The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1871-12-07
4 constitutional Hnrty."

We print OH the outside of our paper
to-day two articles bearing upon the
anomalous condition of the Democratic
party at this time and its possible action
i'll reference to the next Presidential
election. One purports to set forth the
views of Governor Hoffman. of New
York; the other is from Republican
source, which advocates Grants rc-clec-
ton. Following is an extract from
letter written by the Hon. A. IL. II.
Stuart, of Virginia. Mr.. Stuart thinks
the name Democrat was the chic"
cause of the recent want of success i'm
the North, and that different result
will follow il the old cognomon is shut
fed of and constitutional Party be
substituted. lie says:
''Let us then unrurl our flag with this
name, so significant of orr patriotic
mission. inscribed upon it. Lot us ap-
peal to the good men of all sections and
parties and shades of opinion to unite
with us in rebuilding the Temple of
Liberty, and replacing therein the Ark
of the Covcnant-the Constitution of
the United States, as framed by Wash
ington. Hamilton and Madison. and cx-
pounded by Jay, Marshall and fancy.
Let us seek the cooperation ofmen lii c
SchLrz, and Trumbull.and GYa;z Brown,
and Cox of Ohio. Evarts, aud others.
who. however much they may have dit
fcred from us in the past. have shown
that when danger threatens the citadel
of freedom they are capable of rising
far above the bChcsts of party TO yield
homage TO their country.
eff the inquiry be made, how can this
be done! we answer, let some promi-
nent mcn-sav our Conservative Central
Committee at RiChmond--at once place
themselves in communication with sons
trusted friends at Washington. and in
duce them to send. far and wide, TO all
parts of the Union. Invitations 10 the
Wsest and best men of every section &c
meet in Washington city about the mid
die of January. to take counsel with
each other and with Senator and men,
bcrs, in regard to the wisest course To be
adopted in the great crisis which is so
near at hand.
"Such conference can. by no possihli-
ty, do harm. In all probability, it would
be productive of most important aud
beneficial results. Surely il is worth
the experiment.
There seems TO be no end to the Sug-
gcstions and plans designed to retrieve
the situation and to rescue the govern
mcnt from the hands of the Rcpubli-
cans, but they all appear to us to point
in the same direction. and. when boiled
down, to mean "disband the party" and
give every one a permit to 90 whore he
pleases. Having been an old line Wing
and fought under its flag as long as it
waved over national organization. our
Democracy is not of date so ancient as
to bias us much in favor of the term as
a party Specification. But we believe
the, proposition to dishand at this time
for the purpose of forming ANEW party.
or to assume what is termed the pas
sive policy" which, according to our
view, would be equivalent to disbanG-
hg, will result disastrously-will elect
the Republican nominee, whether Grant
or some one else, by an overwhelming
majority, and .ieopardiza the asconGency
of the part? in some Of the States where
it IS now dominant. Indeed, thc discus
sion of these various propositions has
already weakened party Iigatures, and,
no matter what policy may be adopted,
we expect the ma ority in this State will
be heavily reduced in the elections of
next year. The cases sometimes cited
that Of Senter in Tennessee and Graft
Brown in Missouri-are not analogous.
and the argument cducad ;herefrom is
fallacious, The issues were local in
their character, and will not be promi-
nent in the Presidential canvass outside
two or three States.
Old as we are we hope to live long
enough to see the government pass into
hands other than those which shape its
course and WELD its power to-day, but
we don't expect result so desirable to
be accomplished by the adoption of a |
policy which has self-immolation so
traced upon its features. This |
much with the utmost respect for our
contemporaries of the press and for the |
many eminent gentlemen who think |
otherwise.
Revenue Decision.
The Huntsville Democrat of one dav |