from such as would
not dare to commit National affairs to
its controlling management, since its
record is not clean and patriotic. With
out doubt its sympathies are where they
were when movements were so slow at
the head of Government to crush incip-
lent rebellion. When it speaks of lib
erty, 1t is with an accent that betrays
the old-time limitation of color, and the
slowness OF its adoption of the princi-
Piles of freedom in their broadest reach.
II II assert this, 1t would be shallowness
to hold that it is specially friendly to
the working population South or North.
When it puts on stately and dignified
airs, and announces from platform or in
resolution that its mission is to redeem
the country from misrule; to sweep out
of office hordes of incompetent and un-
trustworthy occupants; to enforce econ
omy; to exercise wise guardianship
over all classes who have a right to pub
lie protection, and to do work of rec
onciliatlon which will early be the end
OF conflicting sectionalism-thati it real
ly has such a mission as this, few cred
ulous people will believe. They cannot
but suspect that the Democracy, IL it
can gain the foothold it seeks, will be
up to its old tricks, and sure to block
the advance of the country in the path
OF possible prosperity. The ideas which
should be dominant in this period of
our Government, the war having dis
posed of many old and irritating
issues, are not wrought into mod.
NeA ~ 10 AOA Nlllh IGlA-
son that 1t cannot be trusted to do
the best for the oolored citizens of
the South, either in defending their
liberties, or by favoring educational
movements for their benefit. If it were
TO meddle with the finances of the Gov
ernment, business would take alarm,
and the public credit suffer. However
eager its champions may be for honors
and emoluments, the country Just now
has no call for its rule in high places;
and should it clamor for what it can
show no title to, may encounter decided
rebuff.
Must the Democracy be under per-
petual suspicion of unfitness to be at
the head Of our Government This we
are not ready to assert. But to-day Il
does not show sufficient repentance for
the disasters it has brought upon the
country, nor pledge itself TO policy or
movement that is broad and patriotic
enough to answer the demands of the
time. Its spirit is dogged it keeps in
worn ruts; it does not take kindly to
the grandest developments Of the age,
nor loudly exult over the deliveranoes
of the enslaved from the yoke of tyran-
ny, in whatever far-otf quarter of the
globes and. for many more reasons than
we have stated, is not so much an in
spiration to hope, as an instrument to
be feared on account of the almost fatal
thrusts 1t has made at the heart of the
Nation. 1t is a reformed Democracy,
If any, that will step out of the range
of dark suspicion. II it survive in any
organized body, it will have new leaders
In the next generation; and they may
be free from the taint that adheres to its
prominent representatives to-day
Worcester (AGss.I Spy