The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-07-19
M i s g eIIaYae us
Eloquent Letter from Hon. VIM. p
. Preston.


. Preston.
TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE UNION.
At the present time no man who feels an
interest in the prosperity and glory of his
country is justified in retaining from Civ
ing an expression of his opinions, especial
ly if his opportunities have been such as
to enable him to form q fair estimate of
what would be likely to contribute to the
common welfare. The frank dissemina-
ton of the views of honest and rejecting
men gave rise to the revolution which sep
arated the American colonies from Eng
land, and created upon this continent an
asylum for the oppressed of all nations.
Believing this, and profoundly conscious OF
the responsibility incurred, do not hest
tate to meet the criticism which may be
passed upon the remarks am about to
make.
For more than forty years have been de-
voted, faithfully and earnestly, to the main
tenance and circulation of the principles
and doctrines of the Democratic party. In
the presence of thousands of my fellow cit
liens in my own State and elsewhere,
have discussed orally, or with my pen, the
leading issues which have arisen and
upon which have turned the elections and
administrations of Jackson, Van Buren,
Harrison, Polk, Taylor, Pierce, Buchanan
Lincoln and Grant. l have never solicited
or accepted appointment to any office, mol
do l desire one; but, governed solely by
what believed to lie for the best interest
of the whole country, have at all times
worshipped at the Democratic altar and
shall to the end of my life. Democracy
have always considered as antagonism tc
centralization-the many as contra distin,
guished from the few-the men who were
devoted to their country, and not few
smart fellows who sought to make fortunes
out of it hence it mattered very little
whether man called himself Wing OF
a Democrat. Ifhe was capable of embrac
ing in his thoughts and actions the gooG
of his whole country, he was to me Dem
ocrat; if not, merely "a thing of shred!
and patches"
Under the circumstances, and with thu
advantages which age, experience and re
Election may fairly be supposed to give,
hope l may, without presumption, ask o
the Democratic party n calm and careful
consideration of suggestions deferentially
and respectfully made by one of its oldes
members.
Within few days past different gentle
men, for whose patriotism and good inten
tions l have the highest respect, have hello
conversation with me, the object of which
was to convince me that the Democratic
party ought, upon principle, to nominate
Democratic Presidential candidate.
listened to these gentleman with careful
attention, and gave to their reasoning thu
most serious reflection. They failed, how
ever, to persuade me. On the contrary
the more have thought Of the matter thu
more thoroughly am l convinced that the
salvation and safety of republican govern
ment in this country depend upon frank
and hearty indorsation of the platform ant
nomination made at Cincinnati During
the conversation referred to, my friends
called my attention to the views of Steph
ems and Toombs, of Georgia; Voorhees,, o
Indiana, and Wise, of Virginia. Great
names l acknowledge. intellectual
suns but, unfortunately, like the grea
centre of the universe, not exempt from thu
specks and shadows which are now
and then observable upon the disc of thu
glorious orb of day.
IL HcIucntiy huPPcho 1h'u laoultlo'
of acknowledged ability-indeed, of thu
very highest order of intellect-are obfus
Gated and darkened by the exhalations o
prejudice and Prepossession, or changes
wrought by the unobserved lapse of time
1t is the weakness of great minds to cling
with undying tepacity to preconceivec
opinions. Like one who has stood will
safety upon the verge of an overhangins
cliff, and would fain take his stand there
again, but who, unmindful that time hal
fretted the substructure away, they fully
discover their mistake when the whole
mass gives way and precipitates them head
long into the abyss below. Messrs. Steph
ems, Toombs, Voorhees, and Wise were cor
rect when they logically argued from pre-
misses which then existed. Then they
might with safety be followed; but these
premises exist no longer. The pulse tina
moved them is still forever. Their place il
filled by other and living issues. One ofthest
is the Cincinnati platform, to which these
gentlemen object. desire to briefly com
ment upon this platform, and therefore pre-
sent short synopsis Of it. Let us see if il
contains anything to which any citizen o
the republic, not an adherent of the present
administration. and csDecially a Democrat