Year: 1864

The vigorous, patriotic and conciliatory
declaration OF principles adopted at Chicago
will be generally acceptable to the party
Not only all Democrats, but all Union-lov-
ing conservatives, no matter of what polit-
ical antecedents, can stalfd upon it with
honest appreciation. The Black Republi-
cans carp at it-as well they may. 1t was
not made to please them; it is not calculat-
ed to promote the success of their party
They complain that it contains no invec-
tives against the South; but it was by in
vectives against the South that the Union
was destroyed. Democrats do not perceive
that infuriated rant against the South has
any tendency to bring its people to reason.
The paramount aim of the Democratic par
ty is to restore the Union; the announce
ment of principles is intended to be such
that when the South is tired of war, a re-
pentant Union party will have some tena.
BILE ground to stand upon. If they will ac-
cept of the Union, we offer them peace. If q
controlling majority refuse, we still enable a
minority to advocate the old Union without
being hooted down; and, under the contin-
ued pressure of the war, Union minority
in the South may soon grow to majority.


Besides objecting to the platform that it
does not denounce those whom we wish to
win back to the Union, its Republican
critics say it is, in other respects, too mega
tive. 1t is positive enough for the Union,
and positive enough in its condemnation
of the obstacles interposed by this re-
creant Administration to the restoration
of the Union. The things it insists on lie
at the very roots of our federative republi-
can system. The things it denounces are
the chief dangers which, at the present
time, assail that system. Southern arms
| ha Alo.x l.


ed by Southern hatred. While stemming
the stream we aim to close up the fountain.
While resisting Southern arms we would
remove all Just causes for Southern dissat-
isfaction. We cannot ask the South, we
will not ask anybody, to live contentedly
under government which does not permit
free elections, which violates state rights,
which throws men into prisons without
informing them of their offense or allowing
them a trial, which burdens white men
with oppressive debt and grinding taxation
to try an unconstitutional experiment of
giving freedom to negroes. 1t is the Govern
ment which our fathers made, and admins
tered as the Democratic party through the
greater part of seventy years administered
it, to which we invite the South 20 renew
their allegiance; and we conceive 1t quite
possible that they will prefer this to the
prolongation of a cruel, fratricidal war.
If all do not, part will; and no rational man
has any hope Of restoring the Union with
out the cooperation of Southern Union
party which may in time grow to be ma
jority. The Democratic platform is calcu-
lated to remove the main obstacles to the
formation of Southern Union party
When denunciation of the confederate gov
ernment comes from that quarter it will be
of some value. And there is nothing for
which the southern people are so likely to
denounce it, as for a refusal to make rea-
sonable peace and relieve them from their
cruel sufferings. But proposal for an
abolition peace can never gain hearing in
the South. If the abolition party continue
in power, the separation is final, alike in
feeling and in fact-Wnrld.