Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-02-01
APPEAL
JOURNAL OF THE CITY.
THURSDAY MORNING, /: FEB 1, 1872.
PRoGREss OF THE REFORM MOVE
HRKT

PROGREss OF THE REFORM HOVE
HERTs
There must be some degree OF force
or revelation Of danger to the Grant
dynasty in the so-called Postum or
Passive policy Of the Missouri Demo-
Gratis and Republicans. The New
York Herald ridicUles il, and the Mis-
souri, Democrat, day after day, in
weighs against it with unparalleled
bitterness. This same Reform, Pos
sum, Passive movement pervades In
diana. The Republicans of that State
viii be convened at an early day.
The deliberations Of this body VIII
involve the discussion Of this Mis-
souri, platform. In fact the New York
Tribune says that the chief import
ance Of this convention is due TO the
fact that sweeping changes are to be
pressed on the ldpolitical machinery,
and the Reform element demands
thorough work and effective measures
against those men in the party who
have, by dishonest practices, brought
reproach to the Republican organiza-
ton in the State. A dozen rings are
to be broken, and new and pure men
brought to the front.
The Nashville Union and american,
which has hitherto contemplated with
suspicion, if not with hostility, the
scheme Of the Psssivists-thOse DEM
Ocrats that propose to make a choice
of evils by supporting a conservative
Republican in order to defeat Grant
even the Union and american ap-
proves the Liberal movement. 1t
says: "Let the Liberals go on with
their organization, hold their national
convention, nominate their ticket,
and 20 to work to elect it, not by
warning on the Democracy, but by at
lacking the Grant party-its corruP-
tiOns and usurpations. In this lies
their only hope Of success" Very
certainly there is no hope Of success
entertained by the Liberals that is not
based upon the proposed cooperation
of the Democratic party. 1t is said,
on the contrary, that it is wholly in
siderable that the Democracy, with
all its great power and indestruc-
tible resources, should lose its
identity, and surrender its claim
to a monopoly Of the spoils In
order to seduce from Grants support a
half million or more sOreheads. 1t 1t
surely a good scheme for the sore
heads, and though bad for Democratic
~place-seekers is better than the re-elec-
ton Of Grant. The trouble consists
in the fact that the people demand
reform in the administration Of pub
lie affairs, local and Federal. With
the multitude this is the great end to
be STAINED; the leaders and wOuld-be
leaders have not such brilliant pros
poets as the taxpayers, and therefore
the Passive or Reform movement pro-
crosses by its own inherent forces,
while politicians at Washington are
silent. il this Republican convention
In Indiana concur in the Missouri
movement, o. if the Reformers in In
diana have sufficient strength to
give encouragement to the Pas
sivists, there will follow a pO-
liticians' movement at Washing
ton and a multitude of party leaders,
now prudently silent, will overlap
all barriers OF party lines and re-
straints and suddenly become blazing
transparencies in the Psssivist pro-
cession that moves towards the White
House. We have a wise governor
and q Just and equal administration Of
the laws. Whites and blacks are at
peace, and equal political rights are
enjoyed by the whole people. There
is, therefore, little disposition in Ten
nessee to abandon the party or its
organization, which has given US
perfect freedom, peace end unpre-
cedented prosperity. Here the
Democratic organization may be
maintained intact and there is no
need for an alliance with honest men
who would separate themselves from
the federal plunderers. Everywhere
In the South, Claytons, WarmOths
and SCOTS and nameless unknown
thieves,-a mighty multitude-riOt in
wealth stolen romimpOverished com.
munities. The ~exigencies Of their con-
dition demand at our hands the sdop-
ton of any reasonable policy that
will assure their liberation. The
difficulty at Washington consists in
the fact that no congressman, having
a sure hold ON his own district, &c
parties are now organized, is willing to
cooperate in s movement which can
avail him nothing as a congressman,
and which, if successful, may not give
him additional potency in the distri-
button Of places among his friends.
Therefore the hardness with which
Washington moves. These are the
plain facts affecting this proposed re-
organization Of parties The South
has everything to gain and nothing
to lose by any political revolution,
and we are therefore content to await
developments and accept any sugges-
ton or approve any fusion Of parties
that viii surely relieve us Of the auto
crazy of villsiny.