Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-03-02
APPEAL
SATURDAY EORNINs. : HARCE 2. Is72
WnaT woULp u an

WHAT WOULD VI GAIAf
The Chicago 7iaesis the great DEM
ocratie organ Of the West. During
the war 1t denounced usurpaHon and
pleaded for the constitution, and on
that account suffered the sorest perse-
lions from that fanaticism which the
msd passions of war had engendered.
The devotion OF the ZEnses to the con-
s~iitutionaI Democracy has been tried
by fire. A paper that dared TO de
nounce the usurpstions Of despots In
time OF war deserves respect In the
hour Of peace. Like al true pahiots,
the Times is now considering the best
means by which to preserve the eoun-
try. A correspondent propOunds TO
the Times the following question:
Suppose. tbat the Democratic party
should make no nominations In the sp-
proaching political contest, out give "
sunport 20 the nominations Of the Liberal
RanubIfcsus: and suppose, for the 4 OF
mustrstion. that the result should be the
eIoction Of David Davis TO the presidency
Tobn NJ Palmer 20 the Governors chair
in Illinois, and Lyman Trumbul TO q
United States senate, b DosiLd Ve have
gained oy ~
The reply Of the Times to this ques-
ton Is so triumphant-it shows SO
e~onclusively what would be gained
by a defeat Of Grant that we rePub-
Iish it. Says the Times: "Before an
intelligent reply can be given to such
a question, it is necessary to ask what
persons are included In the term
'we?' Hby We are meant certain
persons styling themselves Democrats
who wish to be elected to the offices
named, the answer must be that we
would probably not gain anything by
II. II I'VE are meant q somewhat
greater number of persons, who, re-
garding themselves IS q kind Of au-
thoritative directory Of the oFganiza-
ton called the Democratic party, pre-
sumo to say that the object for which
that organization exists is to distrib-
ute and award the public offices 70
mel of its own particular choice, still
the answer must be that we would
probably not gain anything by 1t. Or
Il, in a still wider sense, the political
instrument in its totality be included
in the term fwe,' still it can
not be g that the instrument
would gain anything. Buff bysve'
is +, be understood, not the instru-
ment but that portion Of the Ameri-
can people for the achievement Of
whose public purposes the instrument
was made, then the answer must be
that we should gain 8 great deal;
all, in fact, that the friends Of civil
rights and Democratic principles-the
opponents of GENERALIZATION and mill
tsry government-can hope to gain
in the approaching contest. Would
the exchange of a West Point presi-
dent, limited in his understanding,
and guided in ali his policies by the
maxims of 8 camp martinez, for a
civilian and statesman Of the breadth
and capacity Of David Davis, benoth-
ing gained? Would the exchange of
the military system Of government
for g system based on the maxim
that the constitution is the su-
preme law Of the land for rulers
well as for people, be nothing
gained? Would the return to the
chief magistrscy Of Illinois OF a citizen
who stands pre-eminent before the
people as the defender Of
civil government against the lawless
encrOachments Of q military dynasty,
be nothing gained? Nay, even the
Of Lyman Trumbull to the
Federal senate, rather than an llibe-
raj protectionist like 0glesby, or a
caucus servftor like EB. Washburne-I
would that be nothing gained for free
and enlightened government upon
Of civil liberty and Demo-
cratic right? Is ii imagined that
in such q result Democratic prin-
could be lost? How would
the result supposed be achieved?
Would it not be mainly, or
at least in the greater part, by
the votes Of Democrats? Suppose that
three millions Of Democratic voters
add their votes to one million Of
Liberal Republican ~yoters-is there
danger that the three. fourths would
be swallowed up by the one-fourthS
e there danger that the greater would
be included in the less? Is there the
slightest reason to fear that an admin
Istrstion owing its existence to such
! combination Of popular elements
ignore the sincere public pur.
poses Of the major quantity, and direct
Is policies with an exclusive regard
% the wishes Of the MINOR quantity?
. there be any persons who enter
ain an idea 81 absurd, surely their
knowledge Of human nature and Of
he nature Of causes by which
governmental policies are shaped Is
extremely limited. II, then, the
imposed result would be the
rain by the liberal sentiment Of this
ountry Of the essential objects which
II Iibersl-minded citizens desire, and,
furthermore, Of the fundamental OBJ
ects for the achievement Of which
srge body Of citizens have made to
an instrument called the
)emocutic party ian instrument It
must be confessed, which has not
Jroven In use q means entirely sde-
uate to the end), and If there be q
easonaDle hope Of achieving that re-
ult by the employment Of q new In
t~rumentality, and q moral certainty
failing to achieve 1t by adhering to
different fundamentally, would It
e the part Of wisdom to change the
means or 70 sacrifice the end?n |,
CHICOT.
The county court Of Chleot paid 500,
be cost Of the funeral Of the negro
Vim, and has recently imposed a tax /
100000 10 behalf Of railroad !