Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-11-21
rum, ROMANISM AND REBEL
LION,'7

This is the title used with the intent
and purpose of an alliterative epithet ex-
pressive of the opinion entertained by the
Republican party of the Democratic party,
an opposing organization whose history is
the wonder of the civilized world. No
party of which history gives any record
has shown such vitality, such tenacity.
and such immovab!e purpose. No Dem
ocrat can look back at its history without
pride. Its purpose, always announced on
every hastings for twenty-four years, has
been to guarantee to the people the right
to govern themselves. Its spirit has been
that of the true Democracy which says,
not that II am as good as any other
man," but, that "Any other man is as
good as l." Its ambition has been to get
possession of the government that the
government might be administered in the
interest of the people. Thus equipped
amid changed scenes, new customs, and
new rulers adverse to it, it set out on a
road twenty years long. Other than that
it's equipment was poor. It was poor in
State governments, for at the end of its
first three years march it only had about
three. 1t WAS poor IN national in
f1uence, for it was debarred to the
extent of prescription from participation
in the national government, and the empty
seats in the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives from the Southern States. gave
little hope of power in the future. 1t was
poor in money, for the wealth of the ma
tiop transferred by the civil war to the
North, had clustered around the Republi-
can party as the government itself. and in
return that government made for it more
wealth. Not only was it poor. but it was
despised. The national government viewed
the members of it at the South as
s'rebels" and its members at the North as
something little r-''copperheads. !"
Against it were arrayed all the power and
wealth Of the National government, back
Jag the br1arian official machinery which
pervaded every State of the Union. TO
party without some vital, life-giving prin
ciple in it's keeping, the outlook would
have been hopeless. There was one exter-
nal feature about it, however, that could
not fail to enforce the admiration of its
opponents. 1t never lacked courage. II
there were enough voters to make
ticket, it boldly ran ticket and supported
it with nerve and magnetic audacity. At
the height of the war. in 1854, it put up a
national ticket with George b. Mcclellan
at its head and supported it. The North
ern Democrats had furnished hundreds of
thousands of men to the Union army, and
besides being brave enough to fight for it
they were bold enough to vote for Dem
Ccratic President of it. Four years went
by and, undaunted, though many States
were yet out of the Union. they put up
that wise statesman, Horatio J. Seymour.
They carried but four States, one being
that of their candidate, New York. Again
in 1872 they returned to the charge with
Horace Greeley at their head and carried
four States-Georgia, kentucky, Missouri
and MaryIand-only four States out of
thirty eight. It would have been disheart-
ening to any party that was not moved by
some great popular idea, and did not
mark that at every election, the vote
rapidity threatening the dissolution of
the Republican party. Wien 1876 came,
the leader and the people both were there.
and Samuel J. Tilden was elected Presi
dent by a popular majority of $50 go
votes. The submission OF the decision of
th people to an Electoral Commission,
an its resu Ii, YVES check to tie onward
career of the Democratic party SO retarding
that in 1880 they were defeated by a popu-
lar majority of $500. In 1854 they carried
the country.
This is sketch of the party to which
has been applied the epithet at the head
of this article. How did it come abou:
that this trio of names should have been
chosen by which to hold up powerfui
national party to opprobrium. Why TIE
party of Romanism? Let US see! J ust thirty
years ago movement began in the New
England States against American citizens
of foreign birth, and members of the
Catholic church. It was ignorant, cruel
and vile. Nevertheless it received the
support of many who should have known
better, and State after State at the North
fell into the hands of its leaders. 1t is
useless now to recall the Erutalitles, not
that marked its triumphant march. AT
last it reached the borders Of Virginia
and proposed to reduce her to submission.
But this old citadel of Democracy scorned
and defed it. Noparty that had for its creed
the prescription of man on account Of
his religious belief should find aught but
a grave on her SOIL. Democrats of all
sects and creeds rallied to the support of
the Democratic tenet that no church
shall be prosecuted in this free country
through the prescription of her children.
1t may live or perish as God wills, but
no man shall lay hand on 1t. And so it
was tLat Knownothingism met its death
blow from the Democracy and never
raised its head in America again. If this
en- titled the Temocrati party to be the
FATTY of Romanism " it ought to be
proud. 1t was a magnificent and self
saorifcing sct. This is Protestant
country, and thirty years ago the Catholic
church was about the weakest IN the land,
ard thu political organization that had
the courage to throw itself between a
weak and helpless religious denomination,
of no matter what creed, and malignant.
powerful and victorious body of those who
wish to persecute it, has proved itself as
possessing one of the first attributes nee
essary to the government of a flee
people.
And the party of IS Rum!' - The Dem
ocratlc party has ever and in all its plat.