Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-05-02
MEMPHIS APPEAL
THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 9, 1879.


WRESTLING TO kEEP ar THEsB
COURAGE
The o~niec-holdprs and the oiiice-seek-
ers are quailing beforeth movemeutso Of
the people, rs developed at Cincinnati.
As the tide of enthusiasm rises higher,
the Radicals commence whistling and
beating their gongs TO inspire their
friends with courage. All the Radical
editors have resorted to figures for the
purpose Of showing the %inyinciblity Of
the Radical party and the certainty Of
Grants election. These figures cannot
inspire courage or chill the enthusiasm
of the people. Grants triumph in 1868
is no evidence OF his present strength,
for in 1852 the following nine States gave
their votes to franklin Pierce, every one
o (which voted for john c. Fremont fonr
years later, namely: Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New
York, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa and Wis
consin. With the exceptions Of the last
two, these States had been among the
strongholds Of the Democratic party
from the time of Jackson onward. But
in the famous campaign of 1856 they
went in a body to the newly organized
Republican party. To what was this
revolution due? Was the Democratic
party Of those nine States split in two in
the middle? By no means. The great
change sprang from the fact that a class
of Democrats, comparatively small, but
highly influential and thoroughly in
earnest, abandoned their old associates
and, on the living issues Of the time,
Joined hands with their ancient Oppon-
ents, for the plain reason that those
who think alike on political questions
ought to act together. In pursuance of
the same line of policy, and through the
same kind Of influences, the revolution
of 1856 was carried a step further in the
Presidential contest of 1850. "From the
era of jackson onward no States had
been more invariably Democratic than
New jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana and
Illinois. They had withstOOd the fierce
assaults Of the Fremonters Of 1856, and
given their electoral votes to Buchanan.
But because of the going over to the Re
publicans of a not very numerous body
of Democrats in each of those States,
their electoral votes were all given 70
Lincoln in 1850, excepting that in New
jersey Douglas got three out Of the seven.
The facts to which we are referring
have no application to the old slave
holding States, for the obvious reason
that in 1856 and 1850 there was not the
semblance Of a Republican party in
scarcely one of them. Times have
changed since then, and the lessons
taught by the events Of 1856 and 1860
can now be applied to the whole Union.
In the campaigns Of those years Ham
lin, Banks, Wadsworth, FOrney, Chase,
DOolittle, Logan, and other Democratic
leaders left their party, and whole tiers
Of Democratic States swung from their
m~oorings. The objects they then aimed
TO secure having been since engrafted
J.
upon the Constitution, we now find Sum
ner, Greeley, Curtin, Cox Trumbull, Pal
mer Brown, and a host of others, who
have given power and prestige to the
Republican party, making ready Ocarry
owe whole tiers Of Republican States to
the support Of the nominee of a Nation
al Convention which viii not be packed
with officeholders, nor register the de-
crees, nor minister to the ambition of
the occupant Of the White House
In the reflected light of the events
Of 1856 and 1850, viii not the followers
Of Grant turn their eyes toward the
presence chamber at Washington, and
read the writing on the wallg' /
Throughout the whole great West, the
people, without distinction of party, are
rising to put down the corruption and
imbeciIity of the administration. The
movement which culminatinated in the
holding Of the Cincinnati Convention,
now in session, is more than a mere re-
volt-it is a revolution. The great DEM
Ocratlc party VIII us thTee ihilIoh
votes, has welcomed it with the most
generous expressions Of sympathy, be-
cause It's professed object is pure govern
ment, and a real restoration Of the
Union. 1t has not hesitatsd To avOw
itself ready TO do everything that is
consistent with selfrespect to assist in
the most important work for which an
entire people could forget their political
differences. Such ~magnanimity is with
cut a parallel in politics, though it is no
more than the natural impulse of true
patriotism. Upon the wise, calm, lib
ersl and firm action Of the Cincinnati
Convention viii depend the Interior ac-
ton Of the Democracy and the future Of
the now imperiled Union and its gov
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