Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-03-29

c. III. REEVE.
To ;,a Editors Of The Democrat:
Lest there should be some misunder
standing by unretlccting persons about the
National Democratic Convention to be
held at Louisville in May next, / wish to
call attention to ii directly.
The necessity for some direct action by
the democrats of the nation has been and
is so apparent that the matter is beyond
argument. Ii is fixed fact. In the ex-
traordinary exigencies rapidly arising and
following each other from 1860 up to 1865,
the people were every where constantly in
doubt. Officers and people were "all at
sea" and vecrcd and tackled in every dircc-
ton 10 adapt themselves 10 the rapidly
changing and sudden emergencies thrust
upon them. Politicians and Legislators
were as wild and unready as any ''puir
body" and resorted TO anything and every
thing, at the moment thought practicable,
or even possible. Knaves in all positions,
took the advantage to aggrandize them
selves, and demagogues to gain place and
power All wars are popular with the
masses, and under our peculiar institutions,
men competent TO lead, hesitated under the
new re gime and contented themselves with
was appealed to. Natalie at all times,
impressions were easily made The peo-
pie, lost in the whirlwind followed the
lead of those who made appeals 10 their
passions, and reason was unileard. The
democratic party as mass adhered to its
belief and at no time has been in the
minority. In 1862, it was triumphant and
would have continued in the majority but
I for the treason of its leaders, who showed
themselves of less integrity than the mass
cs. II suffered itself to be coIred; and has
been ruled since, by a minority. and in
most cases Ivy unconstitutional dictatiOn,
called law. but absolutely void and there
! fore no law. Those who have remained
true, seeing the inefliciency of the leaders,
as well as the treason of many, Orators in
some cases from cOwardicc and in others
from desire of personal gain,) recognized
the necessity of a reorganization OF the
party, By direct action of the people. The
| determination was formed to- ignore and
refuse to be longer led by men who were
mere timc-servers and advocates OF policy
and temporary expcdients in place OF
action en-masse from fixed principles, with
out regard to any temporary success They
resolved that the people, spontaneously, OF
their own motion. would call a convention,
select representatives, meet, examine, dis
CUES. direct and act. OF course, among all
the discordant elements, they expected
| opposition. They did not expect the
executive committees to call conventions,
| TO select delegates or agree 10 a rational
convention Ii they did so, or aid not, il
would make no difference. They intended
TO act independent of any and all time
serving leaders who nave heretofore &C
tually controlled them or sought to do
so. There is honesty and courage and in
iegrity in the fountains of democracy,
There is impurity in the streams which
have flown far from il and become con
taminatel. When the disciples came tt
Christ and told him they found certain
persons casting out devils and healing The
sick in His name and had forbidden them
He rcbuked them and told them they haC
done wrong. Those who were not fol
Him were against Him: and good wa.
good, no matter who did it. 1t is 50 with
us. flour old leaders see fiji to unite will
us in this convention. all well. If not. il
will make no difference. We shall meet
and act in any event. Ii we act wisely
and organize on principle. their absence
cannot make it wrong. Ifthey acted will
us and called us, it could not make it any
better. If they called us and acted viii
us, and organized ON fallacy. and acted
unwiscly, il could not be right. and would
result in evil. five so organize or act
ih:,::' refusal to act with us will not make
it any better. But the assumption, that We
will necessarily act unwisely and organize
on iallacy IS an insult they have no right
TO offer, and smacks of dictatinn that
would induce and compel US TO either
refuse 10 act under their guidance or tC
move in our own behalf regardless oil
their wishes. Ii those who oppose the
movement are wiser than those who favor
il, they have not given their evidence. i
those who favor it are unfit 10 be trusted
then they are unfit to be followers OF tho
who Can be trusted. Because some go too
far and some not far enough: becaus,
Brick Pomeroy is deemed too radical aIit
| w. +. Strong too yascillaiing; has NOTHING
10 do with it. The very fact that ''tht
time serves" TO give hot-headed men III,
ascendant, and control clements that vii
enable them to do mischief if left to them
selves, is the strongest evidence in favor o
the convention. So far as they are RICH
thew arc as right as the wiscst and mos
prudent. In convention with the wis,
and prudent their zeal will be good ant
J their radicalism harmless Without that
the appeals to passion and prejudice MAJ
:. work infinite mischief. The convention i
needed Its action will be saluiary.
, will be the creature of the people and no
of demagogucs. 1t will be composed o
men selected by the people and not tn
caucuses of political hacks. Above all,
will be a convention of Democrats VIII,
: know the meaning of the word, tn
necessities Of the times and who have N
personal ends to serve.
{. III. REEVE.