Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-05-07

TUESDAY MORNING, NAY Z, 1879.
A NATIONAL DEMoCRATIC CONVEN-

49,
for higgling ~partizanship. If a mans
wife were stolen by the savage Indians,
instead Of chaffering about the number
of blankets asked for their ansem. he
would say, "take all 1 have, but give
me back my treasurere," The Radicals
have stolen the liberties of the peo-
pie, and are plundering the taxpayers
of their hard earnings. They have en-
dangered the permancy of our institu-
tions. Another term of eentraliz-
ing progress, of Congressional and
Executive usurpations, of rigor-
Gus semi-military laws, Of dictation
to the Supreme Court, of the control of
political conventions by official machin-
cry, of interference in State elections,
of martial law, of debauched public
morals, and Of almost universal profit
gscy and corruption in the government,
would destroy the last remnant of the
Constitution and precipitate the cOun-
try into the vortex Of anarchy and
revolution. In such an hour Democrats
should be guided by a lofty patriotism.
IL they are powerless for saving the
country, instead Of higgling about join
ing Others battling against the common
enemy, let them rush into the contest
and say TO their comrades: "Give Us
back our liberties, let Us first preserve
the constitution and the Institutions Of
our fathers, and then We will talk
about party and spoils." In the pres
ent contest for the Presidency, if
the Democratic party, in National
Convention assembled indOrse Greeley
and Brown, they are crushed with the
odium of Secession, Copper-head, Anti
Wal Democracy. On the other hand,
if a National Democratic Convention be
held, and a candidate nominated for
the Presidency, Grants election is Sc
cured beyond doubt, for such action
would chagrin and demOralize the Lib
eral Republicans, and they would dis
band and vote for Grant, whose election
they would regard as an evil preferable
[. the triumph Of Democracy. The Lib
eral Republicans will not come to the
support Of the Democracy; the o II
tain Of Democracy must then 90 to the
stubborn Mahomet of Liberal Republic
canism. The South should not hesitate
for a moment 10 make the sacrifice, as
we are the greatest sufferers by Radical
rule aud viii be the greater gaiRers by.
the defeat of Radicalism.
In June 1863, Stokes and Senter an
nounced themselves as candidates for
Governor in Tennessee. Both supported
Grant, and were regarded as bitter Re-
p~ublicans. But Senter raised the ban
ner Of peace, restoration, and enfran-
chisement. Every Democrat in the
State rallied to his support, voted for
him cordially, proudly, and with heart
felt gratitude. If a Democrat in Ten
nessee had proposed to hold a Demo
cratic State Convention for the purpose
Of nominating a Democratic candidate
for Governor he would have been Kissed
into silence by his party friends,
who would at once have said, +" we can
not elect a Democrat but We can secure
peace and enfranchisement through
Senter's election" This same policy
in Virginia and Missouri succeeded
in abOlishing acknowledgements, restOr-
ing a fraternal feeling, reviving popular
interest in public affairs, securing fair
representation in Congress, ~mau9urating
amnesty, and substituting the peaceful
operation Of the written laws for the
harsh methods Of military nominations.
These, il is true, were not Democratic
partisan victories, but they We're Radical
partisan defeats. They were not accom-
plished by the Democratic organization,
but they were triumphs for Democratic
principles. The result in these States
fully ~vindicated both Democrats and Lib
eral Republicans, for the era OF good feel
ing has been established. No States are
o more tranquil-nOne more prosper
GUS. The same policy that made these
movements successful in Tennessee,
Virginia and Missouri, will make
a national contest, governed by the
same policy, successful, for thousands Of
Liberal Republicans Throughout the
Union would gladly welcome an oppOr-
tunity to revoke the present tendencies
Of the administration if this could be
done without aiding to elevate the De
mocracy, whom they have 50 long OPP
posed.
Entertaing these views, we snail OPP
pose the holding Of a National Demo-
cratic Convention. This course will
probably incur for Us the st~ereotyped
4" treason" But the same policy J
in theSenter canvas was not regarded
a. treachery, and We consideri it as a high
evidence Of patriotism in the present
struggle, and shall, therefore, plead with
party friends not to hold a conven-
Its nominee cannot be elected.
The Democratic party is not powerful !
enough to enter the field as the sole
champion Of reform, or to risk the fail
ure Of its own existence in an abortive at
to deliver an oppressed people and
TO perpctuate a constitutional govern ,
ment. The Democratic party, whose last
national success was barely won six
teen years ago, cannot survive another
defeat. The victorious party construing I,
its triumph into a general Endorsement
Of its policy, would make itself more {
iespotic still, pretending to have the J
warrant Of the popular win. It would :
impose further restrictions upon popular Z
discussion and action, prescribe the Il
methods in which alone il viii consent y
10 be opposed, enact sedition laws, and !
.subiugate the people. The constitution +
would fall, and the Democratic party v
would be destroyed forever. II a Ma l
tiOnal Democratic Convention fail TO !
nominate a candidate, and should un- \
to maintain its national %organi- d
.atiOn by indOrsing the platform and a
lominees Of the Cincinnati Convention. y
[ will thus load Greeley and Brown 4
with all the Odium of Secession Copper r
lead-K war Democracy. II a
Democrat cannot be elected, and III
ireeley is stronger without the indorse- y
nent ofa National Democratic ConYen- 2
ion than with II, then why hold a con !
at all2 The withdrawal Of the /
Democracy from this anv wiz re-
move from discussion the threadbare Q
ssues Of the past, and at once a lively I
controversy will spring up, and the adj q
ninistration win be put on the defen- a
i've. But nominate a Democrat for the c
Presidency, and the country would at y
nee be told that IL the Democrats =