The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-05
THE PASSIVE POLICY.
Letter from John Quincy Adams Warm.
ly Approving II.

The Hon. John Quincy Adams, Of Massa-
chusetts, has written letter to the Missouri
Republican, warmly approving the so-called
passive policy of the Democrats in the next
Presidential election. In the course OF the
letter Mr.. Adams says:
| am satisfied such course will be wise and
patriotic, and should be glad to see the Dem.
ocracy concur In such resolution. ! regard
the present administration as national
calamity, and its continuance should be avert
ed at any sacrifice, not because Republican in
politics, but because 1t ia mean In character,
sordid in tone. and ignorant, corrupt and
arbitrary; because more than any admlnistra-
ton we have mad, It has disappointed the
hopes and deadeleith the generous aspirations
OF the good men If all pa,ties; because 1t Is
doing more to petmaaently disunlte the STATES
than the government Of Jefferson Davis ever
old; because lis chic; concelves there Is no
means for free government but military
force; no public action but private ...-oft.
Four years more OF such education, family
patronage, and martial law, will 30 blunt the
keen sensibilltles Of popular liberty that our
ignoble incubus might well remain fixture.
Now, believe the Democratic party to be
powerless alone TO relieve us, and think II Is
without hope of carrying the next election.
No doubt II the votes OF any States lately 10 re-
bellion were necessary to elect q Democratic
candidate, they would be thrown out In the
counting. A mere majority, even could it be
mustered, would not be permitted to elect q
Democrat for next President. Nothing then
usurper, and 1t Is difficult to decide which al
Tentative will infilct the more irreparable In
jury upon the habit Of free government. To
dismiss an incompetent official, and avoid 8
governmental crisis, the Missouri policy offers
the only reasonable possibility which has been
presented; but while frankly avow parttali-
" for the object. l do not blink the very ssri-
Gus obstacles to its adoption. We must sub.
due the. pride Of party and break the
bonds OF party discipline. There are
few more: obstinate passions than the
sentimental devotion which men offer to the
vague abstraction, party glory; not many
creeds, including theology, which are as des-
potic as 'splai FORM 1t will be difficult task
to bring party, yet glowing with recollec-
with anticipaIi0ns Of great future, to Yield
the head Of the column and the command Of
the field to allies who were but yesterday enc
mics. Nor Is there any strong guarantee that
these allies will not finch at the last. Party
leaders are seldom famous for high moral
coursge which can abide uushaken the stern
pressure that forbids rupture Of party ties;
to death with the President, 1t might be posi-
BILE for the Democracy to rise 10 the height,
where humiliation of partisan is lost In the
satisfaction Of patriot. But 1t s charged that
sacrifice will be In vain or worse still-it will
surrender the whole scheme OF Democratic
liberty, bare and bound, to Its enemies. I
do not so forebode the event, and can
not believe that protest against dicla-
torlal government can be weakened by Joining
with band which deserts 1t because II is hos
tile to civil liberty, and which will compel the
enemies tocorruption In Office to disbaud, be-
cause they unite with those who have sick
Eened and turned away from the sight Of cor.
ruption. Can friends Of the constitution pre-
serve or protect 1t more strenuously than by
refusing to hold up their hands, who have for
saken their own friends rather than deface 1t
further. It seems to me on the contrary that
the strength of the support which this move
ment would bring to the rescue OF the princ-
pies of Democracy would be In exact proper
tion to the severity of the blow to the pride of
the Democratic party; for these principles
must be dear indeed to men who can abandon
for them an ancient and honored name, and
not less precious to those who dare follow
them even through the scorn, contempt and
obloquy which await political treason.