The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-03-31
DEMOCRACY.
Its Riissiom ana How II Is TO be Accom-
plisi.ed.

THINK L nave nOJ trouDlcQ Tor nearing
since the spring Of 1868. But since
the final contamination Of that most
pcrnicioua of all policies, the = radical
policy" ii seems 10 me to be the duty
of all men who are, or who were proud
Of the name Of American citizen to take
some steps for unity Of action with a
view to, and hope of preserving some
Of the elements of civil liberty. Those
of your readers who read my letter in
answer to Mr.. Forrest. will remember
that | said That The Democratic party
was the legitimate outgrowth of our
form of governmental organization, and
could exist onlJ so long as that organi-
zation existed; that the government
could be administered only on the theo-
RIGS Of the Democratic statesmen, and
when the attempt vas made to admin
lister it on the theories Of the Rcpubli-
can party, dcsolutc failure would result.
and, if forced, the organization would
he destroyed As Wei Try To make a
niistlctoe crew on the ground, or toad
stool on green tree. Well, the organ
ization has been destroyed; the ''checks
anil balances" fixed to prevent the CEN
tralization of power have been removed,
and power has become centralized. The
states are provinces only They are no
longer republics, independent in their
own spheres, subject to the dictation
of the general republic in the national
or interstate matters. Congress has ar
rogated to itself all power. Wherever
the supreme court has got chance it
has declared void every one of the en-
actmcnts trcnching on the rights of the
people and the states At least the le-
gal tender act is overthrown and we
must be burdencd with fresh taxes in
the states to pay foreign holders of state
bonds the difference between our green
backs and gold, which we forced on
them for interest, and which they took
under protest, and will sue to recover.
The guardian of trust who opens a
door to cmbezzlement can never close
it. So, false legislation once begun can
not cease, being hydra, whose heads
and fangs increase with each attempt at
decapitation.
The mission of the Democratic party
is ended under its old organization. 1t
cannot administer the governmental or
ganization now existing on the theories
it had or has. Az we'll might a sawyer
whose saw-mill hal been remodcled in
to Il, Touring mill insist that it was still
sawmill and made lumber, and himself
still sawyer Nolcns roicns lie must
learn how to run a grist-mill and make
-four and meal, and think of his old saw
mill as one of the useful things that
twas ans, now is not" So with US. We
must accept the situation-univrrsal
equality before the law. While our
wives are shut up day and night in the
jury-room with other men, andy nurse
the babies at home, and grit our teeth
to bear it, that Democracy was and is
opposed to it Will do us no good. The
sacred relation of marriage is none the
less contaminated, and the virulent poi
son of social and political equality has
none the less torccd upon us by false
Legislation in violation of every moral
law, and every Legitimate principle
springing from the social organization
and all correct ideas of political govern
ment.
The good and wise men of all parties
are disguised The honest Rcpubli-
cans would abandon their leaders who
have led them astray, and pervertedthe
Republican organization from the pur-
poses its people originally designed it to
accomplish.
Like us, and like "poor old Ned"
they have 'no where to go" We can
not DO as he did-"go out in the field
to die alone" but we must hang on to
the "shovel and the hoe and work for
our task-masters or against them.
There is only one thing to be done.
We have no choice. We must organ
ize anew and declare set of principles
TO be put INFO practice for the purpose
Of administering the governmental Or
ganilation aS it row is, and save as
much good out Of it, and prevent the
evil, as We can. We must accept the
fact that We can organize Only as Amer
leans. Past differences must be forgot
ten. As americans, retaining some of
the old pride belonging to the name,
We must invite all who have that pride,
to come and join with us in an effort
to unscat these radical fanatics and put
in power men who have the pride of
Americans; the desire fer civil libcr-
ty, and who will at least try to prevent
complete Capitalization of power and
consolidation Of capital Like the saw
yer learning to run a gristmill, we must
forget that we were once active, honest
Democrats and Republicans, and try to
learn how best to administer this mon
grel organization the radicalrulcrs have
made out Of the sublime design left US
by the fathers of the great revelation
of l77G. 1t is this or complete anarchy
to be followed by despotic government
of the worst character, and that within
shorter period than is general in the
history of nations. If five years since
the war ended can accomplish so much.
five more can comsummatc the whole
work, and see us under tho dictatiol.
of such man as Sheridan or Butler,
with no restraint upon his will, whether
dictated by passion, whim or prejudice,
folly or mere cruelty.
Such a journal as yours can inaugur-
ate the movement with success. Let
the party be called the American"
party, in contradlstinction to the radi-
Gals, tho tories, the monarchists, the i'm
perialists, the centralizers of every class.
1t is no use TO cling to the cornse of