Year: 1873

which at once commended the party and
its principles to the affections Of the peo-
pie. By steadfast adherence to the
great principle which called the party in
to existence, and by the promptness with
which it met and grappled with the ques-
tions which grew out of the nations pro-
gress, it established confidence in the
minds of all true lovers of Human Free
dom, Ia the Old World and in the New
With its assumption Of the control of ma
tional afairs it ceased to be the tone
ides" party it had been sneeringly called,
and showed, by its deeds, that every
measure national in ends and humanita-
rian in principle, found in it an efficient
ally. While yet battling for the exist
ence of the Union, against the slave
holders rebellion and Democratic sym
pathy Herewith, it was engaged in for
warding measures which under Demo
catic rule had been deemed chimerical.
but which the progressive spirit Of Re
publicanism recognized as necessary to
the national honor and the national well
fare. We need not enumerate those
measures now-they are irrepeslably en-
grated in our constitution and in our
laws. The abolition of slavery in the
South, the union Of the Atlantic and Pa
cifc by the iron bands of the great trans
continental railway, and the Homestead
Law, which gives to the humblest Amer
lean citizen the right to build home un-
der the shadow of his own vine and fig
tree, are some Of the most important.


To all these measures of progress the
Democratic party was strenuously oppos-
ed. 1t had fought so long under the
Shareholders banner that it knew no 9TH
er ensign. 1t was slow to take lessons in
the new school Of politics, and even the
stern logic of events now passed into his
tory failed to set it right. 1t was content
to dwell in the past and ignore the pass
ing lessons of the hour, and the voice of
a prophet was not required to foretell its
destiny. From the time of its defeat in
1860, it ceased to be party of principle
and became, simply party of opposi-
ton. All measures emanating fiom the
opposition, it mattered little what purpose
was sought to be effected, was held up
for condemnation, and this line of policy
was steadily adhered to until within the
last two years.


The opposition to Republicanism now
represents nothing but mass of voters
without either principles or organization.
By its adoption Of the New Departure"
the old Democratic party virtually sur
rendered everything for which it had
contended through a period of years.
Failing of success at that sacrifice, it
then went a step farther, and taking up
IT'S most bitter enemies as leaders, con-
fessed that it had lost all confidence in its
ability to accomplish anything of itself,
and was satisfied to aid one branch of its
enemies to get into power over the other.
In the hope OF defeating the regular Re
publican organization it surrendered its
own. 1t was the most suicidal move that
could have been made and resulted in
the reelection of General Grant by a
greater majority than President had
ever before received. 1t seemed as if
with tho establishment Of impartial suff-
rage the Democratic party felt its mis-
sion to be ended-there was nothing for
1t to combat with any hope of success.


Honest Democrats are willing to admit
that there is no longer a Democratic par
ty. Groesbeck, Of Ohio, when refusing
the profile: e1 nomination for Governor
of Ohio, spoke their sentiments exactly,
when he said the Democratic party sur
rendered last year and the surrender
could not be re called. But it Just suits
the purposes of some who have an eve
single to the loaves and fishes, to attempt
to revive the old rganization-undert the
old party name. In this county where
they imagine themselves to be in the
majority, and in other counties situated
like our own, calls are and will be is
sued for conventions, but no ticket that
can be nominated will command the res
pect and confidence of the voters like the
nominations made in former years.
Those who rushed to the support of Gree
ley and Brown will meet with the cold
shoulder from those who believed it bet
ter to be beaten under their true colors
than to achieve a barren victory under
false ones. In those counties where they
are in a clear minority the Taxpayers"
dodge will be tried. But in either event
it will avail them nothng-tbe "crow-
eating" element is too small to accom-
plish any thing of itself and is at a dis
count with true Democrats and Republi-
cans alike.


For an election in which there is no
State ticket to call out the full strength
Of the party vote, the chances of Re-
publican success are bright. 1t is through
local dssensions alone that they can fail
to sweep the legislative and county tick
cts in all the counties that were not Dem
ocratic strongholds.


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