Year: 1872

dty ItOiScSlOuS oiC uON uult tCL :
sally received as indicating party
purposes. In conventlonsit Is quite
likely to be the case that platform
will be selected which will prove
best calculated 10 tickle the popular
fancy. It must be confessed that
what is hcralded to The world as a
declaration OF principles and goes
forth to the country with the sane.
ton and authority of the representa-
tives Of great parties, is too often a
string OF glittering generalties, selec-
ted with an especial view Of commit.
ting il to nothing and yet capable of
such Interpretation as will suppose it
to be the friend of everything.


The only true judgment of a party
is formed from what it is and what
it has done, rather than what it says.
Professions are nothing: deeds are
everything. 1t ia easy to proclaim
honesty; it is rarer and more difficult
to practice it. 1t is not always the
man nor tho comhunaion OF men
loudest' in assertions of patriotism
who are most devoted and efficient
workers for the good Of the country.
Too many are like him Of scripture
fame who said ~ co. and went not.


In 1862, the Democratic party an
nounced itself the war party OF the
country. Endeavoring to take ad.
vantage Of a prevailing dissatisfaction
with tho conduct of the war for the
Union, its candidates asked TO be
elected that they might inauguratc a
speedier and more effective way of
snppressing tho rebellion. Upon the
strength of these prctenses they came
near eiecting majority Of Congress.
Upon taking their seats these pro-
fessed advocates Of the war embar-
rassed the administration in every
conceivable way IN its prosecution.
At the Presidential election OF
1864, the Democratic party nominal.
ed General Mcclellan for President.
He had been a General in command
OF the army. In civil lite he had no
reputation and had achieved no sue
cess; his military reputation was his
only capital. Upon this reputation
the party staked its success, notwith
standing large portion Of the party
were at the same time loud in their
condemnation of all efforts put forth
to accomplish what they were pleas
ed to term "subjugating the south"
Fortunately their attempt to play a
double part was defeated and dishon-
orable peace upon the basis of dlsun-
ion was spared the country.


After the close of tho war the
Democratic party fell into the habit
of adopting new departures. Beaten
upon every issue before the country
for FIVE years, it endeavored TO di-
vert the attention OF the nation from
its past. by holding out alluring
promises for the future Many Of its
State Conventions thought taxation
would be nice hobby upon which
to ride into power. Accordingly we
find them, backed up by the power
tul authority Of Vice Presidential
candidate, advocating partial repu-
diation of the national obligations
And yet the party had the effrontc.
ry to assert that IN its own hands
only were the national honor and the
national life safe.


Comes the Democratic party now,
confessing the errors OF the past; ac-
knowledging that rebellion was
crime; that its opposition to the war
was wrong; that the action Of the
Republican party which it has resist
ed inch by inch, and step by step. has
resulted in the salvation OF the coun.
try. and upon the strength Of these
confessions asks tor the control ofthe
government OF the country. In eve
rv attitude it has assumed it ac-
knowledges its guilt, and with the
same breath asks to be trusted where
it would have betrayed. The con-
victed felon confesses his guilt !;
should he be at once forgiven and
trusted? Do you trust the man who
has stolen your property with the
guardianship of your treasures?


It is the coast Of the Democratic
party to-day that they occupy Re.
publican ground. They acknowledge
the efficacy Of Republican recon,
struction; they claim to abide by the
constitutional amendments whose