Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-05-11
CINCINNATI CONVENTION.

the ticket ii has nominated. thousands
will say they are not the men they
would have chosen under different
circumstances, because of their long
association with radical fanatics their
patient liberation Of islurpation and
foul corruption, lras not prepared them
to comprehend the broad principles of
constitutional liberty and public jus
tice which, in common with their late
associates, they were active in subor-
dinating to party interest and vindict-
i've hatred of the South. This feeling
and thisrcasoning is to be expected, be-
cause they arc natural az we'll as Just,
but this is not the time for their in.
dulgenee. The present crisis demands
the sacrifice of all minor considcra-
tons on the altar of patriotism. The
question for immediate consideration,
Is not the restoration of the Govern
ment, by sudden revolution to its orig
nal purity, but the preservation of as
many of its valued elements as may
serve for ultimate reconstruction after
its original model.
And since the Liberal Republicans,
disguised with Radical iniquity and
repentant of their share in the work
of overthrowing the Constitution and
demoralizing private and public vir-
tue, have practically, severed the ties
of party and propose to meet the Dem
ocrats half way, the overture should
be accepted and coalition formed adj
equate to the defeat of the imperial
party and its stupid and corrupt head.
1t will require years of wise and pa
tiont effort to repair the ravagcs of
hwless aggression upon the fabric of
popular government, and years of such
efforts will not suffice unless begin
ming be made whilst there is yet hope
Of success under the inspiring inhu-
cnce of reviving patriotism. There
are those in the South who would well
come ruin unless it can be averted on
t'Icir own terms-it must be demo-
cratic victory, or central despotism
controlled by foul combination of
usurping thieves.
We have never been Democrat, in
the party sense of the term, and, as n
sort of outsider, can perhaps, take a
more dispassionate view of the com
plications which embarrass the move
made at Cincinnati, than one preju-
diced by close atfiliation with either
party. The Democrats, no doubt, be-
licvc it to be as much the duty of the
Republicans to come over to them as
1t is their duty to go over to the Re-
publicans. The Republicans say,
however, that they will not follow a
Democratic leader under any circum-
stances. To account for this decided
antipathy, it is necessary to take a
retrospect of Democratic history, so
far as ii bears directly upon the pres
ent unfortunate condition of the whole
country.
Whilst no one denies that the Abo-
lition egg was Matched by New Eng
land, it is equally true that the unwisc
policy of the Democratic party was
instrumental in rearing the monster
until it acquired strength sufficient to
defy law and Constitution and to sat
uratc the soil of the South with the
blood of countless martyrs to the lost
cause Abolition was for years, be-
fore the war, the chief political CAPT
tai of the Democratic party. Every
Wing North or South, who aspired to
office, was branded as an abolitionist
and pursued with bitterness of de-
nuaciation that knew no bounds Of
justice or moderation. This persist
Ent persecution, leaving no hope of
preterment even to the most gifted,
increased the vindictiveness against
slavery until the most conservative
opponents Of Democracy took shelter
in the abolition housekeeping TO find
means for the destruction of the un-
dying element of sectional discord. -
1t is equally matter of history, that
the split in the Charleston Conven-
ton, whether so intended or not, led
to Liacoln'5 election and the subsc-
quent bloody civil war.
Such is the northern view of the di-
rect agency of the Democratic party
in bringing ahou. the disasters that
have bctallen the country, and SO ear
nest is the conviction that the blame
attaches to that party, that the Re
publicans forgetting their own guilt,
remember only the hatred of Dcmoc-
rlcy cnccndorcd by the war There is
enough of truth, in the mutual crimi
nation aud rccriminaton, 10 make
both parties modest in their demands
npon public confidence, and to suggest
mutual admissions of error and mu-
tual concessions for the correction of
abuses that have resulted from such
errors. The contest now, should be,
not which party can indulge the hit
tcrcst hostility, but which is capable
of the greatest magnanimity aud the
most exalted patriotism in the com
mon effort TO restore peace 10 u dis
,r,cied country and liberty To its polit.