Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-04-06
Patriotism VS.. PartIsanshIp.

To cry "PartyI PartyI" in an hour
like the present is as much out of
place as was the hoarse voice of
John Hook, crying "Beefl Beef"
during the revolution. Democrats
who have spent lifetime in the
service of Democracy are asking
themselves, "Can we save the coun-
try by furling, for the hour, the
tattered banner under which we
have so long rallied ?'' That ban
ner has been to them a pillar of fire.
They have watched it, as the ad-
miring and confiding legions watch
ed the white plume of Henry of Ma
yarre. They pant with = yearning
desire to lift again the old standard,
and to hear the shouts of old COM
rades rushing upon the common
enemy. But they have learned
from history how Fabius defeated
the victorious Hannibal, by declin-
ing to risk 8 battle, and harassing
the enemy by marches, counter
marches and ambuscades. It is
time for the work of elimination
and recrimination to cease. The
Democrats who favor the Passive
Policy are not TRAITORS" and those
who denounce them and would rush
blindly upon defeat, may be brave,
but it is that kind of bravery which
prompts the sea-guls to hurl them
selves against the lighthouse upon
the sea-shore. Grant must be de-
feated. His notorious and unblush-
ing greed of gain; the corruption
that has spread through every de
partment and bureau of the govern
ment; his disgraceful nepotism; his
utter disregard of law; his usurpa-
tions and abuses of power; his con-
tempt for constitutional Restraints;
his Infamous connections with the
most scandalOus and shameful Jobs;
his utter incapacity to discharge
the few proper duties Of his Office
have alarmed patiots of all parties,
and to defeat such q man honest
Democrats are willing to strike
hands with all who will aid them.
The Democratic party, notwith-
standing the Nominations of the
party bigots, does not view the i'm
pending contest with q merely par
tisan eye. A crisis is upon us so
grave and alarming as to lift men a.
bove mere party lines, and to i'm
press them with the highest sense
of patriotic duty. 1t is no longer q
question of the distribution of pat
ronage, but of the very existence of
constitutional liberty. Patriots feel
and know that the reelection of
Grant will result in q still deeper
national humiliation and degreda-
ton and the substitution of a militia
~ despotism for free republican in
situations. In the presence of such
a danger all should rise superior to
party organization, patriotism
should obliterate partiZanship, love
of country efface prejudice and self
respect, and self-preservation dwarf
and diminish all other personal as
piratiOns. Whilst we despise the
candidate, however, we cannot be
blind To the potent influences and
the conditional means at his dis
pOsal to secure his own triumph,
and know him to be INSCRIPTIONS
enough to avail himself of every
one of them and TO strain them to
the utmost. Democrats know to
what extent he can prostitute the
army and navy to his purposes, and
the horde of office-holders already
eager TO do his bidding, whose num-
beers will be increased to a million
in the shape of deputy-marshalS
about the time of the election. In
the presence of power so vast and
reckless and danger so imminent
and serious, the Democratic party,
true to its history and its teachings,
are unwilling to incur the risk of
destroying free institutions in the
hope of party aggrandiZement.-
They are willing to make a sacrifice
upon the altar of patriotism for the
sake of that which they hold dearer
than patronage, dearer than party,
dearer even than life itself-the hon
or of their country and the perpe-
tuity of its institutions. They are
willing to join hands with every
honest and earnest man or faction
in the land to relieve US from s'the
body of this DEATH" They prefer
and will sustain any administration
that promises deeency in its sur
roundings, integrity in its pledges,
honesty in its appointments, ability
and economy in its management of
national concerns, and above all, a
strict construction and rigorous OBJ
servance of every part of the Fed
eral constitution, even though in
minor questions of political policy
they may seriously differ. The
magnitude of the danger lifts the is
sue of the struggle from the hands
of party and places it upon the peo-
pie, and in the approaching contest,
instead of party being arrayed
against party, it must be the people
arrayed against power. The object
of those Democrats who would |
adopt any policy to defeat Grant |
are actuated solely by a desire to |
rescue the Republic, to restore the |
constitution, and the rehabilitation |
of the people of the States, with the |
right and power of which centra-
lizstions is stripping them. 1t re-
quires greater sacrifice for them to |