American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-05-04
" Mastery Inactivity

For the benefit and encourage
ment OF the lukewarm and faint
hearted those who are too prone
to yield tn doubt and unbeliet, and
who would fain believe that the
National Democratic party is in the
last throes of political dissolution,
We copy the following paragraph
from a recent letter of the Courier
Journals special correspondent at
Washington
"a distinguished Republican said
to me to-day: For the first time in
twelve years, your party is acting
with good sense. There is mischief
in its silence And this is one of
the most sagaciOus of the Radicals.
Yet not our friends, then, grow i'm
.,atient at the delay of the Demo
cratic Committee calling the Nation
al Convention. There is wisdom,
success in this mastery inactivity
The debates in the Senate, the dis
sensions in the Radical party other
wise, tend to its disintegratiOn, and
to strengthen our cause. The
Democratic Convention Will be held
in good time, they will make their
nominations, and no observing man,
with the light of passing events,
will doubt its success"
We fully concur with the writer.
The Democratic party is far from
being in a state of decline; it is
still strong, vigorous, powerful. and
if it's friends will not shamefully
abandon its standard, that power
will be seen and felt in the coming
contest. We are not of the doubt
ing class, nor do we believe that
the party has lost its energy and
vitality. We have Infinitely more
to fear from the inactiOu of our own
friends, than we have from the zeal
and watchfulness of the bOldest
and most defiant of our enemies /;
and if the party will unite its entire
strength. and present an undivided
front in the approaching Presiden-
tial conflict. the Radical forces will
oppose 1t in vain, ard a glorious
victory crown our efforts. The only
hope of our country rests upon the
triumph of Democratic principles,
and it becomes the duty of every
patriot, and every friend of freedom
and of right, to rally to their sup
port. Cast your eyes over this
vast confederation of States, and
what do You see indicative OF
national prosperity and happiness
Look at this once proud Republic,
tOttering on the verge Of anarchy,
its very life recedIng in the gloom
of a total eclipse, with the twilight
shadows of the future settling upon
its close, and say, is there nothing
to be done in order to rescue ii
from Radical thraldOm! Are there
not conservative and redeemlng in
fuences enough left in the land OF
Washington to cast off the yoke OF
despOtic rule? This we must do, il
we expect to enjoy those rights and
privileges guaranteed to us by the
Constitution, and which belongs tt
us as inhabitants of free and en-
ligbtened country. The party
against which we arc battling looks
to but one end, the usurpation o.
all the powers of government, botl
Federal and State. All offices o.
trust, power and emolnmeut mus
be held by them, and welded alone
for their own ignOble and selfisi
purposes Instead of aiming at {
goal where sit enthrOned i'm majestic
and royal splendor the personifiet
attributes of genuine honor ant
true renOwn, they descend to tn,
lowest depths of political depravitr
and would be willing to offer NJ
their country on the altar of /;
heIlish ambition. In the reckless
Oess OF such principles and conduct
that "eternal vigilance which Ii
the price Of liberty" will be forever
relinquished, and our country, soon
er or later, wake up under the fangs
of relentless despotism. To tn,
possession and Practice of sucl
principles and passions we can trace
with unerring certainty, the down
fall of the proudest nations of earth
and theirs will be our doom, if we
as a people, continue to neglect the
true spirit and policy of our Re
publicanism, for they constitute the
only basis upon which can be erect
cd the solid and enduring edifice oil
national happiness and renown.
The triumph of Democratic pin
cip!es can alone secure to us and t.
our posterity the blessings of peac,
and unity, and deliver our country
now and forever, from Radical mis-
rule and oppression. We have al
abiding faith in the success of on
cause, and see no ground for des
pOndency on the part of our friends
Let all the doubling ThJmases o
the party discard their infiIelitN