Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-07-07
1910.

SINCE the New DEPARTURES have
concluded TO conquer the enemy by
surrendering to him, and to control
the country by adopting the usurpers'
principles, the question is beginning
to be gravely asked by some, who
have not been behind the curtain
aiding to pull the wires; "Oa t0hat
issues shall loe 90 into the fghtF" We
did have an issue distinct and clear.
which ruDg out like the shrill notes Of
the trumpet" the Constitution as it
was" against the Usurpations of the
RecOnstructiOnists. This thrilled on
the patriot heart Of the country,
and on this its good men Of every
name could stand shoulder to shoul-
der against consolidation and cum
ming despotism. When Democrats
all stood for a great princi-
pie they were strong because
they were one. But when some have
stopped to a partial surrender, all be-
come demoralized, disunited and
weak. To confess the legality of anti
republican additions to the Constitu-
tion, and then undertake 20 defend
against them by preventing the mis-
chief Of their enforcement, as the New
Departure men propose to do, is like |
eXcusing instead Otrepealing bad laws, |
and setting them up for the purpose
OfavOiding them by eqUivoeation, and |
bringing all law into disgrace instead
of taking false and illegal "amend-
ments" by the beard. All Democrats
are at heart as much against the |
amendments as against enforcement
of them; and the way to Democratic
unity is to go back to Democratic
principles. he is not a true Demo
crar or a true man that wishes any
thing else.
We grant that even a
lost right, when it becomes
hopeless, and the recovery is impos-
sible, should be no longer contended
for. We think it would be stupid to
set up the secession theory on the
pro-slsvery policy to be fought for in
the next Presidential campaign. But
We think it would be a greater folly
still 10 proclaim our own infamy and
officiating disposition by scknOWI-
edging that belief in the right of Sc
cessiOn was a crime, and that abOE-
ton Of slavery, which has already
decimated the freed African race. is in
fact boon to it. The right to secede
and the right to hold slaves we
may say, without dishonor, are
gone forever, and are dead
issues, not in future to be con-
tended for. But there are no other
dead issues. All others resolve them
selves into One-a contest between the
spoils-huuters and the honest men of
the country, who demand honest ad-
ministratiOn. Opposing parties may
make new departures and play their
fantastic tricks before high heaven as
much as they please. But the coun-
try's rapidly progressing demoraliza-
ton must soon settle US down to a
combat between honest men and
rOgues, between those who desire.
above all things, honest practices in
and those who set the
spOils above all considerations of duty
or patriotism. The true issue is, at
last, that Of right against usurpa-
ton. And we do not propose
in maintaining rights, to begin by the
surrender Of any one. The great
issue now to be decided is whether the
States have any rights at all. They
sre pettifOgging who stop to mince
matters, and gain rights by throwing
rights away, when they can maintain
all or none. If secession and slavery
are lost rights, or never existed as
such, let them go. But If we have
any rights left, it is best to hunt them
up, snd defend or lose them all at
once. The mission of the Republican
party is to consolidate this Govern
ment into a despotism, with the
name and fashion Of a Republic.
And this progress is to be
if at all, by the union Of
men who have labor and money and
to devote to their country,
but no departures to make, and not a
principle 10 surrender. The new
departure men answer US they are
only playing the "wise-as-serpent"
policy, in order to gain a vantage
ground from which more easily to
obtain power. We reply that the
enemy, fully advised Of their short
sighted policy, is amply able to beat
them at the snakish game; and that
only issues and principles worth fight
ing for will rally the masses Of the
American people to the over
throw Of the diabolisms which
he camp-follOwing shOddyites and
nalignsnts have seized the bsyonet ,
10 fasten on the country at the favor.
ng moment of the close OF an ex. :
lausting war. We can successfully 6
lefend all State rights and all Demo-
ratio principles, or we can defend no
single one. The impolicy Of allowing
he enemy to tear down part Of the I
saved from war. on the
1retPxt Of gaining power to save the :
est, is ludicrOus in the extreme.