The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-01
RETaEATrNG INun DY INCH.


III ssttstsiltN>a ittf 10 tstH.
The main body of the Democratic
party, including the leaders, has
been on the retreat for twenty-sevcn
years. We cannot recall 10 mind 4
single affirmation by the leaders in
1854 that has not been abandoned.
They deny almost universally to-
dav what they then affirmed as car
dinal doctrines Of the party. The
only exception is the doctrine of
State rights. and this received 4
square knock-down blow in the
Morgan resolution to regulate the
count OF the electoral vote. Senator
Jones did indeed the other day re-
viye a sarcasm Of Burke uttered 4
century ago, and oiler il rs a proof
that liberty is bred OF slavery and
slavery of liberty. And this was
Democratic doctrine thirty years
ago. But these exceptions only
make the rule lAore prominent and
striking.
1t does not follow that party. or
an army, always on the retreat is
therefore always wrong. The war of
the revolution was little more than
series of well executed retreats.
But from the principles which
the Continental army was rallied
to defend there was no retreat.
Neither Washington nor any of the
patriots of that day were found
denying or disavowing in 1872 what
they affirmed in 1I16. There is
then, a radical difference between
retreating before superior numbers
and better equipped troops AID the
reversal OF things affirmed by q
party. The Democratic leaders af-
iirmed the right of slavery to follow
the flag everywhere in the public
domain, and this was affirmed in
the repeal of the Compromise of
1920. In 1850 this doctrine was
practically denied, and the denial
split the party in twain. The right
OF the southern States 10 90 in
peace was distinctly affirmed by the
most prominent Democratic leaders
in 1861, and later, and as distinctly
rejected and denied before the war
ended. The right of the war power
to emancipate the slaves was denied
in 1863 and in 1864, and admitted
in 1865. The right of the nation to
issue Treasury notes and decree
their use as money was denied by
the same party, and admitted after
the war was ended and the emergen-
cy passed.
SO the amendments to the Con-
stitution were declared to be uncon-
stitutional by the same party when
they were formulated and submitted
The same party then solemnly pledg-
ed itself to maintain those amend
ments many times since. The same
party denounced universal suffer-
age at first and now accepts it in
theory if not in fact. The same
party has persistently denied that
there was violence and organized
fraud upon the ballot in all the
south, and within week southern
leaders and southern papers have
frankly admitted both, justifying
them on the ground Of necessity.
Senator Hampton admits the use of
tissue ballots and intimidation, and
the Charleston Nelcs and Courier sus-
tains that admission in plain Ian
guage. Both justifying The fraud, it
is true, but it is only the other day
that Democratic orators and editors
declared the charges to be false
Thus the Democratic party has
been on the retreat for nearly thirty
years, having abandoned one post
after another and one doctrine after
another. until now il stands con-
victed as a party without settled
principles, except that of denying
all that it has affirmed and affirm
ing all that it has denied. The spec
tacle is instructive TO young politi-
cians.-NorM 1mericaH.