Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-07-20
Duty or THE DEMOCRACY

its adoption NJ Baltimore ana
throws up tho cpougo without ccrc-
mony. II regards M inevitable,
what was clearly iorcshndowod from
the hour when the South spoke out
with II upilcd voice, aud Indiana re-
4pondcd TO the sentiment by put.
ting forward her most eminent
statesman, rs n local candidate in
order To emphasize tho approval.
Since then 10 doubt has existed in
our mind in regard TO the action Of
the Democratic Convention, and be-
ing bound by its decision, we have
sLrivcn To conform to II necessity
that could not be successfully re-
sisted, and TO accept II condition OF
facts for which we are in no way
responsible.
Whether the nomination of Mr..
Greeley ut Cincinnati was wise or
not, or the prompt ac4uicsccnce OF
the Democracy is consistent with
its traditions, are questions without
practical interest now, when com.
pared with the momcntous issues
that confront us and are to be de-
tcrmincd by the Presidential cleo
ton. Admit that n moro acccpta.
bic candidate might have been put
forward, and that disappointment
has cooled the zeal Of Il clas of Re-
publicans ard Democrats, and
still the situation remains I'M
changed. We arc brought back TO
the plain proposition, do the princi-
pies announced at Cincinnati fur
nish n basis Of co operation, and, if
carried out, will they relieve the
country from the existing evils and
abuses,
The Cincinnati platform subslan-
tally re-atlirms tho doctrines for
which the Democracy have contend
cd ever. since the Executive and
Legislative usurpations Of power
commenced. In that broad decla-
ration, the Liberals have advanced
to us with open hands, and we can
not refuse to greet them with Il cor
dial welcome. If those principles
be carried out to their logical con-
sequences, reform in the govern
mcnt will be insured, and with that
SUCCESS, II future of peace and gran
dcur guided by the lights of the
nj ian a.. WhiIn
perhaps, this great work might
have been perfected moro easily,
through another agency than that
which is now offered as the on y al
Tentative, if it be accomplished, the
instrument Of tho redemption will
I.Dc lost sight of, when the result
comes to be appreciated.
Mr.. Greeley has been lifelong,
positive, and aggressive opponent
of the democratic party. Not more
so than hosts Of others who might
be named, except in the superiority
of his intellect and the reach Of his
influence. Mr.. Buchanan was once
Fcdc,alist Of the deepest dye, and
was proud TO say, that if he chad
drop Of democratic blood in his
veins, he would let it out" There
are other illustrations hardly less
conspicuous, though he alone Of tho
number was fortunate enough to
prove the folly OF partisan anteco-
dents being . perpetual bar to po-
litical honors, If the democracy
deserve credit at all in this matter,
it is because they have the moral
courage to take a man, about whose
past career there is no dispute, and
whose whole life was one OF pro.
nounced antagonism, until common
dangers compelled common sympa-
tles. Result as the contest may,
the democratic party will have an
swcrcd, BY this one act, all the cal
umnies and injustice which unscru.
puIous enemies heapod upon its
good name during and since the
war. They AZ least will! be forever
buried with the dead past.
As between Grant and Greeley
we cannot conceive it possible that
any friend Of free government can
hesitate. And in this crisis, dcscr-
ton Of duty by staying away from
the polls, would be little less crimi-
nal than supporting the tyranny,
corruption, and iniquity which now
naunt their meretricious colors in
high places, and have dragged down
the character Of the country to the
low level of those who discrcdit its
highest stations. There are to be
but two candidates in the field.
Both cannot be elected. They rep
resent two antagonstic systems,
one military and the other civil.
That is the choice offered to tho
country, and sooner or later we
must all prepare to side with Grant
or Greeley, as tho exponcnts Of
these opposing ideas.
Duty requires every man to de-
eide between these systems. For
our part we cannot falter. While
tho question remained open, and
there was u remote hope of concen.
t:ating the opposition more solidly
or successfully, there was some ex-
cuse for hesitation. That time has
gone by. 1t is in vain to believe
that any third candidate can be
started now, with the least prospect
of serving the cause of reform. Any
such organization would be direct
ly or indirectly in the interest Of
Grant, and an insiduous, if not q
foul blow, ut every principle which
the opponents of his imbecile Ad.
ministration hold dear. A bolt at
Baltimore which we do not appre-
hcnd-would only have significance,
as feeble attempt to resist the will
of the party, and to give aid and
comfort to Its worst enemies.
We hope that the friends, with
whose general views we have meas
urably sympathized, without press
ing them 10 the point of injurious
reaction, will, upon reflection, agree