Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-05-02
THE RESPONSIBILITY.
Important Editorial from the
Cincinnati Enquirer--The
Liberal Convention and
the Democracy.
What the Country Expects and
viii be Satisfied with---U npar-
alleled Self-AbnegatiOn
Ofthe Democracy.

CINCINNATI, May 1.-The following
leader in to-day's Enquirer is the sub
ject of considerable discussion, becauseit
is regarded as significant of the position
of the Democratic party-managers
toward the Convention:
"TheC Convention which meets in this
city to-day has laid at its door a fearful
responsibility. The eyes of the whole
country are directed to its deliberations
as to those of no similar body that has
assembled in America for many years.
In numbers, in talent and enthusiasm
the Convention is a success. 1t remains
to be seer whether it unites with these
qualities prudence, patriotism and wis
dom. We are at a marked epoch in our
national affairs; we have reached a
milestone in our political pro-
gress, where an ambitious military
President has perverted the government
| of our fathers and made it simply a per-
sOnaI despotism. He has no idea of the
limitations of the constitution. He
has disdained to defer TO them and has
absorbed within himself all the co-Ordi-
nate functions of the government;
threatening at moment the Judi
ciary, and at another the Congress, I'M
til both are but too ready to bow to his
fat and minister TO his pleasure. Hav-
ing thoroughly corrupted with office
jobs and employments the organization
of the Republican party, its convention
meets within a month at Philadelphia
to register an edict of the President
and impose him once more as a
candidate on the people. Such
is the national outlook which
this convention is called to confront. 1t
is a gathering of the members of the Re
publican party who are not prepared to
submit to another four years of usurpa-
ton, corruption, nepOtism and tyranny;
who believe that free institutions on
this continent are endangered and are
here to present to the country candidates
and a platform in the interest of good
government and of national reform.
The Democratic party f~oreseeing this
revolt in the Republican organization
has wisely postponed its efforts toward
the redemption of the country, commit
ting the initiative in the matter to the
dissatisfied portion of the Republican
party. In this it has exhibited only its
traditional patriotism believing it I'M
safe alone to take the risk at such a
time of rescuing the country
from its threatening perils. It
has retired to the background with
its three million of voters, and accepts
as its leaders and color bea rers its
former opponents but present allies. 1t
asks nothing and expects nothing but
good government and national reform.
1t goes further, and assumes for the time
to sound a truce on its theories of adj
m~inistratiOn, in order to preservere-
publican institutions in America. In this
it exhibits itself to be what it has ever
been, the party of the constitution and
the people. No act of ~self-abnegation
like it has ever occurred before. 1t suf-
fers its sun to become temporarily
eclipsed in the interest of public liberty;
it dictates no candidates and prescribes
NJ platform, and is content to take as
standard bearers men which the gather
ing to-day viii present, feeling that
none other but wise and patriotic selec-
tons a be made by such a body