Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-06-25
SO THIRD PARTY.

ted that, as an old line Wing, we
have no predictions for democracy.
Before the war, 1t was scarcely less
radical than radicalisn, and by its
innovations upon the conservative
theories OF the early days OF The Re-
public, was mainly instrumental in
friug on The war which has resulted
so disastrously to constitutional lib
erty. With these convictions still In
force, we cannot, justly, be charged
with partiality In expressing the be-
lief that, In the great struggle, now
going on, for the restoration of the
rights Of the States and of the peo-
pie as citizens of the States, we must
rely, for victory, upon the co-opera-
tlon Of every element of opposition
with the democratic party.
We are not driven to this conclus-
ion, bv sympathy or confidence, but
an earnest conviction that a serious
attempt to get up third party, must
he followed by defeat. In the North
the opposition to the dominant party
is embraced under the single desig-
nation Of "The Democratic party"
Any third party that may spring up
there, must owe its strength to re-
cruits from the democratic organiza-
ton. And since that organization
has, heretofore, proven too weak TO
overcome the Radical majorities, It is
bad logic and worse policy TO assume
that, by dividing its votes its strength
will be increased. There seems to he
sort of fascination in the word
dem03racy-which attracts to it all
and they are legion-who measure
the merits of a party by the name 1t
bears; and, in dnti-beUunt days, il
was the general belief, among the EN-.
lightened, that this name covered the
broadcast liberty-alias licence--to all,
and without regard to the old fogy
restrictions imposed by the Constitu-
ton, and the laws in conformity
Herewith.
This belief was not with out foun-
dation, and the charm, it then had
for the multitude, seems not to have
lost its power. Aud hence the lie. it.
innate inference that all opposed to
Radicalism, in the North, will rally
to the standard Of democracy. In
fact they can go no where else, unless
third party be organized, relying,
for its strength, upon the accession
of those who would otherwise enter
the democratic ranks; and every
vote thus diverted from the central
point Of opposition, is vote practi-
cally given to the Radical party.
Then If we are right in the suppo-
sition that a third party, North, will
subserve no other purpose than to
rrolong Radical rule, by what process
of reasoning can it be shown that
such party, South, will have a con-
trary effect? Let us view the subject
in the light of patriotism and states
manship. There are in the South two
parties, now, the Radical and the
Conservative. But there are persons
belonging to the latter who desire to
build up a third party. 1t may be the
purpose of some of these to bring to-
gether the scattered elements of the
old Wing party. Should they sue
ceed, what do they expect to gain ?
Always in the minority before the
war, do they expect now, to absorb
all the elements of opposition to Rad
icalism?- To do this, they must have
organization, and to keep it up, they
must have candidates, and when thus
prepared to take the field, they will
find themselves confronted by the
Radicals and flankcd by all opposed
10 such division of forces, and the
result of the conflict will be Radi-
cal triumph. The same reasoning
applies, with equal force, to n similar
effort on the part of the Democrats,
and to he followed by n similar result.
Is ii not wiser, in view of the stu
alton, that every shade of political
sentiment be united against our Rad
neal opprcssors, under the compre-
hcnsive title OF CONSERVATIVES" ~
Division not only engendcrs weak
Ness, but begets animosities that
would lie dangerous, if not fatal, nj
this critical juncture, To the dearest
interests Of the entire country. Now
shat the democrats of New York and
Connecticut have gained signal tri.
umphs over the Radicals and those
of Ohio have laid down q platform
broad enough for every Southern
man to stand upon, It were suicidal
in us 10 divide our strength, when il
should he clear to all that we car
give m ore efficient aid 10 the demo
Gratis of the North, by our prescn
union, rs Conservatives, than by di
vision on any preteXt or platform
whatever. ............
II third party be needed in til,
South, it is a party in favor of les
cotton and more manufactures an,
fewer railroads; deep ploughing an,
liberal manuring, against mer
scratching of an extensive and poo
surface; more self-reliance and indie
pendence of the North, and agains
the servile condition of hewers G
wood and drawers of water for shod
dy and bond aristocrats. Such n par
~, carrying out such n platform will
soon make the South rich and pow
crful and independent--able Ia die