Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-30
THE DEMOCRACY.
Endorsement by IShu Quincy Adams of thf
passive" Policy.
Hon George n. Parker, Of IoWa, PrOCIaims
the Death Of the Party.

ST. LOUIS, November 29-John Quincy
Adams, Of Massachusetts, has written a
letter, which will appear in the Missouri
/ Republican tomorrow, in which he
warmly indorses the so-called "psssive
policy" for Democrats in the next pr ST.
| Dental election. In course of the letter,
| he says: 81 am satisfied that such a course
/ would be wise and patriotic, and should
/ be glad to see the Democracy concur in
such resolution. 1 regard the present ad-
ministration as a national calamity, q
continuance of which should be sverted at
almost any sacrifice; not because it
is republican in politics, but be-
cause IL is mean in character, sOr-
| did in lone, ignorant, corrupt and
arbitrary; because, more than any
we have had, it has disappointed the
hopes and deadened the generous sspira-
tions of good men of all parties; because
1t is doing more to permanently disunite
the States than the government of Jeffer-
son Dsvis ever did; because its chief can
conceive of no means OF free government
but military force, and no motive of pub
lie action but private profit. Four years
more OF such an education n family pa
Gr0nsge, and martial law Will so blunt the
kssn sensibilities of popular liberty that
our own ignoble incubus might as well
remain a fixture.
Now 1 deny that the Democratic party
is poweriess, alone, to relieve us. think
It is without E1pe of carrying the next
election. I have no doubt that If the votes
of any Of the States lately in rebellion
were necessary to elect the Democratic
candidate, they would be thrown out in
counting. A mere majority, even If IL
could bs mustered, will not be permitted
to elect Democrat to be the next presi-
dent. Nothing will then remain but civil
war, or submission to q usurper; and it is
difficult TO decide which alternative would
inhict the more irrepsrable injury upon
the habit of tree governmsnt-tO dismiss
an incompetent official, or avoid general
governmental crisis.
THE Missouri policy offers the only
reasonable possibility which Is offered,
but while 1 frankly svow my psrtislity
for the project. sm not blind to che yery
serious obstacles to its adoption. l. must
subdue the pride of party and break the
bonds CT party discipline. Now there are
few more obstinate passions than the sen,
tiD1entsl devotion which men offer to that
vague abstraction, party glory; and not
many Of the creeds of theology are as
despotic rs platform
"1t viii be difficult task to bring party
yet glowing with the recollection of a
mighty past, aud but now burning with
antielpstions of great future, to yield
the head Of the column and tho command
Of the field to allies, who were yesterday
sntee that these allies will not finch at
the last. Party leaders srs seldom famous
Tor the high moral courage which can
abide unshaken the stern pressure that
forbids the rupture OF party ties. But If
they dare ding down the gauntlet for a
duel to the death with the president, it
might be possible for the Democracy to
rise to the height where the humiliation
of the partisan is lost in the satisfaction of
the patriot.
But 1t is charged that the sacrifice will
be In vain, or worse, that il will surren-
der the whole scheme of Democratic lib
erty bare and bound TO It's enemies, do
not 30 forbode the event. I cannot be-
lieve that the protest against g dictatorisl
government can be weakened by joining
q band which deserts 1t because 1t is hos
tile TO civil liberty. viii the enemies of
corruption In Off1oe disbaDd because they
unite with those who have sicksned and |
turned away from the sight of oorrup- |
lonr Can friends of the constitution |
preserve and protect 1t more strsnu- |
Ously by refusing to hold up their |
hands with those who have forsaken |
their own friends rather than deface itF |
Further, It seems to me, on the contrary. |
That the strength of the support which |
this movement could bring TO the rescue |
Of the principles of Dem acrRcy would be /
in exact proportion to the severity of the |
blow TO the pride of the Democratic par |
", for these principles must be dear, in
deed TO nea who can abandon for them /
an ancient and hOnOred name, and not |
isss precious to those w1o dare follow /
them even through the Scorn, contempt |
and ohloquy which aWaits political trea-
son."
OBITUARY OF THE PARTY.
CHIoAso.. November 2e. - The Hon.
George b. Srker, g lesding Democrat of i
Davenport, - va, has addressed the fol-
lowing lettefS7 the Chicago Times, and /
which appesred,y5 that Journal this morn
ing:
DAVENPORT, Iowa, NovemberH.
"Hsving faithfully served as member
Of the Democratic organization for over
{ tWenty years, and still having the fullest
confidence in the cardinal principles of |
that party, l am impelled TO declare my
conviction that the orgsnt5e-twn has out
lived Its usefulness, snd tIfs HIS the duty
OF Democrats TO openly sokfi8 en- sdge that
the Democratic party Is dead. All sfforts
AZ departure or ID gslvani89 IL into life
have proven failure. The prestige of its
general policy, or rather the lao Of policy
during the war, will cling to /. and pre-
vent success, no matter how much we
may become purified by change of heart.
The result OF the recent elections are sufi-
cient proof Of this fact. We Can organ
iRS by forming some integral part |
Of the new party and probably Tesurrsct
our principles, but the body must be
buried and the stencil Of its pntrid re-
mains removed from the public no.trils.
The present is the proper emergency to
test the patriotism Of the members of the
Democratic party, If we love our country
better than We do our party. Abandon
the organization and unite with patriots,
1isregarding political anteoedents and we
may reasonably hope for change of sd
In 1872, that will protect and
guarantee equal rights to all sections of
our common country. Centralized power
viii vanish; the war viii soon be forgot
ten and our country will again be peace
ful, prosperous and hsppy.
rliUnad tfGE0 II DARKHRU