The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-12-14
The Passive Policy.
LETTER FROM JOHN QUINCY ADAMS WARMLY
APPROVING IT.

The Hon. John Quincy Adams, of Massa-
chusetts, has written letter, which appears in
the St. Louis (Mo.) Republican, The letter
warmly approves the so-called passive policy
of the Democrats in the next Presidential
election. In the course of the letter, Mr.. Adams
says:
I am satisfied such course will be wise and
patriotic, and should be glad to see the Democ-
racy concur in such resolution. regard the
present administration as national calamity,
and its continuance should be averted at any
sacrifice, not because, Republican in politics,
but because it is mean in character, sordld In
tone, and Ignorant corrupt and arbitrary; be-
cause more than any administration we have
had, it has disappointed the hopes and dead
ened the generous aspirations of the good men
of all parties because it is doing more to per-
manently disunite the States than the govern
ment of jefferson Davis ever did; because its
chief ,eonceiyes there is no means for a free
government but military force; no public ac-
ton but private profit. Four years more OF
such education, family patronage, and martial
law will so blunt the keen sensibilities of pop.
ular liberty that our ignoble incubus might we'll
remain a fixture.
Now, 1 believe the Democratic party to be
powerless alone to relieve us, and think it Is
without hope of carrying the next election.
No doubt if the votes of any States lately in
rebellion were necessary to eecta Democratic
candidate, they would be thrown out in the
counting. A mere majority, even could it be
mustered, would not be permitted to elect
Democrat for next President. Nothing then
remains but civil war or submission to the
usurper, and it is difficult to decide which al
tentative will in1ict the more irrcparable injury
upon the habit of free government. To dismiss
an incompetent official and avoid a government
al crisis, the Missouri policy offers the only
reasonable possibility which has-been present.
ed; but while l frankly avow q partiality for
the object, l do not blink the very serious OBJ
stacles to its adoption. We must subdue the
pride of party and break the bonds of party
discipline. There are few more obstinate pas
sions than the sentimental devotion which men
offer to the vague abstraction, party glory; not
many creeds, including theology, which are as
despotic as platform"
It will be a difficult task to bring party,
yet glowing with recollections of mighty past,
and but now burning with anticipation of a
great future, to yield the head of the column
and the command of the field to allies who
were but yesterday enemies. Nor is there any
strong guaranty that these allies will not finch
at the last Party leaders are seldom famous
for high moral courage which can abide un-
shaken the stern pressure that forbids rup-
tdre of party ties; but if they dare fling down
the gauntlet duel to death with the President,
it might be possible for the Democracy to rise
to the height, where humiliation of partisan
is lost in the satisfaction of q patriot. But it
is 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
cannot believe that a protest against a dictate
rial government can be weakened by joining
with band which deserts it because it is hos
tile to civil liberty, and which will compel the
enemies to corruption in office disband, be-
cause they unite with those who have sickened
and turned away from the sight of corruption.
Can friends of the Constitution preserve or
protect it more strenuously than by refusing to
hold up their hands, who have forsaken their
own friends rather than deface it further. 1t
seems to me, on the contrary, that the strength
of the support which this movement would
bring to the rescue of the principles of Democ-
racy would be in exact proportion to the Sc
verify of the blow to the pride of the Democrat
ic party; for these principles must be dear in
deed to men who can abandon for them an
ancient and honored name, and not less pre-
cious to those who dare follow them, even
through thescorn, contempt and obliquy which
awaits political treason.