Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-02-03
The Democratic Policy
LETTER FROM Hon. GEpnaE ii. PEN
DLETON.

DLETON.
"Tho following letter from lior
! George II. Pendlcton, of Ohio, wa
read at an eighth of January gath
cring, on Monday evening, at Woo'
ter, Wayne county, Ohio, in re
sponsc to an inyitation to be pres
ent: ..
ClycINNATI, Dcccmbcr 80, 1871.
Mersrs. Eshelman, Fcrlstone, Bauch
man, Committee of Invitation:
Gep,lcmcn regret that | can
not aceeP. your invitution TO b.
present VI the next annual cofcbra
ton of the Sth of Janwary. 1t woult
have given mo great pleasure t.
mcet and take counsel of those wh'
are so well grounded in the faitl
and tho pratice Of Democracy N
tho men of Wayne comfy, Sad witt
them 10 recall the principles ant
oSample of tho founders of ou'
party.
Two great daagcrs imporil frc'
institutions ander the policy of tho
party now in power. The spirit o
centralized military government,
attacks everywhere tha Constitu
tion. and corruption in office dc.
stroys the civil administration.
do not speak merely or chiefly o'
special dcfalration, however start
ling, but of the general degradation
of the standard of nfhcial integrity
until tho offices in both civil and
military service seam to be consid
cred the property Of tho party, to
be dispensed and administered pri-
marily for party ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
or personal profit.
The dangers grow out of and arc
inscpaablc from the pl esent organ,
ization of the Republican party.
It's foundation, its philosophy, it's
history and its leaders recognize
military power and the corrupting
use of money by official patronage
as Legitimate forces in ordinary
civil administration, and now moro
than ever they are brought into
active exercise.
This Democratic party confronts
this theory and dcnounces these
practices, Founded upon the idea
of local government. jealous ofpow-
er granted to authority taught that
simplicity and economy are essen
tial to the honesty necessary in ro-
publican Institutions, it maintains
with more determined purpose that
the military must be subordinate
to the civil authority, and that of.
fees are trusts for ,he people, and
not spoil- for the victoas.
Its powerful organization enters
every village in the land, and mum.
bers among its adherAnts nearly
ono-halfthc pcoplo-as pure, as pa-
triotic, as unselish, as any of thcir
They are too nu-
to be cowardly; they arc
too patriotic to he lukewarm; they
arc too sincere in their purposes
and convictions to be driven to dcS-
by ten years ofraverses ;
they have shown constancy in de-
feat as well rs wisdom in victory.
If | understand their feelings,
they VIII neither disband their or
yanization nor flee the ficiG before
tho contest commences. Either
course, they believe would yield un-
disputed sway to the present ad,
ninistration, which could then give
undivided attention to the desert
,rs from its ranks. An advancing
.rmy, with the enemy either dis
oersed or in fight, never loses d.
iisions or regiments, or even com
oanics, and is generally able to- pick
,ff or to pick UP trcachcrous and
houghlless siragglers.
If there be, as is claimcd, many
of the Republican party
who disapprove the IDEAS which
dominate the administration of
President Grant, and arc prepared
o oppose his re election, they should
leclare their purposes, organize
heir party, develop and manifest
heir strength, and, if | may pre-
lict the future, they will have no
ust cause, even the most sensitive
md tim!d among them, for refus.
ng to 90 operate with the Demo
ratio party.
When its authorized convention
hall speak it will remind its adher-
'pts that the ultimate and highest
purpose of its existence is to secure
he greatest prosperity, in its best
ense. Of every haman being in tho
and, that principles of govern
nent arc truo or untrue, as they
to this result; that par
les and politics and offices a:c
means to this. end that principles
ire OF different application, and
questions lose their imr ortance in
he cvcrshifting changes of human
Iilalrs and discarding all narrow
deas, abandoning the consideration
# all questions which have been de-
ided or buried by the events which
lavc passed; recognizing the &C
'ompllshed facts of the present, and |
Ippreciating the dangers of the
uture, it will invite, both by words
md deeds, both by resolutions and
" nominations, the jealous, hearty !
cooperation fall men who believe
hat the Constitution is a better
ystem of government than mar
ial law. and that reform in the civil /
ervice is higher duty than re
varding prospective partisan effort |
y distributing spoils. By this
curse the party, 1 should hope, !
you'd attain success. lift should |
nee moro fail, as an honest, faith
ul, patriotic minority, it will hold
N important positioH and exert an |
immense moral power over the ma
Drity; and it may well wait with
lith the inevitable houi which will |
ro.rp i.s Gaafstv a.,1 ,.........- i'll