The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-07-31
NUMBER 25.
Cincinnati News Journal.
Deseftiiig a Rotten Ship.


The Republican party is at last face
to face with apopular tendency among
its vo'ers To go out OF and away from 4
dead sad utterly ctrrupt 0fganization,
and into living democracy, eager for d
restoration of democratic government.
The tendency began early. aftgr tho war.
smopg its best leaders, among its found. :
ers, and the men who bore the brunt of
the great struggle OF tie past when ths
party was--a q iiiineri,y climbing toward
power: War passions, prejudiees, fears
OF lingering danger to the Union, the
power Of great interests ;perpetuate fears
and keep alive passions have delayed
the movement among the masses.
lincoln showed in his few broad and
liberal words after the triumph OF the
Union aud before bis tntfmeiy end where
be would have stodd along with thu
gf6at Seward Whehs Tie Gaioas l5ad
been preserved the gre4t founders OF the
party, Seward, Chase, Blair, Welles, Cur
tin. Dix-not differing as to the freedom
and equality of the negro and the neces-
sity Tor the suffrage, but opposed to the
highihanded methods OF the party 10 re-
construction and in pursuing some ie.s
gitimate ends, severed their CONNECTION
with it and became Democrats. A little
later came Adams, Trumbull, Doolittle
and Summer: What led these great men;
in the very height Of their party power;
to leave victorious party? Nothing
but perception of the fatal tendency OF
their party to depart from all principles
Of free government, to become politii
cal tyrant. to ally itself With illsgitimate
interests, to become a mighty central
power, with its authority asserted as t0
every operation Of society aud business,
instead OF confning itself to the simple
duties OF Legitimate government; They
saw its tendencies early and left it.
Thus at various. times its ablest and
best leaders dropped. out, leaving its self
seekers, its Shermans and its new come
Grants and its ,Conklings, Its Dorseys
and Arthurs and Kelloggs,as controlling
spirits. What its best leaders saw early;
with eyes unclouded by passion and
prejudice, others have waited to hare
forced upon them bv demonstration of
its tendencies. They saw where It was
going, and left 1t; others see where 1t
hasa gone, aud thousands are now turn
ing away-not without natural regrets at
seyering old associations, but convinced
that this country must now turn TO DEM
ocratic republican government, nor lon
ger allow the continuance Of old world
government in America, or as much Of
it as is possible in America.
There is every indication that thou
sands OF Republicans in Ohio will do in
October wbat'the sbIest and best leaders
of the party did early after the war, and
from time to time from that day to this:
The difference Is only in seeing before.
hand and waiting for demonstration.
The reasons which impelled Seward,
Chase, Adams, Curtin, Blair, W ellis, Dool
little and Trumbuli we're the reasons
which tos1ay are lrhpslling thousands of
the people who have heretofore voted
the Republican ticket.
The eud Of all sectional questions, .he
settlement of war issues, the cessation of
all war passions have at last allowed the
people to see clearly Republican tendeni
cies in results. The question is no loni
ger, How will this party deal with dis
tant interests : but, How has it dealt and
how will it deal with home interests and
with the affairs OF the whole Union? It
is not the South, but the whole country
is beginning to be considered. The con.
cusicn is that tbefe must be an imme-
dIate return to democratic government
and confinement OF government to its
legitimate functions.