The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-01-13


Since the eIsction ct President Cleve-
land the Republicans oflthe Blaine stamp
have been devotiug their energies to two
points, They have been trying to per-
suade mill owners to shut down aud turn
their hands adrift, and have been pre-
dieting all sorts OF persecution and suf--
fering for tbe negroes Of 'Southernr
States. Fred Douglass thinks the return
of the Democracy to power means "the
political death Of " negro" Other less
Intelligent Republicans are foolish
enough to assert that II is the fret step
toward the resestablishmen Of slavery.
]1tzis en- Sedsly sths Wish Of some Re-
publicans 10 disturb the pesce and dam.
age the business interests of the country
as much as possible for the purpose OF
dIscrediting the Democracy. That was
the object OF the long delay in admitting
defeat. These disappointed politicians
are indifferent IS to the injury they may
inlict on business or individuals so long
as they can make it appear that disturb.
ance and distress result from Democratic
success.
Manufacturers will soon 1nd thst an
honest Democratic policy is far better for
them than the unhealthy favoritism ol
Republicauism for which they have had
to pay very dearly. As to the colored
citizens OF the South, whose rights are
entirely safe under the Constitution, no
greater blessing could have befallen them
than the overthrow OF the Republican
party. Designing persons have taugh,
them that they bad some great advantage
to expect from the Administration al
Washington OF which the Democrats a,
home deprived them, and this has served
to keep them restless and dissatisfied
With this deception exploded they will
settle down to the consideration of their
real interest and the intelligent exercise
Of political rights.
Democracy seeks to make people en-.
llighteued and happy. " raises the op-
pressed, instructs the ignorant and pro
tects the weak Democracy would not
have conferred the franchise suddenly on
millions OF negroes sunk in Ignorance,
hut since they have been invested With
the privileges Of citizens, Democracy
seeks to make them capable OF using
them intelligently.
The negroes only study their own
good when they resist the attempt Of the
Republicans to hold them rs political
chattels and vote as their own Judgment
dictates. The interests of the citizens
Of State are identical, whether their
skins are black or white, aud 1t is quite
natural that where majority OF the
whites are Democratic majority OF the
coiored citizens should be the same.
Four years OF Democratic rule will
dispel all the illusions raised by partisan
unscrupulousnees for political effect.
The South will be s.solid" IN the future,
because ignorance will gradually dissp
pear and the negroes will learn that the
white residents of their own States have
naturally more regard for their interests
and are more.honestly concerned for their
prosperity than Republican psrtisans,
who only enfrarchised them because
they believed they could use them for
their own purposes. and who to day, If
they could. would reduce them to a con
|dition of political servitude only q little
less degrading than the bondage from
which they we're released by the war;
Wdshin0t0n Post.