The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-12-07
VOL. VlII.--N0. 376.
REFORMATION OF THE DEMOCRAT.
&c PARTY.

the Journal of Commerce is not 10 be found
in this wide Union. In late number Of il
we find a communication from Democratic
correspondent, urging in strong and glowing
language the necessity of reformation in the
Democratic party, which, now that that party
at the North has, according to the highest
Southern Democratic authority, (the Charles
ton Mercury become "abolitonized, dismem-
bered, PROSTATE" will surely command the nt-
tention of Democrats both at the South and
at the North. Under the earnest conviction
that the subject eminently deserves their
especial attention, and the attention of the
people generally, we subjoin few extracts.
The writer commences with the following
remarksi
"ln n former paper we commented upon the
present state of democracy We now wish
to present n few reflections upon the reformR-
tion of democracy-such thoughts ms natur-
ally arrest one having only the interest of a
private citizen and partizan in the welfare of
his country and his party. They are the OBJ
vious cOrollGry Of the thoughts already pre-
sented.
The necessity of that reformation is obvi-
Gus as intuition to every mind. If the party
has formed an unnatural and disgraceful alli-
ance with slavery, with Popery, and with
intemperance;--if it has introduced into tho
country the baneful principle that the spols
belong to the victors at the ballot-box;-if
Office seeking has, through our agency, be-
come n great and rapidly increasing evil;-if
we are regardless of the fitness of candidates
! ro, "A, nIo l., ,ot; g a.,
sponsibity the most worthless men;-if we
are in the habit of applying the political test
where not the least occasion for it exists, and
where it is highly injurious; if our caucus
system is n school Of intrigue, an elevator of
the unworthy, depressor of the worthy, q
system of military discipline and tyranny; If
family names have become n potent and in
fallibe charm for the purpose of securing
popular influence and government interest; if
the press is perverted and debased; it the ma
tiona administration is an almost unaoyed
compound of weakness and wickedness; if our
thirst for dominion is becoming Unsuitable and
unprircipled- land these things are unques-
tiOnaby su)-then the call for reformation is
unspeakaby urgent. And il is necessary, not
merely for the salvation of II party from utter
deprivation and destruction, but for the sal
walton of II party which is naturally and ne
cessarlly the leading party in the country
the party most consonant with the genius of
our institutions-thc party of destiny--the
party upon which the welfare of the nation
chiefly depends Whatever shall deprave and
destroy that party, will deprave and destroy
the nation-nnd what nation!
The practcability Of this object Of our
hope, is point upon which we are by no
means sanguine. The obstacles to reform
are indeed terrible. The press, which ought
to favor every good design, may be expected
to oppose n reform which will reprove il for
its misdeeds and deprive it of its emoluments.
The settled habits and usnges Of the party
will interpose n strong and seemingly i'm
pregnable barrier The fact that the affairs
of the party ire largely controlled by such
specimens of manhood MS that dangerous
friend of democracy, lately ts harmless Toe,
the present astute legal adviser OF the gov
ernmcnt is of the same sad significance. The
morally depraved character of strong body
in the party-the abject subscrvicncy Of n
numerous class to the rule Of priests and
blshops-these are obstacles truly appalling.
The rapacty of the organized corps of office.
holders and Office seekers many of them pow
erfnl and subtle men, will stimulate them to
the most determined and reckless opposition
to n salutlry reform. We must add 20 these
things the inevitable tendency of every thing
human to mpurity and injustice"
Desperate rs is the case, however, and
"terrbIe," to borrow his own language, as are
the "obstaclcs" to the much needed reform,
the writer nevertheless INDUCES the hope, that
with Gods help, it may be accomplished.
SEPARATING THE SEXES IN SCHooLs.-On
this point Mr.. Stove, celebrated Glasgow
teacher, uses the following language:
"The youth of both sexes of Scottish pea.
santry have been educated together, and rs n
whole, the Scots are the most moral people
on the face of the globe. Education in
England is given separately, and we have
never heard from practical men that any
benefit has arisen from this arrangement
Some influential individuals there mourn
over the popular prejudice on this point
In Dublin, larger number of girls turn out
badly, who have been educated alone till
they attain the age of maturity, than Of those
who have been otherwise brought up--lhe
separation OF the sexes have been found to b0
positively injurious. 1t is stated, on the best
authority, that of those girls educated in tho
schools of converts apart from the boys, the
great majority go wrong within month after
being let loose on society, and meeting the
other sex. They cannot, il is said, resist the
slightest compliment of flattery. The separa-
ton is intended to keep them strictly moral,
but this unnatural sccusion actually generates
the very principles desired to be avoided.
ave repeat that il is impossible to raise
girls MS high intellectually without boys rs
with them; and it is impossible to raise boys
morally as high without girls. The girls
morally elevate the boys, and the boys intel
lectualy elevate the girls. But more than
this, girls themselves are morally elevated by
the presence of boys, and boys are intellec-
tullly elevated by the presence of girls
Girls brought up with boys are more positive
ly moral; and boys brought up in schools
with girls are more positively intellectual by
the softcning influence of the female char
| acter.
Come TO HIS SENsEs.-The Seneca Falls
ReveiIle tearfuIy tells of the following
"melancholy affair" AT Niagara Falls, last
Friday night, young man, name unknown,
who had been disappointed in love, walked
out to the precipice, took off his hat ana coat,
and casting one lingering look into the gulf
beneath him-turned and went back to his
hotel His body was found the next morning
in bed"
r5y- Tho Decatur Qll) Gazette publishes
n letter from Lincoln, in that State, in which
Al. Al. ,,,op,au Of that ri.aa "A