The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-01-19
What They Boast Of.
Tt Will Do No Harm to Keep it
Before the People.

1t may have been observed quite
frequently, even by the careless OBJ.
server, that references to the politica
history of this country arouse a wild
Indignation on the part Of a certain
class of politicians. Just why any
intelligent American citizen should be
thrown into a rage by referring to the
history of the grandest nation on
earth, might be little puzzling, were
the memories of the human family
less faithful
This country has witnessed some ex-
citing experiences, and in passing
through such trials and dangers as
have confronted it, there is always a
blame to be attached somewhere.
There have been traitors in all coun-
tries and at all times. There have
also been "Hessians,' at all times
considered in the light in which they
appeared during the Revolutionary
War in this country. And we do not
know that it is at all remarkable that
such characters are the most sensitive,
and the most indignant at the re-
counting Of historical events.
In the good year 1888 this great
country will be called upon to choose
a Chief Magistrate for the ensuing
four years. The same old parties con-
front each other that have confronted
each other for thirty years. What
shall we talk about? Not the surplus
in the Treasury, for the Democratic
party will either get away with that
before the advent Of Republican ad-
ministration next year, or it has lost
it's cunning. Not the tariff, for moth
ing throws a Democratic politician
into more intense rage than men
ton of the tariff; that party being the
bitter enemy to the industrial interests
of the country on that line as well as
some others. Not the question Of
free and fair ballot in the South, for
that makes a Democratic politician lie
and swear. Not the question Of the
war, for that is waving the Bloody
Shirt
Well, If we do not talk of any Of
these, what shall we talk about? We
will tell you. We will talk about the
history of the country as it is, and let
the rough points jag those who may
have put themselves in the way. In
speaking of the work of the political
parties, no man who has done his duty
as an upright citizen need be at all
will not suffer by the ref
erence. It is the fellow who has been
caught on the wrong side that objects
to touching up these old pictures.
Once in great while-a very few
such cases there are, too-you hear
Democrat Of such tender years that
his most vivid memory Of the darkest
spot in the history of his party takes
in nothing more exciting than the
out Of butternut pins or the
cursing of Lincoln Dogs" boast that
he is proud Of the record of his par
ty" But the boast comes with a
choking sound from his throat, as
though conscience had suddenly awak-
ened and sought to strangle him.
There is no pride-there is a weighty,
shame and humiliation
We know hundreds of Democrats who
are good men-Christian men. But
we have noticed that not solitary
man of them-and we are speaking
now of men of sound intelects-can
speak of the past history of his party
without strong evidences that the SUBJ
ject is distasteful to him, and in fact
that he is ashamed Of it. And why
not? If we look backward, the his
tory Of the Democratic party is all
black, not redeeming spot or streak
in it. lie we look forward, we find a
great array of promises that past ex-
perience teaches us are hollow and
throughout. That party
has been the cause of disaster and at
tempted ruin to the country whenever
and wherever it has been entrusted
with power. This point needs no ar
gument-it is an indisputable fact and
feature of the history of the country.
Why it is, would of course be difficult
even to conceive. Why a great party,
composed Of American citizens, should
deliberately occupy the position Of an
enemy to the United States Govern
ment and people, seems unreasonable.
But the fact is, everything connected
with the Democratic party is unrea-
sonable. 1t was unreasonable for the
Southern Democrats to hold black
men in slavery, and raise mulatto chill
dren by black women; il was unrea-
sonable in the Democratic party to
say none but Democrats shall occupy
the Presidential chair in this country
we'll destroy the Government before
it shall be otherwise; it was unreason-
able for the Southern wing of the
Democratic party to fight four-years
war to destroy the Government-that
war involving a loss of more than
three hundred thousand men; it was
unreasonable for the Democratic party
to bankrupt the United States Treas
ury and run down the credit of the
Government; it was unreasonable for
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