Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-11
THE NEW PARTY IDEA.
The Third Party Movement and the
Charge of Democracy.

4
The Third Party Movement and fh
Charge of Democracy.
From the GAINESVILLE Tobac o Leaf, Sept. 9.
Now that the third party has seemed
to die away under the earnest dis
elaimer of its supposed friends, it may
not be amiss to glance backward for a
moment for the purpose of tracing its
connection with the charge which con-
tinues to be repeated, that the Democ-
racy of this State are trying to form a
Democratic party, and are claiming that
the late triumph wac Democratic VIC
tory. The people, fully conscious that
this was their victory, are quietly look
ing on whilst those who would claim the
credit for the purpose Of enforcing the
claims as their champion, discuss mat,
tiers in which they take no interest, with
which they have no sympathy. Whilst
it is strenuously denied that certain pars
ties proposed third party movement, it
is idle to deny that there was such
movement. There are those who feel
deeper interest in the success Of their
candidates than they manifest in the cause
of the people. They bow with earnest de~
votion at the shrine Of their own petty
gods, leaving out of view the best means
of attaining triumph of principle. Cir
cumstances lead us to believe that the
third party movement was instituted in
the interest of one of the candidates for
the Senate. Taking advantage OF the
supposed fact that the House and Senate
was anti~old Democratic, it was charged
that the old Democratic party was being
rebuilt, that its members claimed Dem
ocratic triumph. This attempt to rouse
the slunIbering prejudices of the past
Inns meet with Overwhelming condemnas
ton from the people. The abortion att
tempted to be born was throttled before
It saw the light.
The people know of no cry of Demo~
crazy, and they will hear in the interest
Of politicians no cry Of third or liberal
party. In national contest they will
act as reason suggests and as policy die.
tates, with that party in the North
which alone opposes what they oppose
prescription and tyranny. They will not |
be affrighted or turned from their course
by even the most heartending cries of
despairing politicians. Ifthere are those,
whose prejudices engendered by a name
will compel them to a different course,
they will be left by the people far behind,
fossilized and encased in rock-crust of |
their own prejudices, petrifed specimens
for the curious investigations of future |
generations.
From the Lexington (Ky) Observer.
We think it hardly probable that any
one will claim that Hon. Emerson Ethe-
ridge has ever been very ardent friend
Of the Democracy. He certainly was /
not in love with it as an old line Wing, |
nor was he particularly noted as its ad~
nirer during the war. Now Mr.. Ethe-
ridge still thinks that Democracy is
rather poor fowl, but he has sense
enough left 10 know that even poor
owl is to be preferred to putrid fish,
md he candidly says so. He recently
made great speech in Haywood county,
Tennessee, to people of every political
but especially to the old
inc Wings, who were present, and the
'ubjoined extract from his speech speaks
veil both for Emerson Etheridge and the
poor fowl" lie said:
Talk Of rotten Democracy, indeed.
Tennessee Radicalism makes the means
st Wing or Democratic regime seem
bright. And let me tell you now that if
Tou find an old Democrat ont in the |
woods behind log praying for the return
# the Democratic party to power, you
will find an old Wing close by patting
lin on the back.
"Grant you that the Democratic party,
Turing its long and sometimes brilliant
Executive reign in power, was stained
With crimes Of its leaders, too often I'M
crupulous in their efforts to maintain
hat power; to its honor and glory
,e it said that it despoiled no man
# his liberties without a trial
" his peers. 1t robbed no man
# the franchise; it was not in favor
# great monopolies; it was not the
hampton of high taxes; it was not
utility Of that stupendous piece of folly
he boast that "a public debt is public
,lessing;;" it imprisoned no man; tried
md punished no man without due pros
Jess of law; it established no drumhead
ourt-martial in time Of peace; finding no
'astiles to pull down, it erected none as
monument of its existence, it was not
guilty of that most infamous of rallying
ries, 'salus populi suprema lex These
hings that the Rebel Democrat didn't
10 in time of war, the Radical camp fol-
oWers did when the war was over"