Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-21
PARTY NAMES.

candidates for President ana vice fresi
dent. The few adherents of the good OLE
party made good fight, but in vain. Fat
was against them, so they were scarcel,
felt in the exciting campaign which
ended with the election of Lincoln, thu
first partisan of fanaticism ever elected
The Democratic party was divided by
the action taken at the Charleston Con
vention, and as party went down for
ever. The Abolitionists TOOK advantage
of the war, made the Union and the old
flag rallying cry, and got possession
entirely of the Government. When the
war closed we had no parties South
The OLD issues which distinguished Whig'
from Democrats were swept away
and we found ourselves con
quered people, bound hand ant
foot by the so-styled Republican party
In the North this party was all powerful
The opposition was called Copperheads
by way of derision. They called them
selves Democrats generally, although
they had no foothold as party. Had
the Republicans showed themselves gen
erous toward the South, and even fan
toward those who differed with them, nc
formidable opposition would have been
organized for decade to come. But
they made a reckless use of their power
and thus created necessity for reform
party. The Northern Democrats, led by
such men as yallandigham, Pendleton'
Hoffman, Mullaly and others, formed a
nucleus for a new party. 1t took the
name Of Democracy, by general con-
sent, but without direct reference to any
party that existed before the war. In
the South the opposition to Radicalism
took for time the conciliatory name OF
Conservative, mere adjective, which
might be applied to any party not too
ultra. The,imbecility and corruption OF
the Republican administration fastened
the growth of the new Democratic party
all over the Union, and the most brilliant
successes have been achieved under that
name. This is an hour oftriumph, hope
and congratulation. The Democracy
have carried the States of Tennessee,
New York, North Carolina, Alabama,
West Virginia and others, and made
great gains almost everywhere. The ex-
istence of an anti-Radical constitutional
party is as imperative for public good as
laws for the punishment of criminals
Yet the name was mere accident; but
under it we have sworn to restore what
is left of the institutions formed by our
forefathers, --undeE it we have Ell
fected great reforms in various
States. As Democrats, we have
presented a bold front to Radicalism
everywhere, and, as Democrats, we be-
lieve we can carry the Presidential cleo
ton in 1872. If the word Conservative
will moliify the ancient antipathy OF any
OF our friends to the name Democrat,
let them prefix it; but all such should
remember that a new departure has been
made since the days Of Andrew jackson
and Henry Clay, and that there are only
two parties in the countryside Radical,
about to 20 out OF power, and the Demo /
cratic party, just going into power. The
last named has on its rolls the names of
old line Wings, old line Democrats, ex-
Federals, exc onfederates, original seces-
sionists and Union men; in word, all
who oppose the maladministration of the
Government and the perversion of all
the principles of true liberty and jus
tice. All these elements of the
opposition are united and organized into
the Democratic party-the only party in
the country organized against the Radi- |
Gals. A few individuals who would
rather reign in hell than serve in heaven
have essayed to get up a Liberal party,
or something else which shall give its
leaders notoriety and save the country.
A few respectable Republican journals,
ashamed Of their own party, have en-
couraged such a movement and been met
half way by some soft-shell Democratic |
papers Of far less influence. We can tell
all such that they are on a cold trail, and |
all their little schemes will come TO
naught The issues in the great political
contest yet to be made before the country
is redeemed from misrule are too well
defined and too antagonistic to admit OF
any neutral party, either in name or
policy. The contest will be between
liberty and despotism, order and
chaos, right and wrong, honesty and
venality, good faith and perfdy.
The man who pirates about Conservatism
now is preparing TO compromise with
thieves, although he may be ever so hon
est in his intentions. Compromises
we're necessary at one time when dag
ger was held at our hearts, but that day
has gone by; we have asserted our
strength and made grand stride toward
the White House Our banner is in the
breeze, our Democratic regiments are
in the field, and We will not rest until
the National Government is once more
in the hands Of a national constitutional
party. Then We viii treat with the en-
envy but not before. Then we may
afford to be called Conservatives; but
not now-it is out Of the question.
GnkST is said to be engaged in the
preparation Of bis stated message 10
Congress. We have some curiosity to
see xhaf he Will say about the late elsc-
lions. ne want to know whether he
has beard from North Carolina, West
Virgins. Delaware Indiana, Missouri,
Alabama and New York. He was very