Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-03-07

stateSmanshfp, achieved secession hnd
the evils Of the war, we are not prepared
to concur. That its policy was not
always in the highest degree judiciops
and conservative, and that individuals
OF that party went TO pernicious extremes
in some instances we may consent But
the great and chief cause Of our disaster
had its roots in the fanaticism Of the
North and the sense of outrage here
was universal with our whole people,
and confined to no party. 1t isa mis-.
take to say either Of Mr. Davis or Mr..
Yancey that they we're disunionists per
Sc. We happen to remember having
heard both protest against such con-
struction Of their sentiments. Mr.. Davis
declared, in the canvass in Mississippi
against Gov. Foote, that the man who
said he was disunionist he should
brand with an epithet And Mr.. Yancey
made a similar denial here, Both de-
fined their position to be, not
that they were enemies of the Union,
but that they would maintain the
rights of the South, if need be, at the
expense Of the Union. And in this
we are greatly mistaken if wings did not
concur as heartily and in as great pro-
portion to their whole number as demo-
Gratis. When the issue came, it stirred
the blood Of oil men without distinction
of party, and the result could not have
been changed had the wings been in
power. To go back to the time and
origin of the Jeffersonian doctrines, and
because the democrats holding those
views we're long in power, charge on them
disruption of the government is too
far fetched an argument to have any
great present merit. Even fit was con.
elusive and just, it would have no present
and practical utility. There has been
common misfortune, originating in the
Puritan pharisaism and disposition to
dominate, which demoralized all sections
and oil classes. There was an unerring
certainty in the advance of its destroying
tide, and fatality in its exasperating
influences, which no party organization
could have controlled or withstood.
But we care not to inquire who is re-
sponsible in the past. Few of us are
qualified to cast the first stone. And we
prefer amnesty to justice which has no
power preventive of evil. What we care
for is the future, and to make the most
of what We have, and do the best we can
to restore constitutional liberty. This
we think is best accomplished by burying
every description of hatchet, and shak-
ing hands with every friend of republic
can institutions, 60 under what name
they may. The great body of such
friends, and those who have what power
there is for future good, have adopted
the unobjectionable name of Democrat,
or friends of the people. If we 60 with
them we shall be called by their name.
If we do not, we shall gain nothing by
adopting another, and do nothing for
good If we are true Democrats, we
may do something better than many who
formerly went by the name. And, so we
serve the country, we may well enough
be satisfied with taking our chances with
all Others as to personal advantage. 1t
is often true that egotsts and brawlers,
who thrust themselves forward, get the
advantage of more modest men of supe-
rior merit. But these successes are only
momentary. If the Democratic party,
now SO called, is victorious in the
approaching canvass, we have no
fear that any stubborn Old
Line Wing, like our correspondent,
will be driven to the background. The
great Democratic party which triumphs
in November will embody the patriots Of
this great country. 1t will be free from
the corruptions of the old party for
many years, and until secondary issues
regain Importance, and it will have |
power, prestige, purity, permanence and
wisdom derived from the experience of
tho past, which will make it tower in its
eminent and liberty loving excellence
above the greatest parties known in |
times ofpeace to the governments OF the |
world. We shall have a return of the
good old times and ways of our fathers
for while, and we shall be governed
not by Wings, Democrats, demagogues
or partisans, but by the wisest aud most |
eminent and good of our living sages,
by men who are honest, capable and
faithful to the Constitution. We may
then be satisfied with such reward
for our achievements as will result
from a common good fortune, and we
will congratulate each other on the fact
of our mutual conversion to be thor
ough Democrats" It's too late to dis
cuss past wrongs, Democratic or Whig.
Every patriot should be so busy tuggirg
at the wheel which is to roll in constitu-
tional liberty as to have no superauous
breath for dead issues, and no will for
proftless and irja,iOus disputes
The Jackson (Ohio) Standard has re-
ceived one of the circulars of A. 7.
Stewart and others Of New York, nomi-
mating General Grant for President,