The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-05-24
Proving Their Sincerity

As result Of the oft-repeated in
justice of popular outcry against men
accused Of crime, was coined the ex-
preston "if be is not guilty, let him
prove his innocence" This, of course,
the accused would use his utmost en-
deavor to do, although the spirit Of
the declaration was antagonistic to the
spirit and forms Of law. We have at
the present time however much more
ludicrous picture than that Of man
trying to prove his innocence. It is
the picture of the Democratic party
being compelled, much against its
will, to prove its sincerity. In fact,
that party has persistently and ag-
gressivelv fought the idea of its own
sincerity, for years. All through the
war it fought the claim that it was
in entire sympathy with the South,
and traitorous to the core. Since the
war it has fought the claim that it
was opposed to the elevation Of the
colored man above the condition Of
the brute. 1t has fought the idea
that it was and is party Of Free
Trade. 1t has fought all the declara-
tions Of its sincerity made before the
country. Yet in every case the sim
cerity of the party has been proven,
generally by its own members and its
own acts, after a useless combat
against such proof.
A recent issue Of The Post, printed
at Washington D. c., and warm ad-
mirer, evidently, Of President Cleve-
land, says:
In all the campaigns of the past the
Democracy has been the faithful
champion of State rights. The oppo-
sition, under various names-Federal-
ist, Whig, Republican-has always
been the party Of centralization, has
always insisted on extending the area
of Federal Jurisdiction and surrender
ing powers reserved to the States and
the people. Since the last Presiden-
tial election the long and good fight
Of the Democratic party has been
crowned with victory by repeated
States rights decisions of the Supreme
Court. This grand triumph relieves
the Democracy from any necessity
for making State rights fight in
1888. The victory is complete and
this great issue is settled.
Could you have gotten such an ad-
mission as that out of Democratic
organ twenty, fifteen, ten years ago?
always the champion Of States
Rights" Following this admission
comes the exultation victory by re-
peated States Rights decisions by the
Supreme Court Notice, the quota
ton ends with 1.-THE victory is COM
plete, and this great question is set
tied" What question? The question
Of States Rights, Of course. What
was the war inaugurated for and
fought for? States Rights. So the
sincerity Of the party is proven by the
Post.
The same paper still furthur proves
the sincerity of the party in regard to
its Free Trade tendencies. Speaking
Of Cleveland's free trade message, The
Post says:
That message said as plainly as
words could put it, my campaign
must be war on Protection"
There's choice morsel from head
quarters, for the comfort Of Ameri-
can labor. The party was always
party of States Rights, or the right
Of Secession, and the present CAM
paign is war on Protection. These
two admissions, or rather boasts, COM
prise all that is distasteful and dan
gerous in the character Of the Demo-
cratic party. That it is, and has been,
a party of States Rights, Secession,
Notification, Murder, and Free Trade,
is the claim Of its opponents. This
claim the party has fought to dis
disprove, then admitted. The old
party proves its sincerity.