The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-11-29
Groton. c., November 10.
MODERN DEMOCRACY A FAILURE
A REVIEW OF THE PARTY.

A History of the "Grand Achievements"
Accomplished What the Republican
Party Eas Done.
The venerable Hlel HOLSTER of Paw
let, has done good historical service by
writing summary (Which we give bt-
low from the Granville. n. Y Sentinel,
of the Democratic party. He has lived
to know, personally, of what he writes
so that it is the testimony of an eye
witness and not that of an theOrist or
reviewer. Mr.. Holster says:
Though we willingly give credit to the
Democracy for its service to mankind in
the eat lier history of this country in its
advocacy of equal rights and the stand
it took against all that savored of All
tocracv, vet when at later period II |
allied itself with the slave power it gave
the lie to all its former prrtensions and
became the champion of the vilest inst
tuition The world ever knew. In this ar
,icle we propose to 20 back only forty |
five years, and we challenge refutatioO
when we show that every distinctive
issue raised by the Democracy has been
an abortion. even though tempOrar ly |
successful.
THE ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
This was accomplished in 1915 for the
purpose of extending the are of sla, cry, |
thus maintaining the balance of power
between the South and the North which
the greater growth of the North seemed
likely to break up. This. though appar-
emily successful, led to the Mexican war
which in ito results added more free
territory to the Union than it had gained
slave territory by the acquisition OF
Texas. Tkis WAS the first boomerang
THE MEXICAN WAR.
Mexico of course WIS wroth at this
Wrestling of her territory from her jur'-
dic,ion and undertook TO reclaim il, ut
was oyerpowered by her stronger adver-
ssry and forced to make treaty cediDg
an immense territory to the United
States. On the principle that the end
sarctifies the means" this might be
called a SUCCESS for Democracy, hut for
the purpose for which it was waRed,
namely, the extension of slavery, it was
an abortion.
THE REPEAL OF THE MISSOURI CON-
PROMISE.
The next move of the Democracy,
cham, med by Stephen A. Douglass.
was the repeal of the Missouri compro-
mise act. This was passed in 1920, and
provided that slavery should not be ex-
tended North of la Jude $3.50 This re-
peal left to the people of this vast area,
North and South of $500, at liberty to
admit or reject slavery as majority of
the settlers should determine. Put to
this test the North won, and the DemOc-
racy was thoroughly beaten.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
In connection with other measures to
strengthen the slave power the Democ-
racv procured the passage Of an act by
which Il ,v,s escaping to free Staies
could be reclaimed ans delivered up To
their claimants. And all persons were
forbidden, under severe penalties, To-
feed or shelter a Runaway slave, but were
epiOined to assist in their cap ure ard
r,furn 10 bondage. The severity of tn
nrovisions of this law def ated il pur
nose. and helped to enlighten the peopl
TO the pnOrmtles of the slave question
SECESSION.
The next great move OF the slave pow
or is spcpssion. In this il was indireCt'
aided by the Democratic National party
who opposed nearly every measure
taken by the Republicans 10 restore tn
Union. Sec, ssiOn weakened the De-
mocracy in the North, but strength ened
il in the S u'h. But tie DIN cIacy o
the North opposed the raising Of troops
the issue If treasury notes and Gov
eminent bunds-the drafting Of troop
and most other MEASURES taken by the
Republicans to suppress the rebellion.
The effect of this was TO prolong the
war and cause an immense sacrifice Of
blood aud treasure.
RECONSTRUCTION
And when in spite of all opposition
the war was brought to successful
issue, we find the Democratic party hos
tile TO all feasible terms OF readjustment
of the seeded States. President john
son ''swung round the CIRCLE" prating
of the constitution and raising all posi-
BILE obstacle 80 much 80 that he came
very near being deposed from bis high |
office, He was the exponent OF the
Democratic party. And ever since the
Democratic party, by terrorism, have
suppressed the Republican vote Of the
South by hundreds Of thousands.
PRoTECTIoE.
As soon as the Democrats dared, after
attaining partial power in the Govern |
inert they attacked the prct olive poll |
cy ct the Republican party, by means OF
which the country had recuperated from
the desola'ion Of the war. Under the
guise of Tariff reform It aimed blow
at the very vitals of the systsm. This
bold measure alarmed the country, and
in thu most exciting canvass for years,
the Democrats were signally defeated. |
No doubt the hundred thousand officials
drawing annual salaries amt uniting in
the aggregate to thirty or forty mil lions
OF dollars, feel sore at this sudden blast
ing Of their prospects.
CONCLUSION.
Trace the history Of parties in this
country for the last FORTY five Years and |