The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-03-26
THE GRANDEUR OF 1T.

THE GRANDEUR OF IT.
Proof that Patriotism is More than Soc |
tionalism to the People OF the United |
States.
The restoration of the Democratic |
party to power is proof that patriotism
is more than sectionalism with the peo-
pie of the United States. The fact that,
with the appreciation of the citizens of
our commonwealth, President Cleveland
has appointed three Southern states
men in his Cabinet, demonstrates a
condition of National amity which is
under the circumstances remarkable.
Twenty years ago closed the greatest
civil war IN history. To-day the chief
tains and statesmen of each of the then
hostile sections divlde the powers of a
common governmen with the consent.
by the votes and with the warm approval
of united people.
The ease with which Americans get
over their quarrels is unprecedented in
the annals of other races. TIE English
civil wa,s left SCARS which showed for
centuries. To this day there are traces
of the divisions they caused. The more
mercurial French make internal strug-
giles an occas on for rivers of fraternal
blood, and for riot of retribution and
revenge. There is not people of Eu-
rope or of Asia which has not been di-
vided and torn for decades on decades,
by the animosit:es surviving domestic
broils. Their civil wars, for extent.
for destruction, for the number of men
arrayed, for the blood and treasure
spent and for the valor and genius
shown. were as nothing to ours. And
their ability to forgive and be recon-
ciled was as nothing to ours. Here
not hostile was executed. Here no
confiscation occurred. Here no lasting
disfranchlsement prevailed. Here those
who did or who now do preach that
victory shou' have been sated in ven
geance are looked on as mental mani
kins or as moral monsters.
No artificial or su face cause of con-
| f1ict exp aims this. The cause was as
tremendous as the conflict Men were
as sincere and brave on ore side as on
the other. The question of the mean
ing of the Co Institution relative to the
dissolubility or the indissolubility of tn /,
Union was an issue. 1t was vital
question. 1t was one the fathers had
never contemplated or had refused to
| contemplate Around it great schools
of variant political belief had grown
up. 1t reached point at which a
| people submitted to the wager of battle
the difference neither reason nor inter-
est nor compromise could adjust
There was tacit agreement to abide
the decision of arms. That decision
was conclusive. 1t was acc opted as
complete and final by the conquered.
1t was held to be sufficient by the con-
| querors. The two have fraternized
ever since. Their disposition to do
has been unquenchable Their ability
| to do SO was impaired only by such
politicians as perverted party action
and government powers to purposes OF
plumber.
That complete reconciliation and
brotherly understanding should depend
on and be signifed by Democratic sue
cess is proof of the pre-eminently Ma
tional character of that indestructible
and admirable party. For long years
sciolists and liars changed, and many
sincere and deluded men believed, that
the Democrats of the South did not ac-
cept the results of the war and that the
Democrats of the North had sympa
thized with disunion and did sympa-
thize with the alleged Southern inten-
ton further to iniure the war settle
ments by only affecting to recognize
them. The falsehood of all this was
total. No conquered people ever more
truly gave up their resistance, or theil
spirit of it, than those of the South. Nc
body of men acted more earnestly fol
the Union, or did more to make th'
arms of the North victorious, than the
Northern Democrats. The gospel o
distrust of the South, since the war. ant
of defamation of the Northern Democ
racy, at any time, has been the gospe
of lies and OF the pit. False and foul a
that preachment was, 1t was NATURAL,
effective, for long time. 1t gave tn
party whose advent to Government con
troll coincided with the war an eXcus
for employing all the powers of Gov
ernment and for appealing to all tn
hates and fears of men. to keep powe
after the peace. 1t furnished with sue
cess conSpirators who twice wreste
election from the people.
And what is the situation to-day
The National party rules the Nation b
the Nations will. With no weapon bu
reason. it has won against patronage
! defamation, distrust, fanaticism and tn
! | powers of its own government turne
upon it. That the Democracy survive
was wonderful. That it is victorious
extraordinary. Through a political ac
; ! its success perfects and vitalizes the n
Cancellation which was in the hearts {
those who fought, the moment the col
flict. was over. That success admits
: the conduct of the Government agai
q all those whom American humanity il
: sisted should not be barred from th
clemency of Government. when arm
were grounded. The expulsion of r
venge from the policy of the Republic
in response to the demand of all tt
q people, was an act of sublimity. A p'
iitical victory freighted with blessing
\ to the land, and gained by the union
q the best citizens of both North an
South is, SO soon after wasting stri
one of the moral marvels of this mo
+ marvellous country. Indeed equal cred
of earlier date than now belongs TO tn
4 people. In 1876 and 1890 actual thous
o unetfectuated victory was decreed
:. the Democracy by the people. B.
- in 1884 the. sentiment for refor
4 of methods and for fraterni
of feeling swept over all the re
Is uges ana de1enses OF corruption. Ii
N nation now realizes that its party
"a power. of Conference, of patriotism al
of reform is the one whose strength
votes is equal in every division of II
9 Union and around whose council boal
!, sit the statesmen of every quarter
r the republic. The gain to patriotisr
o brotherhood, civilization and peace
9 incalculable. The true men who foug
3 the good fight of reason, OF conciliatic
t, and of Jeffersonian principles, in t
le days when the Democracy had n
enough members in Congress to susta
demand for the yeas and nays, s
u that they are now as victorious wi
& the people as they were then victorio
n in the argument Time, the reveal