Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-04-13
THE SITUATION.

Az the time fer the Cincinnati Con
yeutim draws nearer, the liberal Re
publican movement gains strength, in
the North, whilst the croakings of 81
mon pure Democrats in the South,
grow louder and more dlscordant.--
Some of the journals, of that party
even go so far as to say that, in the
event, the Democratic Convention en-
dorses the nominee nj Cincinnati,
Grant viii gain more democratic votes
than he will lose BY the Radical split.
If this is patriotism, we have never
known the meaning of the word
Suppose the Democrats Of Tennessee
had voted in this spirit, for Bill
Stokes instead of the Conservative
Senter, what would have been the con
dtion Of Tennessee at this time? But
the rabid partizan never learns from
experience and would rather see the
country ruined, than saved by any
combination which is,not purely demo-
cratic. This distinctive feature which
characterized the selfrighteous Dem
ocrats, before the war, is cropping out
from amidst the ruins of constitutional
liberty, and as he looks out upon the
scene of desolation, mentally resolves
that the ruin shall never be repaired
except by the hands, and under the
immediate auspicies, Of indebted De-
mocracy.
The old Wing party, did not, at the
close of the war, surrender its glori-
Gus memories--its comprehensive views
of free government and its measures,
for the preservation of our constitu-
tional rights, nor abandon the organi-
aation headed by Clay and Webster
for the inglorolss privilege of co-ope-
rating with selfish partizans whose
patriotism is bounded by the circum-
scribed limits Of their own self-idola-
try. Impelled by the spirit of an en-
larged patriotism, the members of that
great party promptly acted with any
and all who protested to desire the
resurrection of the South from the
ruins of predatory invasion. This
union of varied elements, was Il mere
Mixture-not compound resulting
from the attraction of affinity-and as
mixture, its component elements re-
tain their distinctive properties, and
may be as readily separated as they
were mixed We desire no such sep
aration-the South cannot sustain two
parties and hope to recover its lost
rights. But if the shining lights Of
Democracy prefer Grant and centrali-
zation to n conservative Republican
with chance for constitutional lib
crty based upon State rights-or if, in
other words, they prefer ruin to a vic
tory not won in their name, let them
follow the bent Of their inclinations
The old Wings will never become vii.
ling political scrts and will bend THEN
necks to the yoke only when the last
battle has been fought that promises
chance for liberty.
We cannot believe, however, tina
they who intimate preference fol
Grant, in the absence of a Democrat,
nominee, mean anything worse than
an idle threat, in order to secure sucl
nomination. But if they mean wha
they say, we bid them adieu, with tn,
reminder that, a. the Wings helped t,
Danish the dcmoniac spirit Of Brown
howism from our State government, $,
will they strive to crush the dcspot
ism of Grant, by voting for any MAJ
able to beat him, with the combine,
aid'of those who prefer patriotism t,
party-libcrty to corrupt and opprcs
sivc tyranny.