The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-21
SEATrLE. SATURDAY. Nay 2f.
Is A PIRATE SHIP A POLITICAL
PARTY?


distinct aggressive policy. damnable as it
was. Before the war the Democratic party
was n slave ship, "rigged in the eclipse
mid curses dark" but it carried its pirate
flag OF deaths head and crossbones boldly
at its masthead. Everybody knew before
the war that the Democratic party was a
pro-slayery party from skin to core. and
from core back 10 skin, but since its re-
organization since the war the Democratic
party has had no "policy" whatever; it
has been the party of negation; party
that has simply obstructed and defeated
when possible the distinct policy Of the
Republican party, without showing any
capacity TO frame policy of its own. The
Democratic party since 1863 has had no
more policy than the filthy savage Demo-
cratic mob that during the draft riots Of
July, 1868, looted the clothing store Of
Brooks Brothers in New York city. The
mob did not want to go into the clothing
business, but they they did want TO gut
and loot the store.
Just so with the Democracy since 1865;
they have been trying to get possession of
the government. not because they have
the slightest knowledge of how to conduct
it within any newly created lines of policy,
but simply because they wanted to evict
the Republican party and establish them
selves as tenants of the White House.
The Democratic party is political
maraudsr who shoots the first mounted
soldier he meets, not because he cares n
button about the horseman's principles"
but simply because he wants his horse.
The congressional Democracy during
the war had no policy" how to put
down the rebellion; they only sought to
spoil the horn that Lincoln was labori-
ously trying to fashion into a spoon.
They began by denying in the same
breath the right of state to secede and
right of the government TO coerce.
Then they denounced 1.-THE grecnback,"
because it promised to give us money
more rapidly than we could get it in
other ways. Then they opposed the
emancipation proclamation because that
promised to- increase our sinews of war
aud weaken the enemy; they denied the
constitutionslity OF the draft, because it
promised 10 Till the gaps in our armies;
they opposed the organization of colorei
troops for the same reason; they dis
couraged eulistments. favored peace ut
any price policy at time when the re-
bellion was dying whale, spoutIng blood
in It's last furry; they voted against the
18th amendment az late as February, 1855.
This vas the policy Of negation and OBJ
struction that the congressional Dem
ocracy carried on even during the civil
war. Their utter absence Of any policy
except thai If eviction was shown by the
fact that they rested their peace at any
price platform Of 1854 on the shoulders of
That arch-copperheaf and secession SYM
pathizer, NallandiRham, and then iauntiiy
invited Il war Democrat, a soldier, McClel-
Ian. to stand on it; that it is above tho
pirate flag of copperheadism they hung out
the stars and stripes a. a decoy. In 1853
the Democracy were again the party Of
reration; they were ready II nominate
salmon L. Chase. whose ambition was SD
great that in spite of his Republican rec
ord he would have accepted nomination
from either party. Horatio Seymour
urged the Wisconsin Democrats to vote
for Chase. and was about to rise and urge
his nomination., when the Ohio Pendleton
faction. whose leaders hated Chase most
cordially. broke tho Chase slate" by nom.
mating Seymour.
In 1872 the Democratic party was again
the party without II policy. again tho
pirate roaming the seas seeking to capture
the treasure ship by finging any flag to
the winds that would tempt the largest
crew To her decks. So in 1872 the Demo-
cracy actually nominated Greeley as a
decoy duck. just as they Intended To have
nominated Chase in 1868. In is74.76 Dem
ocratic Dan Voorhees,, who denounced the
greenbaek in iS62-G5. began to throw UP
his hat for the greenback. and for repudi a.
ton: he wanted illimitable greenbacks.
Just rs he wants unlimited silver coinage
today. No policy here but the old trick Of
obstructiveness; the old habits OF the
party OF negation.
When the Republicans needed the green
back by the stress of grinding military ne.
cessity in fight for life the Democracy
damned the greenback; when the Repub-
leans, tho war over, began TO struggle
back 10 specie payments then the De
mocracy ohstructed this effort and howled
themselves hoarse for unlimited green
backs and fat money. In 1875 Tilden
was nominated, not because he stood for
any Democratic rational policy. for he
ami Greeley. nominated four years before.
never had political thought or action in
common, bat he was another "decov
duck he couli csrry New York. He
was protectionist, hard money man
and the bowling greenoack, aud anti
protection Democracy al nominated him
because he was in the swim ana not likely
81 get in the soup, Ne policy here, save
the cid one IF obstruction and negation.
When in 1880 Hancock was nominated
Ia catch votes by his splendid record as .
Union soldier. another decoy duck
was planted by fellows who had
tried Tor four years 70 shoot the
stars and stripes from the staff. or
had tried TO noush Lincoln behind the