The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1872-01-06
The Passive policy.

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lumbus Dispatch and Hickman Courier,
because of our advocacy of what is
known as the Passive Policy, and at
tempts to give us a party reprimand over
the shoulders of Judge Grassland and
the Democratic members of Congress,
who it says condemn the policy. So far
as Judge Grassland is concerned, we are
authorized to believe that the use of his
name in the Kentucktan's article is
wholly gratuitous upon the part of that
journal, aud his name ought not TO have
been used in the attempted criticism.
That Judge Grassland does not favor the
policy, and that majority of the Demo
cratic members Of Congress DO not favor
it, the readers of the Courier were in
formed weeks in advance of the Keatuck
iaas article; but as the COURIER does
not pin its faith to Judge Grassland, nor
TO any other man however worthy, we
continued to argue the policy in these
columns, because we looked to it as the
only possible chance for the defeat Of
Radicalism in 1872. As journal it
might be more to our interest TO fatter
popular favor BY following in the wake
Of men in high position, but.humble as
we are, we prefer to maintain our indie
pendent convictions, and argue questions
which we believe to be right without the
fear Of punishment or the hope of re
ward.
The consciousness of being RIGHT
wards of the blows Of the party whip
by whomsoever administered. The Pas
sive policy eontemplates no forfeiture Of
priuciple-no desertion of party, but in
truth only points out path for the more
certain success Of those principles. The
Passive policy only contemplates the
holding Of the Democratic party in
allegiance during the Presidential strug
gle, in order to effect a concentration and
consolidation of all the Liberal elements
Of the land, old Wings, Democrats, /
Americans and Conservative Republi-
cans, for 4 united effort to defeat Radical
ism Whether this concentration can
be best effected under the Democratic
banner, or under the great banner Of
Reform, such as has cleaned out the
great Metropolis of New York, is alone
the point at issue Every impulse Of
our heart would shout for the old Dem
ocratie flag if the contest could be fought
successfully under It's protection, but we
cannot ignore or deny the continued de-
feats which have attended that noble old
party for the past ten years. The cleo
tions of last fall, when the great State of
New York With her sc electoral votes
deserted the Democratic column aud
went over to the enemy, when Pennsyl
yania and Ohio increased their MAORI
ties against US, shrouded our hopes in
the darkness of death. These elections
staggered the grand old Democratic par
ty from Maine to Louisiana, and aroused
the liberal elements of the land to the con
sideration of some plan or policy by
which Radicalism could be defeated and
the country saved from despotism.
Hence, the discussion of the Passive
policy, which promised concentration
of all the liberal elements, such as had
been successfully effected IN Missouri,
Tennessee aud Virginia Under these
circumstances the COURIER argued the
policy, favorably, without fear or favor,
as choice of evils, preserving our IN
dying adhesion to the Democratic party
and Democratic principles, allowing the
utmost liberalily to those Of our party
journals who might disagree with Us.
Those excessively cautious and prudent
journals. who are so closely narrowed in
by party dieta, as to withhold honest
convictions upon live questions when
they arise, are sometimes fortunate in
the smiles of approving princes" but
excite no envy from US. Neither can
we understand the philosophy Of . party
journal, which seeks to advance its par.
ty by fings at the party fealty of other
Journals, or to assume for itself alone
the virtue of fidelity.
We are honestly persuaded that what
is known as the Passive policy, If ac.
cepted and acted upon by the liberal /
elements of the country, as it was in |
Tennessee, Virginia and Missouri, would
more certainly bring Us victory; buff
the wisdom of the party decides differ
ently, let every man to his post and to
duty, and let us make such a fight as was
never known in the political history of
America. We cannot figure up success,
except through tremendous revolution
of public sentiment, and therefore we
are not sanguine; but We honor those
who are The time has passed, if it was
ever admissible, when Democratic jour
nails should be on the alert to attach
some faint of suspicion to co working
journals, and as the great Presidential
struggle approaches, we trust it viii
cease. Let every Democrat put in his
"best ticks" for the race of this year
Especially do we desire to see the Ken
tachiaa stretched out to its utmost COM
pass, and if it outstrips us all combined, |
we should only rejoice in the good it
accomplishes, and proudly follow its
gaudy plume wherever it faunts the air.
In former years we often heard of per
sous naming their children after our
presidants Int ne hara unt - baar ofl