Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-17

THE NEW PARTY MOVEMENT.
Responses from Georgia and KEN
tucky-Whaf the Democratic rBartv
mas Done and is Doing To-Day.

OeotO papers III Ec5dIu W luo litt
or death of the great national Demo
cratic party. Leaving out of view en'
hrely the reasonableness or unreason-
ableness Of the charges which have beer
made against that party by few of oul
Southern contemporaries, evil and moth
ing but evil to the country must follow q
continuation Of such discussion at this
time.
1t will not be denied that the great
States of New York, Pennsylvania and
Ohio, control the elections Of the country.
In these three States the Democratic
party has, since the close of the war,
stood firmly by the principles OF States
rights and State sovereignty as defined
and laid down and supported by both the
old Wing and Democratic parties. The
Democracy Of these States, and, so far as
we have been able to judge, the entire
Northern aid Western Democracy have
fought, inch by inch, and step by step,
the monstrous advances which have been
been made by the Radicals toward the
destruction of our federative system, and
the erection upon its ruins Of a strong,
irresponsible consolidated government,
entirely free from and Independent of the
several State governments.
In this constitutional warfare the
Democrats have been cordially assisted
and ably supported by the old line silver
gray Wings in all the Northern and
Western States. With a patriotism and
devotion to principle rarely exhibited in
this country, these constitutional Wings
have abandoned their old party associa>
tons and cut loose from many of their
old political friends and identified them~
selves with their lifelong political an.
tagonists, because the latter party offered
the only compact, organized and available
machinery by which their old principles
could be defended and maintained.
1t is true that, so far, complete success
has not crowned the efforts Of the true
Democracy. But we insist that this want
of success cannot be fairly attributed to
any uniaithfulness to their old and time
hOnored principles. Aided and supported
as they have been, by the old line Wings,
they have waged war upon Radicalism
in all its most hideous forms, which not
only entities them them to our respects and
gratitude, but which demands from us
full and cordial support. They have been
stricken down in their own section,
mainly because they would not join in
the hue and cry raised against the South;
they have been denounced, Yilitied and
tradaced because of their strict adherence
20 the principles Of the constitution. They
have, Iii many instances, failed of success
because they would not abate one jot or
title of their opposition to Radical mis-.
rule and outrage upon the people of the
South, when by yielding only tacit
acquiescence to Radical iniquity they
might have secured a portion of the local
and federal power. -s.-..
The Democratic party, largely recruit.
ed, as it now is, from the best of the ma
terial Of the old State Rights Wing par
ty, affords the only hope to the American
people for a restoration Of the government
to the principles and policy of the consti
tuition. They are making glorious fight
now in Pennsylvania and Ohio. They
have brought into the field their best
men, and, what is better still, they are
making no compromise with Radical JaN
collins. The fight in those two States
is made upon the clear and finely cut
lines which have marked their disagree
ments with the Radical party for the last
q ten years. There is a growing diScOn-
tent at the North with the present rule,
aud thousands who are called moderate
Republicans would desert the standard OF
the Radical party and cordially unite
with the Democracy if the latter would
yield some of their State rights dogmas
and abandon the constitutional doctrine
of State sovereignty. If the Northern
Democrats were actuated by no higher
motives than Of party supremacy and
control they could act at this time, when
the discomfort with Grants administra-
ton, North and South, is showing itself
in marked and decided utterances, by
making slight concessions of principle
and adopting shutting diplomacy, Sc
cure thousands of Republican votes. But,
true to principle and their past history,
they spurn such an unholy alliance.
Is it not, then, to say the least OF it
exceedingly uDgracious in the Southern
people at this particular juncture, to
throw obstacles in the path Of our North
ern friends by limiting, and that very
plainly, that they have been untrue to
us in the past, and that they will continue
to be so in the future? Is it not I'M
gracious, ungenerous, unjust and wrong
for Southern men to taunt the Ohio anc
Pennsylvania Democracy with fighting
over dead issues because they adhere t
the principles of the constitution?
But If we abandon the Democratic
Marty because GIFTS adherence "to dead
issues" where under the heaven shall VI
cast our voice and lot? Is it proposed t
reenact the fatal blunder of the Phlla
delphia Raymond"J OhnsOn Convention
and attempt to organize new party wit
new principles and new name? ii thu
be the plan proposed we ask, IN al
seriousness, who Is TO compose such
party-what are to be its principles
and from whom will it be recruited?
Would not such new party have t
rely almost entirely upon the presen
Democratic party for its recruits Is
seriously believed that large, compac
homogeneous influential organization hk
the Democratic party, will dissolve 1t
organization, disband its members, an
renounce its lifelong principles for ii
doubtful benefits Of new organization
which its strongest supporters can onl
claim as likely to be successful ? Thel
are too many memories OF past success
full conflicts, too much Of pride, and Il
much of devotion TO old ties clusterir
around the banner of the great nation
Democratic party to permit, for mOmer
the belief that they will all be suTrenC
cred and abandoned without the owe
ruling influence OF an ir:epressible emer
- oncy should imperatiVely demand such
sacrifice.
The South, at least, is in no conditlt
10 cast away old and tried friends for t
doubtful benefits to be derived from ne
ones, lately our bitterest enemies. Ii t
national Democracy backed and strengt
ened by the support and influence OF t
very flower of the old Wing party-m
like Fillmore, Adams, johnson a
Campbell-caDnot be relied on to 81
port and faithfully maintain the Prlnclp
Of free government as expounded by
founders of our complex system IN
Virginia and kentucky resolutions, VIII
shall we turn for success Gnd support
SO far, then, as we are concerned
shall say nor do nothing which can,
any possibility, be tortured into sus
ciOn that we are lacking confidence IN
patriotism, virtue and integrity of
national Democracy.
From the Hickman, CKy) Courier.