Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-15

shrewd sagacity and caustic wis OF John
Randolph Of Roanoke lent a point and
brilliancy to its debut; b splendor OF
Thomas Jcfferson's reputation as scholar,
statesman and gentleman, shed a blaze OF
glory oyer the Incidents of its creation;
while its name, drawn from the most
celebrated of the forms of Grecian
politics, clothed It's future in all the
an~ticipations of success, genius and
el~oquence. The cardinal principle Of
the new party was TO be founo
in the derivation of its name; IL
means "1he people 10 rule }" and TO this
can be added nothing which would more
fully convey the true-aim and spirit of its
organization, or give more clearly the Key
to its course. As a party, it has ever well
coined the stranger to our shores, and en-
couraged the toilsome exertions of the
poor and industrious citizen; it has been
the enemy of prescription, of aristocracy,
and of tyranny; it has held the Constitu-
ton as its ritual, and liberty as its creed;
and the living spirit of its existence has
always been that the SciU of the PEOPLE
was the LGIO of the state.
These principles it has preserved, unim-
paired and unaltered through war, and
change, and time, and to them it owes the
elasticity Of its organization n the vital
ity and vigor of its present condition.
But if it's long success and existence is
due to anything more than another, it is
to the manner in which it has accommo-
dated itself to b changing necessities
and occurrences of the times. And yet in
direct contradiction to its past history,
the opinion has been industriously pro-
mulgated and discussed by the impracti-
cable on the one hand and the malcon-
tents on the other, that the position OF the
party can never be changed upon any
point. A resume of some few facts in its
past history will show these how the stu
pidity of their own understanding has
tingsd their ideas of the policy of the
p rty.
The first question which arose upon it's
infant experience was caused by the EN-
barge Act in 1907. The Democratic party
then sustained Nh. JeffersOn's policy of
peace. In 1872, it was unanimous upon
war; in l845, it was a party question. In
the North, during the late war, it was for
peace; in the South, for Wdr. Before the
war of 1912 it was opposed to the national
bank; it was one of the first Democratic
measures proposed after the war. It was
opposed to the tariff in 1921, and in favor of
it in 1873. Jefferson and Jackson opposed
internal improvements; we are now unan-
imously begging for the crumbs which
fall from the tables where the Harpies are
feeding at Washington.
These are not all the instances which
might be add1ced Of the elasticity and
polite yielding Of the party, but they are
sufficient to satisfy the doubling and con-
vince the reasonable. And in the face of
this record, and Of every consideration Of
both sense, reason and experience, are we
to chain the giant limbs Of u party to
the rigid stake OF prescription and preju-
dice, and only oppose the passive resist
ancc of denial to the fierce activity of the
enemy's assaults or are we to pass around
that which we cannot surmount, meet the
insidious attacks of the enemy upon his
own ground, and upon Q issues, and
with new weapons, still fight the old enc
mics of the Constitution and the people?
l hoped that by the adoption of some
fixed and settled platform, that aspiring
demagogues would no longer be able to
set up their opinions as party doctrines.
All would be clear and well defined; it
would then be an easy task to know who
were or who were lot Democrats, and no
one could claim the afiliation of opinion
who did not subscribe to the articles Of
the creed. Dead issues would, as they
should, be shrouded n dropped. Those
who felt, as a great many Of Us do feel,
the sting OF Radical insult still smarting
in their bosoms, would either be taught
practical sense enough to keep these
thoughts for the closet, or would be left
sitting alone, in an idle, foolish despair
over Ono ruins OF ueAr anu cnerISn6uf Dub
lost hopes. Now, be would be but a poor
counsel who should scold without cOrrec-
ton, or reprove without suggestion; and
thus those principles were suggested as a
groundwork, upon which we could build
a firmer, more enduring fabric than we
hen possessed.
They are drawn from the purast sources
OF Democracy, and consequently are
plain, liberal and distinct. In their adop-
ton may we find the sesame of the great
popular heart; secure the noble prize Of
the owe of the people; and in the future,
by zeal, honesty and discretion, we may
obtain again what alone is the spirit, and
has ever been the aim, OF the Democratic
party-their confidence.
Respectfully, GEO. r. PHELAN.
Buy your Hats Of
LEIDY & CO., Hatters.