In a sharply worded editorial titled “The Democratic Policy of Anarchy,” Harper’s Weekly took direct aim at the Democratic Party’s platform and candidate endorsements during the 1868 presidential election. The article argued that Democrats had aligned themselves with former Confederates and radical opponents of Reconstruction—branding their agenda as one of disorder, disloyalty, and regression.
The piece warned that by nominating figures like Horatio Seymour and associating with Wade Hampton—known for defending the Southern cause and white supremacy—the Democratic Party was positioning itself against the hard-fought outcomes of the Civil War. The editorial accused Democrats of trying to “undo the whole work of reconstruction,” betraying both Union soldiers and emancipated citizens.
It painted a clear picture of two competing visions for the country’s future: one led by Ulysses S. Grant and loyal Unionists focused on rebuilding and civil rights, and the other led by Democrats bent on obstructing progress and undermining national unity. The article didn’t just frame the election as a policy debate—it framed it as a moral one.
“The Democratic Policy of Anarchy” Harper’s Weekly— August 1, 1868 01 Aug 1868, Sat Harper’s Weekly Journal of Civilization (New York, New York) Newspapers.com
