Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-17
The Democracy and the Opposition.


There are some defeats which are honorable,
while they disappoint; and not altogether disas>
trOus, while they check the of truth, if it be
amOral struggle or Of correct government, if it be
political Examples in numberless array Of the
former variety will suggest themselves to the mind
Of each reader; and Of the latter kind there are
several in our political history as a people,. JOHN
QUIEoY ADAMS, by means of corruption aud the in
trigues of politicians was made President the
Democratic candidate in 1824-thus giving Federal
ism its first national administration Of four years
That was a defeat to Democracy, but enc that was
honorable to the yanquished and easily repaired by
the succession Of events Again, the Democratic
party suffered in way not precisely simila iulS4O,
but the effect was nearly TIE same. And likewise
in 1913 These comprise the only reverses TO the
national Democracy worth speaking Of that have
befallen our party since the organization Of the
government. What a glorious history to contem-
plate! It counts its national iriumphs almost By
the Presidential periods from WAsHIXGToE TO the
present day And this is the party which The Black
Republicans Of the North are seeking coalition with
the KnoW-nolhings Of the South to break doHn-
and against which there is 8 general effort to reor-
ganize all the distracted elements Of opposition that
have for years afflicted the country, but which the
strong arm of Democracy has kept down. To ami
cipste success to such effort would be a seanda-
lOus disregard of all the teachings of experience
But those who make such predictions will learn
nothing by experience. Preparatory to the opening
of every Presidential election they 60 through the
same cry, foreteliDg the causes Of our inevitable
ruin. The Democratic party becomes blOated with
cOrrupton-distraoted by the cOwardly desertion of
few of its camp followers; its powerful Organiza-
ton is rspidly dissolving, and in brief time its
giant form is to lay poweress at the feet Of its mer
ciless plunderers. These have been the ridiculous
predictions with which the opposition have sought
to begue the foolish once in every four years And
yet they are nearly always beaten. Three times in
the history Of the government the people gave into
the hands Of the opposition the control of their pub
lie affairs but they soon the folly of their course
and at the earliest time withdrew the trust The
Democracy have proven the only trustworthy friends
of the people and Of their appointed chart of gov
ernment-the Constitution. In recognition of which
the government has been kept uniformly under
their control that it is usees to mention the ezcep
tons Wilt be otherwise in the future! No shrewdy
calculating man believes that it will. So long as
the people are Democratic and Democratic institu-
tons are maintained in the country, so long-but
not after thst-Win the national Democracy con-
tinue the party Of the Union. 1t is strange the
opposition who know this fact will not recognise it;
CT rather that they will not take counsel of expert
ence and conform their conduct to its teachings.
The opposition by reason of its various clements,
and their heterogeneous character, can never be
organized into a compact body. Their campaigns
may result to their advantage in localities, and
inhict a general injury upon the country, butthey
can never carry the nation. The reason is plain.
Each section Of the Union, each local interest," re-
Ouires distinct sliment TO feed its oppositoni and
in districts where enough Of the aliment eXists-no
matter what it may be-the Democratic party will
be defeated. But the great fact to be noticed and
remembered is that the various divisions of the OPP
position in the different quarters Of the country
cannot be assimilated and consolidated sufficiently
to become living formidable party. The political
atmosphere that would give them success in New
England would be poisonous malaria at the South
and the politics with which the opposition in
either Of these sections would be satisfied would be
thought utterly at war with the interests and repug
nant to the convictions of the people Of the great
west. These elements, perhaps if they could be
united and did not drive of with disgust many WHO
are now against us, might defeat the Democracy in
contest for President; but we have fears of such
result because the process requisite to it is utterly
impossible.
The only concern the Democracy should have is
for their own harmony. We do not mean in recon-
Cling those impractcabe spirits who love parry
and respect no peace that does not subserve their
own distracted and selfish purpOses-such should be
treated like all traitors shot upon the first deser-
ton; but in harmonizing the true aud loyal who,
differing upon immaterial matters, are united on the
great principles and aims Of Democracy, which look
to the general security and onward march Of our
institutions.