Year: 1869




cratic camp are not few nor are they
trivial In the first place, the old JEFF
ferSon and Jackson Den ocratic party has
ceased to exist, nor is there another
Democratic party with like common po-
litieal principles and tendencies or with
one and the same platform, because the
one calling itself Democratic, now, pur-
sues at the east and at the west, at the
north and at the south entirely different
Tendencies and political creeds which are
directly opposite to each other. Nor can
any Democrat deny the fact that the So
called Democracy Of Wisconsin has NJ
kind of a Democratic platform on the
icontrary, that even Democratic papers
call their platform remarkably similar to
that adopted by the Republicans at Mad
ison recently. Every thinking mani
therefore, must come to the conclusion
that the present efforts Of the Wisconsin
Democracy consist in endeavorlng to
come up to the principles and results OF
the Republican party and to try to imi-
tate and follow the same but that that
party must cease to call itself better and
more reliable than the one they finally
make up their minds to follow and to
initiate is evident. Even in this tendency
toward coming up higher and nearer to
Republican principles, the Wisconsin Dc
| mocracy is not a united party, because
the old leaders of the Copperheads can
not and will not place themselves on a
progressive platform, neither here nor
elsewhere. and submit only ''ul;?er pro
test to the Democratic nomination for
Governor They acknowledge that that
candidate was considered an apostate
from Democratic faith until his nomina-
ton, which proves conciuslveiy that 1t
was not principie but esperdRcc to deceive
the people which caused his nomination.
1t is undeniable that the candidates on
the Democratic ticket are neither popu-
lar nor, with but few exceptions, in any
manner acquainted with the affairs of our
State and that they are almost wholly un
known amoung our citizens, and finally
that the Democratic platform, aside from
its adopting Republican principles, adds
the most miserable and bare-facd hypoc-
racy by adopting resolutions in favor Of
the Fox and Wisconsin River improve
ments; by expressing its joy at the abo-
lition of slavery, at the principles OF
equal rights and universal ballot, and by
its tender remembrance Of the fallen sol
] dicrs of the Union-thus entirely and
com pletely contradicting their former
doctrines and their past history-and all
this merely for the purpose of getting
hold of the government once more and
of satisfying selfish party interests.


1t is very lain, therefore, that the
| Denoc-acy IN this confused and corrupt
situation, finding itself deprived of al
most all the real weapons which it ni ght
use in opposing party so much more
elevated is compelled to so into the cen
fct under Republican banners, for it
lacks its orcn principles its own platform;
its own united party ;; it lacks past his
tory during the rebellion) which could
awaken or claim the confidence of the
people, and it is, consequently, easily to
be understood why Democracy limits its
election tactics 20 only two points: The
one is negative, that is to agitate at this
time not in public assemblies, openly and
fearlessly, but in private and in secrecy ;
the other point is to attack and vilify the
candidates on the Republican tickets,
personally, in their papers. These two
points will have to be the extent Of their
election manouverings during the cam
paign And these manouvcrs are exccu-
ted with the same energy and inconscien-
tiousness with which they steal the Re
publican principles for the purpose Of
cheating the eopc into the belief that
their party is better one than the Re
publican They do not speak now oi
their old truly Democratic teaehlngs-oi
their pa'uietto flag, and do hght-not
against principle, but against n'en-tha'
!, is, the Republican candidates.


That party (if we may call such con
, plomeration of the most extreme pohtl
cal clements still party cannot and dare
not even speak in favor of its otcn candl
dates for fear some little principle OBJ
, iectionabe to one side or the other, nigh
, be mentioned and cause them injury.


Under these circumstances it canno
E remain doubtful to the thinking part o
our community which side they have tt
5 take and support in our next polltlca
, campaign, for its object, with US, Is no
the furthering of egotisticai interests o
persons or parties; not the elevation o
: men of one party over the other; it has
, higher, nobler significance, it involve