Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-06-21
The Democratic Party and the War.

1he Democratic Party and the War.
The sneers of some of the Democratic
papers at the first resolution of the Re-
publican platform, wherein the claim is
set up that the Republican party saved
the life of the nation, would seem to
render it necessary to remind those who
affect to doubt the justice of that claim
of some of the historical. facts bearing
on the subject.
When the tocsin of war sounded the
Republican party surrendered its purely
partisan feature and became the party
ef.the Union. The Democratic party, on
the contrary, maintained its distinctive
party organization, its subSerYiency to
slavery, and its hostility to every meas
ure having for its object the overthrow
of the rebellion. Independent and patri-
otic Democrats Joined the only loyal
party and rendered good service for the
Union. Tod and Brough were of that
class here in Ohio, and their services
were recognized as of the highest value
Party lines were clearly defined, and for
a time parties were evenly divided. In
1852 so vicious were the assaults of the
opposition upon the war policy of the
administration that the Republicans
were defeated in New York, Pennsylva-
mia, Ohio and in some other states on
issues involving the question of the pro-
priety and policy of a vigorous prose-
cution of the war. The Union men
found themselves with but IS of a ma
jority in the House of Representative
which was chosen in that year, although
eleven Democratic states had gone off
into the COnfederacy. This was the
dark period of the great struggle, and
loyal men trembled for the outcome.
Many Northern Democrats were on the
right side, but they were compelled to
sever their connection with their party
to be there. Grant, Logan, Dickinson,
Dix, Butler. Holt, Carpenter, Stewart,
Tod, BrOugh and many others were
Democrats from 1861 to 1865, but they
were not members of the Democratic
party of that time. They were leaders
i'll the great Republican party that "pre-
served the life of the nation" and were
foremost in fighting their old party
which was exerting itself to the utmost
to prevent the enforcement Of.the laws. |
In looking back over the history of |
the war and studying the relative atti-
tude of parties during that time we
must judge them by their organized ac
tiOn in regard to the absorbing ques
tiOns of the time. Il will be seen that |
while the Republican party was busy in !
the life of the nation the |
Democratic party was equally busy in
its efforts to destroy it. In 1868 our
candidate for Governor was Republi
can who had been Democrat, while |
the. candidate of the opposition was
Democrat, who had always been one,
and who was chosen to lead his party
because he was convicted traitor to
his country, and in Punishment for his
crime. The parties must be considered
in the light of their actions, and net
from the attitude of individual members
Of their party at a former period and un-
der entirely different surroundings.
There is no clause in the whole plat
form that we are more willing to dis
cuss than the one we have referred to,
and if Democrats are wise they will
avoid all allusion to it. The
Democratic party then made itself
record from which it can never escape,
and which quarter of century has
not blotted from the memory of men.
The Republican party cheerfully accepts
hay challenge to discuss the history of
hat time, and will not shirk its own
'ecOrd of that period or of any other
O. S. Journal.