Year: 1864




The following article from the Chicago
Times is commended to the earnest atten-
ton of men Of all parties


An abolition cotemporary charges that
the democracy constantly oppose the ad-
ministration and the war, and yet never
suggest any remedy for existing evils. 1t
wishes to know what that party would do
if it had the power-whe,her it would stop
the war, recognize the Confederacy, or con
tiuue the conflict.


We think we are safe in asserting that,
although there are various and diverse
opinions held by conservative men on the
question of the war and its settlement,
there is, in reality, no disagreement upon
radical points. While democrats may diff
fer as to the means, they are unanimous
as to the end and that end is an undl~
vided country. Upon this one thing dem
ocra,s everywhere are agreed in this
respect there is no division of thought, no
diversity of action. OF this fact there can
be no dispute; nor, at the same time, do
We think there is any doubt as to the
means which the democratic party would
favor to accomplish this result.


II is believed by conservative men that
the prime cause which induced the seces
sion Of the South was the aggression Of
the anti-savery party, which finally cul>
minated in The accession of that party to
power. 1t came into possession Of the
government with avowed hostility to the
South, with professions of disregard for
the constitution, which it termed coven>
ant with hell, and of obedience to the
promptings Of pseudo philanthropy under
the guise OF higher law Giving cred
ence to the years Of teachings and of
threats INDUCED in by this party, the
South deemed its safety endangered, and
new administration, it plunged into seces-
sion. knowing this state Of things, dem
ocrats believed that the first step to BRING
the South back to its allegiance should be
to disposses the present party Of lis pow
er. This is the very first step necessary
to restore the Union, which democrats be
lieve in, and is to-day a leading principle
in the policies of all conservative men
They believe tha. at the moment when
this government shall be administered by
national men, and not by a faction govern
ing the country through the aid and for
the beneii. of New England, then will the
resistance of the South cease


In detail. the policy Of the democracy,
after gaining possession of The govern
ment, and thus removing tie cause of the
secession of the South, would be to rene-
dy one by one the grievances inaugurated
by the republican administr alton, and
agains. which the South is fighting. They
would offer the South the constitution,
and with it the guarantee that tor all
time the rights of the States under that
constitution should be preserved inviolate.


This would be victory over the re
beliion more potent than the taking of n
dozen Richmonds or the slaughter of an
hundred thousand rebels in arms.


What is the South fighting to-day? 1t
is confscation, the division of their land
among negroes against determination ;
against the elevation of an inferior race to
equality; against the aggressions OF a
power that has availea itself of conven-
lent opportunity to attempt the annihila
ton Of the South and lis institutions.- -
Dem ocrats would remove at once all these
causes, and leave the South nothing to
fight sor. With nothing to complain Of.
with no grievances to, be redressed, would
the rebels continue the costly process Of
making war-of slaughtering and being
slaughtered? 4? We think not. Neither
individuals nor nations fight for nothing.


Democrats have a policy-a very decid>
ed one one which if put in force would
end the war in day.


Summed up, i. amounts solely and sim
ply to this: give The South all her rights
under the constitution, and guarantee
those rights against the aggressions of
fanatical factions and minorities. This is
the kind of coercion that democrats would
use-a coercion that would flank Atlanta.
capture Richmond, bag Lee, aud overrun
the Confederacy in week without the
loss Of man or the expenditure of dol
lar.