Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-09-24
Communications.
a Word with the Democrats on the
Pending Political Issues.

Pending Political Issues.
Mr.. Editor! Il am not political aspirant
or political speaker, nor political writer, but
am deeply interested as to the November
election. A good old Methodist brother, in
his prayer, had certain way of expressing
his desire for the spread of the gospel and, TO
use his form of expression desire that the
leaven of Republican principles may flow up
and down the streams throughout this town,
the adjoining towns throughout the county,
the adjoining counties throughout the State,
the adjoining States, the United States, and
throughout the whole world Since the
State election 1 have learned there are voters
in town who seem to be totally Indifferent as
to the result of the November election, and
presume there are voters of like character in
other towns. They style themselves Demo-
Gratis, but either they are totally ignorant Of,
or wont see, what are the issues pending in
the November election. Their hue and cry
is Taxation Taxation" No doubt il
that could be the only ISSUE they would vote
with the party that would reduce it the most,
whether it involved right principles or wrong.
Some of these men have not voted for years
at State or presidential election. One,
however has come out of his delirium, and
by casting a straight Republican ticket has
declared himself for the Republican ranks.
To use his own expression, ho said II went
out South to help whip 'em into the traces,
and if it is called for I'll go and make 'em
pull" Love Of country, gentlemen with the
vouchsating of moral and social principles in
the South as we'll as North should be the
first considerations free vote and an honest
count"
The struggle of to-day is not between the
Republican and the Democratic parties of the
North, only so far as the North sympathizes
with the South, but it is between the patri-
otto North and the Solid South" The is
sues are virtually the same as twenty years
ago. 1t was then state rights" or secession,
versus 'the Union" 1t is now the Solid
South, (and, if they dared, secession) versus
1.-THE Union" These are the issues underly-
ing the whole fabric Of this campaigns dis.
cussion. All other issues are made subservi-
ent to these, only the purpose of the Demo-
cratic party, by importing rebel brigadiers as
orators, has been to cover up these issues
The Reformer will tell you, and has told you,
that to pay rebel debts, ETC., is an imposs-
bility, because to alter the amendment TO the
constitution prohibiting such payment would
require the sanction of two-thirds of the
Northern States. We admit that by no fair
means it could be done. But let success at
tend the so-called Democracy, and its South
ern portion will then be in the ascendancy
and will have entire control in Congress-
The Democrats of the North will then be in
a woful minority, too late to take any back
tracks if they would. And noticing the old
disposition manifesting itself all through the
South, with murder, bulldozing and stuffing
of ballot boxes rampant, can it be doubted
that they would use foul means to accomplish
their desired ends The evidences of what
they have done are sure for what they would
do if opportunity offered. JEFF Davis has
never given up his devotion to the 'lost
cause" and Wade Hampton disclosed the real
Southern auimus when he said in his recent
speech, ''the principles the same as those
for which Ice and jackson fought for four
years" Within a few days a Southern paper
has headed its notice of Democratic meet
ing with II picture of the rebel flag and the
stars and bars wore among the decorations at
a recent Democratic rally in Washington. If
you are ''sympathizer" you will chuckle at
such audacity, but if you have one spark of
patriotic life in you, you will yearn to clutch
such miscreants by the throat. If the ad-
ministration of the Republican party has not
been perfect through the msdeeds of some
officials, you had better trust to that party
whose principles are right, embodying and
advocating equal rights and justice to all,
than to the party that by fraud and intimda-
ton is trying to reinstate itself, for what pur-
pose is only too evident. 1t is easier to fight
with the ballot than with the sword, and if
you are not in sympathy with the Southern
cause, vote the Republican ticket and be able
to say, "God bless the Union God bless
those who fought to save il God bless
those who are trying to preserve it, and
cursed be the hands that are trying to destroy
it." q.
Windham, Vt, Sept. ., 1880.