ABSTRACT
The Democratic press was an excellent reflection of its party and its principles. Throughout the war years the Michigan Democratic press maintained two impressive avenues of consistency—its devotion to Democratic principles and ideals, and its uniform method of arguing against black rights legislation. Despite internal party divisiveness, the Democratic press remained united in opposition to the Republican policy. The fracture of the Democratic party in 1860 with two national candidates, serious internal divisions and member disillusionment, resulted in a party suffering serious organization problems. Other than infrequent rallying calls to unite, it portrayed an image of a united party with a consistent philosophy. During the debate over the Fifteenth Amendment the Democratic press reflected the party platform more than any other period during the 1860s. This was a direct result of the 1868 platform, which was neither vague nor mild in its support of states’ rights and condemnation of the Republican administration and its reconstruction policy.
