The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-10-24
AN OPEN LETTER FROM REV. r. M. HAT
FIELD TO A BROTHER CLERGYMAN.
MARY A. LIvERMoRE.
Melrose, Mass, Aug.7, 1884.

FIELD TO A BROTHER CLERGYMAN.
CHICAGO, Sept. 22.-In your advocacy
Of the claims of the prohibition party"
you assume certain positions which
seem to mo untenable, and to which l
desire to take exceptions in frank
and brotherly way. When confronted
with the fact that you are giving the
democratic party such aid as may lead
to its success in the approaching cleo
tion, your reply Is that such a result
would cause you little or no sorrow.
You tell me that the republicans have
been in power nearly quarter of q
century, and that during this time they
have become so corrupt that there Is
little TO choose between them and the
democracy. You go further. and affirm
that there is now no great issue before
the country except that OF prohibition,
and, as one of the old parties is about
us good as tho other, u change of adj
ministration might prove a blessing
rather than calamity. You hold these
views honestly, and It Is your undoubted
right to proclaim and defend them.
You, of course. do not expect them to
pass unchallcnged, and will, / trust,
give candid consideration to the objec-
tions that are urged against them. AS
honest men we have q common interest
in reaching right conclusions on this
question.
CHARACTER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
What, then, is the character Of this
democratic party whose elevation to
power you contemplate with so much
complacency? We do not forget In
this connection that every party num-
bers among its members individuals
who are better men than the major
ity Of their associates. Still, every
party makes for itself record that
is an open book" an epistle known
and read of all men," "A tree is
known by its fruit" What kind
of fruit has this democratic tree
yielded? TO go no further back, you
and | know that the annexation of
Texas and the war with Mexico was a
democratic measure In the interests of
slavery. The Kansas aud Nebraska
outrages were Il foul blot upon the
escutcheOn of our country, placed there
by the demOc attic party. This same
party taught secession and advocated
treason for years. aud finally plunged
the Nation into the horrors of civil war.
The leaders of the rebellion were for
the most part democrats, and those
of them who are now alive are gener-
ally active members of the democratic
party. An overwhelming majority Of
the men who at the breaking out OF the
rebellion made haste To clOthe them
selves with perjury as with u garment,
and who threw themselves heart and
soul into the war for the destruction of
the government, were democrats.
When rebel armies were preparing to
| capture Washington and dsnember the
Nation, these same men denied the
right of the government to take up
arms In self-defense. They discouraged
volunteering for the war, and denounced
the draft as oppressive and tyrannical.
his was done with such effect that
their democratic friends In New York
and elsewhere organized mobs that
burned orphan asylums. murdered pat
riOtic citizens, and threatened whole
cities with destruction.
ABUSE OF LINCOLN AND or UNION
SOLDIERS.
The organs of this party denounced
Union soldiers as Lincoln's hirelings
and dogs, who wore the collars he had
fastened about their necks. The presi-
dent of the United States--one of the
! grandest men ever born Of woman-was
| followed by persistent abuse, and
| scOffed at rs all inbecle fanatic. Dur
| ing the four years of the war, while the
southern wing of the party was moving
earth and he'll to destroy the govern
ment, their allies in the north were ex-
| tending them aid and comfort In all
practicable ways. Their sympathy
with the rebellion protracted tho war
| for years. and led to the sacrifice of
| thousands of lives. This same party
was furious against employing colored
| men in the army, and resisted with all
its power the emancipation of the
slaves. When, In spite of their oppo-
| itioD, the slaves were declared free, the
democracy, true to its instincts and ira
ditions, opposed enfranchising the freed
! men.
Since the close of the war the record
of the party has shown little or no i'm
provement. During all these years it has
been a "drcadfully hungry and thirsty
party" having "seven principles-five
loaves and two fishes" 1t was ready
to support an old-time abolitionist
when doing so promised to give them
access to the public crib. Failing In
this, the party was equally ready to
vote for patriotic Union general
when there was prospect that under
his leadership they might secure the
spoils of Office.
MEANNEss OF THE DEMOCRACY.
The managers Of the party have
made themselves Infamous by their
traffic IN "mules," and the use they have
made of "cipher dispatches" and forg-
ed documents like the "Morey letter."
The essential meanness of the party
was never more clearly revealed than
in connection with the election Of
eight years ago. The republicans be-
lieved that Hayes was fairly elected.
The democrats doubted or affected to
doubt this, and insisted that commits
sion should be raised to decide whether