Grant County Herald

What is a Democrat?-Great Prosperity and Grumbling.

A man whom we have long known as a democratic voter, but in whom we have abounding faith because he is one of the few of his party who really always seemed to desire a restoration of the Union-not as it was with slavery restored, but with all free, lately called on us and said, "Cover, what is a democrat, what are true democratic principles ?"

We replied, "Sir, in your case a democrat is a republican turned inside out, one who believes in the principles of the republican party but votes for men who hold exactly opposite principles. In 1864 you voted for peace and voted the war a failure,-yet you professedly hurrahed for the war and swore the Union army must conquer."

"But the war has been a failure for restoring the Union," said the old man.

"Yes," we said, "thus far the rebel States are not fully restored, but your party encourages them to stand out and still hope for secession- Your party leaders still encourage them to be rebellious and angry toward the North and to hate the niggers and all union men, and to talk spunky about war and bloodshed unless they are allowed to have their own way. Good God, sir, is this any part of democracy ?"

"Well." said the old man who was always a democrat, "but this vast war debt is grinding us down."

We answered, "this copperhead notion is false, and you are a deceived man.
Great as the burden is. every man is doing well who works. The farmers are doing well ; we have never known them to be making money faster. Since the year 1860. the farmers as a class, hardly any exceptions, have tripled their real wealth ; many of them have multiplied their wealth four fold and some have gone above And the mechanics have done well, so have all classes, except perhaps those in the merchandising and those who have confined themselves strictly to the trade. 'The merchandising has only failed to follow because of the sudden and great fluctuations in cost prices. Almost every man but just above water at the beginning of the war has risen to unexpected wealth.- Most of those deeply involved in debt have come out free and ahead with farms.
But only such have failed and are now down as have had ill luck : and such as would fail if plunged hip deep in gold and fed and clothed by sleight of hand. The village loafers have failed, and these especially complain of taxation and suffering. Every mechanic who loafs about and neglects his business, an incidental patron of the doggery, is complaining of taxation : and some of them even talk of turning copperheads. You hear none others complaining, unless they are copperheads of old standing -during the war in constant hope that the next rebel victory would end the conflict and decide the fate of the Union against "Grant the Butcher."

Old man, you may be honest, but you cannot mean the Union forever," when thy tongue is thus bold to speak in praise of the enemies of the best government that God ever allowed the sun to shine upon.'

And the old man arose and said, "good bye."

We learn he is still in doubts, professedly, as to "what is a democrat, what are true democratic principles." If he be an earnest patriot and a believer in true democracy he will support Grant and Colfax.