Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-07
PUBLIC LEDGER.
ON AND NEW PARTIES.

OLD AND NEW PARTIES.
Some of our Tennessee journals have
of late awakened to the realiz alton OF the
fact that, as government, we are not
now what we were previous to secession
Long articles are written from time 10
time as sad testimonials over the putrid
corpse Of Democracy, which has been
dead these many years, and fact these
sbort-sighted journalists have Just discov'
cred. The results of hasty separation
nv the South proved death-blow to all
true republicanism in this country. The
old Wing ard Democratic parties dbl
fered not vitality upon the existance OF
the Republic, but merely in theory or
81 shade of difference in policy, as to how
tbsGoyernment should be conducted so as
to work out its grand destiny. The old
gallant Wing party which has made a
mart of the golden history OF our short
lived Republic was compelled to go
down before the more popular ideas ad'
yocated by it's rival. The Democracy
welded the scepter of government until
the infant party styled by its followers
the Rennhlican party was grown to tnii
manhood, when the too indeadly contest
hogan which resulted in the Republican
marty placing it's foot upon the neck OF
the Democracy - even the Southern
Confederacy. The principles held by
this victorious Northern party were
averse to State rights, the cornerstone
which supported the Constitution of the
United States, and this prop knocked out,
the entire edifce fell into one con-
eolidated mass of ruins. To-day we look
around us and see what we ore, and COM
pare our present with what the past con-
stituted. We know the Government 10
not what it was, aud can only conjecture
TO what end it is tending. The Democratic
party is defunct, and Of course powerless,
10 arrest the onward march OF events.
What we must do now will be for all to
combine together upon questions OF
State policy that have for their object the
good of oil the citizens-the whites, the
controlling element in the Government
We can call ourselves Democrats,
Wings, Tories, or Rebels" for rose
smells as sweet by any other name
The principles of the party to be found
spoken of is the first consideration, and
the only important one. Why will men
of common sense talk of names when
they can be made to apply TO one party
as well as another2
The advocates Of this new party may
claim that the masses would become
confused in calling the new organization
by au old eognomen. We have, our
selves, very little respect for the intslli-
gence of the masses, and to obviste such
results and restore peace and harmony
in our ranks, are willing to throw over
board the word Democracy and adopt
any other which has for its meaning q
white mans government The Ara-
lanche, we conjecture, has no objection
to the name Democracy, but has a
greater admiration for the loayes and
fishes of universal suffrage, which
doubtless it expects to come in very soon,
in the way of legal advertisements taken
from the poor, emaciated EUening Post,
by order of Governor Senter. That is
our prediction, and, as we believe, will
account very greatly for the milk in the
cocosuut. The future will tale unfold
that will not surprise some, but may the
great unthinking masses.