Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-11-21
For the Spectator. - -
The Presidential Contest Of 1872.

contest of 1872. 1t is one of vast Importance |
to the Southern States. On its result depends,
In large measure their future prosperity. 1t
is proper, therefore, that the people of the
whole country should scan the political hor-
zon carefully, and endeavor SO to shape their
action as to secure success.
The recent Northern elections, if rightly
studied, are full of instruction. They teach
us, Enthusiastically that if we go into the con-
test under the present party organization, We
are destined to inevitable and disastrous defeat.
1t would be useless to enquire into the suffcien
CIV of the causes which have led to this cond-
ton of things. 1t is enough to know that it
exists. We may deplore the prejudices which
have misled the people Of the North. We
may demonstrate their unreasonableness by the
most unanswerable arguments, but no logic will
| suffice to remove them. We must therefore,
| like sensible and practical men, recognize their
| existence, and II we cannot conquer them, seek
| to render them as harmless as possible. Some
persons believe that names are mere shadows,
and comparatively unimportant. In one sense
this is true. But when name becomes asso-
ciated with an important principle or line OF
policy, so as to become the representative OF
that principle or policy, a name becomes
| formidable fact 1t becomes the object OF bit
ter antagonism-the subject of undying hatred
We may illustrate this by familiar example,
| Before the war, if man were called Union
man, he would regard it as a compliment. But
| If you called him Federalist (which Is but
another name for Union-man) he would
| promptly disclam, If not resent it.
Wise men will, therefore, respect the preu-
dices of the people, and seek not, unnecessarily,
| to call them into action. When name be-
comes offensive and stands in the way of great
political movements, they will prudenty dis
card the obnoxious name, if they can thereby
secure substantial benefit.
| In our Judgment, this is exactly what the
people of the United States are now called on
to do. We have sought, again and again, to
win success in national contests under the
! names Of Democracy and Conservatism, but
have failed. It is manifest, that the organiza-
| ton arrayed under those names cannot win the
victory We grant that the prejudice is i'll
founded, and irrational. But what of that?-
Who will deny that it exists? Who will deny
that the prejudice against the name of democ-
racy calls into play, in the Northern mind,
some Of the worst passions OF our natures p
And who can gainsay, that those passions are
among the most serious obstacles to our sue
| cess?
Even in Virginia, we could not have secured
victory, 10 the last Gubernatorial canvass, I'M
der the banner Of Democracy. Many old Wings
could not have been induced to rally under that
banner, and hence, like sensible men, we took
| the name OF Conservatives and achieved a sig
nal triumph.
No one can close his eyes to the fact, that in
the Northern mind, the name of Democracy is
inseparably associated with the support Of sla-
very, and opposition to the popular war policy
of the government.
In the minds of many Southern men, the
same name is intimately connected with old
party struggles, with secession and the count
less evils that the war has brought on the
Southern States.
In view Of these stubborn facts, is it wise for
the public men Of the present day, to kick
against the pricksY' Is it good policy to AVA
ken, and attempt to defy, these old preudices
Is it safe to go into the coming contest with
name and organization which repels from CO.
operation large number of men who are dis
posed to help US?
We think not. In the next contest, to use
slang phrase, we 'go in to WinP' and We will
spare no honorable effort to ensure success
We are aiming at substantial results and to at
tain them, we are ready to sacrifice anything
but integrity. We are willing to give up OBJ
noxi0us pames-We are willing to set aside all
our preferences for men. We are willing, if
we cannot get the kind of man, or the line Of
policy that We would prefer chosen,-to make
a choice Of evils, and take that which is least.
Between the Devil and the deep sea, we would
choose the latter
Ia the next contest, therefore, we incline to
the opinion, that it would be sound policy In
the opponents Of the present administration,
to drop the names of Democrats and Conser-
vatives and to adopt another, Of broader and
more comprehensive character, and one that
would be more significant Of the true mission
of the new party Parties are the representa-
tives of ideas and the agents by which ideas are
brought into power. The name Of the party,
therefore, should express Intelllglbiy, the ideas
which it seeks 10 enforce.
What, then, are the leading ideas which We
would like to make most prominent in the next
contest? They are not the old Democratic
ideas of State rights as expounded by South
Carolina not the resolutions Of $3.50. Nor
are they the old anti-Bank- anti Taritf-nor
anti-distribution ideas OF the Jackson era
The great ideas, for which ne wish to con-
tend are, the restoration of the supremacy Of
the constitution the subordination of the
military to the civil power the maintenance
of the independence Of the judiciary the sa-
credness OF the habeas corpus and the re-
adjustment OF the proper balance between
State and Federal authority.
These are vital issues. They lie at the foun-
dation of civil liberty. They appeal to men
of all parties and all sections They are broad
enough and strong enough to embrace all who
are disposed to maintain the true principles Of
constitutional liberty. In word, they consti-
tute the vital principles Of the constitution it.
SELF
What name can more appropriately designate
a party, banded together for such high and
holy purposes than the
CONSTITUTIONAL PARTY!
/. Let Us then unfurl cur flag with this name,
SO significant of our patriotic mission, inscribed
upon it. Let us appeal to the good men Of all
sections and parties and shades Of opinion, to
unite with US, Ia rebuilding the temple of Lib
erty, and replacing, therein, the Ark of the
Coyenant-the Constitution of the u. S. as
framed by Washington, Hamilton, and Madi-
son; and expounded by Jay, Marshall and
fancy
Let us seek the cooperation of men like
Schurz, and Trumbu and Gratz Brown, and
Cox, of Ohio, Evarts, and others who, however
much they may have differed from us In the
past, have shown, that when danger threatens
the citadel of freedom, they are capable of ri
sing far above the behests of party. to yield
homage to their country.
If the enquiry be made, how can this be
done, we answer, let some prominent men,
say our Conservative Central Committee at
Richmond, at once place themselves in com
munication with some trusted friends at Wash
ington, and induce them to send, far and wide,
| to all parts of the Union, invitations to the
wlsest and best men of every section. to meet
IN Washington city, about the middle of Jan
uary, to take counsel with each Other and with
Senators and members, in regard to the Wisest
course to be adopted in the great crisis which
is so near at hand.