The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-12-15

; dvratlun ui all Mhn vail themselves
Dcmocrpls.-N. Louis EtpUbl'caH
Hon. John Quincy Adams 0n the
Presidency.
II. Louis. November 29.-John
Quincy Adam, oi Massachosrlls, has
written letter wh,vn will aprear ia
the Missouri RypuhErau lo mol"w, IA
Which hr warmly ,ndon,' tbs passive
l,ohry" lor the Dcn,' crUl' IL 'h' neat
| Presidential election.
la the course at lhr l,lt,t hr SAYS ;
am sati.Ged that such a cours,
wauld be- Wise aud patriotic, and ]
should be glad 10 see the Democrats
concur in such u resolution. ] regard
the present administration az natl"n'
nj calamity. u continuance of which
should he aVeIted AT almost ANY sacr'-
6cc. not because il is Rcuuhllran in
pulillos. but because II Is mean "a
character, sorlid in tome, corrupt aud
arbitrary because. more than amy VT
have bad. il has dissPp"inied The hope'
and deadencd tie generous aspirations
If the good men of all parties 6eeaus'
il 10 doing muir 10 permanently dlsu
mite the States than the government OF
Jefitrsln Davis ever did because IT.
chief can cnncirve Of no means of free
government, but military force aud no
motive 0f puhlio BeIi"n but private
profit, -Four years mare al sach an sd
uAliou in family patronage and mar
tial law, wili 80 blunt the keen sensl-
bilitirs of popular liberty that our u
noble incubus might as well remain a
fixture.
Nov | believe the Democratic party
is a powerless one To relieve us. and
think il is without hope al carrying the
next election. have no doubt that II
any of the States lately ia rebellion
were neee.sary TO elect the Democratic
candidate, they wonld be lhFosn aai
i'm the counting. A mere majority
even il il could Ge mustered Will not
be permitted TO elect Democrat TO he
the next Pre- ident. Nothing will then
remain but civil war or submission 10
a superior, aud il is difficult to decide
which alternative would intlct the
more iFrepsFable ipluFI sl.Ea the hab;
it Of free government
To dismiss an incompetent othola'
and avoid goyernn enIal crisis the
Missouri policy offers the only reason-
able possibility. But while ] frankly
avow my partiality for the project. !
do not shut my eyes to the very srr'-
Gus obstacles to its adoption. IL m'si
suLdue the pride Of marty aud break
the bands Of party discipline.
Now, there are few mare obstinate
passions .han Ihe sentimental devotion
which men offer 10 Inal g4sc slstTaciipn
party glory-and rot many OF the
creeds Of theology are Us dcsp"tie n Il
"platrerm." Il will be difiicult task
to bring Il party yet glowing with the
recollection Of u mighty past, aud but
nGy burning in anticipation. OF Il
great futu1e. ~ siell the bend of the
| column and the command of itv Held.
,o allies. who were Yesterday enemies.
Nor is there any strong guaranty that
these allies will not finch at the !ast.
Party leaders are seldom famous for
the high moral courage which can
abide unshaken under the stern pres
sure that fnrhids the rupture "f party
| ties. Bnt if they dare ling down the
yuantlet for a duel TO The death with
the President. IL might be pussible for
the Democracy to rise 10 the height
where humiliation OF the partisan is
lost in the satisfaction of the patriot
But, il is charged. that the sacrifice
will be To win, or worse, will be Ia sur
runder the whole scheme of Democrat
ic ljberiy anl Le hopnl TO ils epemies.
! do not so forgu The event. ! cannot
believe that the protest against a die
tatorial government can I've weakened
hy gaining n band which deserts il.
because il is hostile TO civil liberty.
Will the enemies of cnrruptiuu in oi-
fee disband, because they unite with
lhase who haye sirken,l and turned
sway from The. sight of corTpPiion {:
Can fri hds of the Constitution pre-.
serve and protect it more strenuousiy
by refusing TO hold up The r hands.
A ho have forsaken their own lrieuds,
rniher than deiace il iuihFry
il seems TO me. on tbs contrary, thai
the strength of ihe supporI, which
this movement wonld bring TO the res
cue Of the principles of Democracy.
would be in exact proportion to the So
verify of the blow The pride of the
DempcrsIic party for there principles
must he dear, ipdeed, Sho cap aban.
don for them. an HnciegI and honorcd
name. aud not less precious TO those
who dare TO follow them. oven through
the scorn, cOnie.hpt aud obloquy,
which await political treason.