Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-07-13
THE APPEALS MOTTO DEMOCRA-
CIV FOR GREELEY AND BROWN

II 80 =
CT FOR GREELEY AND BROWN
Tennessee Democracy survived the
support it gave Senter. Many thought
it would die of the extraordinary act.
Nothing of the sort happened. Senter
accepted in part the Democratic creed,
which proposed to enfranehise al en-
shaved people, and Democracy preferred
Senter to BrownlOw. Even Senter's
election and service through two years
failed in Tennessee to effect the dissOiu-
ton Of the Democratic party. By a
similar cooperation of men representing
Republicanism and Democracy Gratz
Brown was made Governor Of Missouri,
and even yet his Democratic adherents
maintain their partisan distinetiveness.
Free trade, local independence, the
freedom Of States, hostility to the exer-
else of doubtful powers by the central
authority, are propositions which still
distinguish Democrats from Republic
cans, and make the parties indestructi-
bic. These are questions that do not
die, and while they live there viii be
parties evolved by American politics.
Even if the term Democrat be stricken
from partisan nomenclature, there are
questions affecting the very structure Of
government which must p~erpetuate dis
tinctions among political thinkers, and
those advocating the broadest local and
individual freedom may be known for
ever as Democrats. The name, how
ever, signifies nothing if the creed be
maintained, save that when we aban-
don the designation that wisdom and
freedom in government Of which
it is significant are forgotten,
and many people regard rather
the shadow than the substance.
There is a'reasOn in the very nature
of things, that does not apply to De-
mocracy, why the Radical party should
be dissolved. The negro is free, and the
fact is of record on the face of the coun-
try's history and organic law. Republi-
canism won rapid triumphs. Its mis-
sion is achieved; its task accomplish
ed. 1t now lives only through sec
tionalism and at the cost Of the eoun-
try's repose and prosperity. 1t has
wrought good and infinite evil, and now
whatever may be said ofits past achieve
ments, its existence is an unmixed ca
lamity. Why does not our contempt
rary evince the same anxiety for its
dissolution and for the extinction Of its
name as for the humiliation of the
Democratic party? The predictions of
certain Southern papers and politicians,
surely lead them in an extraordinary d.
rection when they go about the business,
like st. Patrick, Of exterminating evils.
Why this desperate anxiety to put an
end to Democracy? Is this the reptile
first to be killed? Let US rather make
war upon Curry and Lewis and repre-
~sentatives of Radicalism, and let De-
raocracy live or die. Whatever it's past
sins, it's identity and integrity, at least
here in Memphis and in this district,
are indispensable to the maintenance OF
civilized government. If Curry must be
Sheriff and Lewis Congressman, and
this city and county turned over to the
tender mercies of Radicalism, then it
were wise TO anticipate a possible fact,
for which there is no present rea-
or necessity, that the Democratic
party is extinct. If the name be abhOr-
rent, and its confession Of faith APP
proved, the difficulty may, perhaps, be
compromised; but the distinctive creed
OF the Democratic party will never die.
Greeley is quite as impOtent as was Sen
ter or Graft Brown to effect its dissolu-
ton, and if the name be not approved,
our neighbors may ~rebaptize it, never
forgetting that it is the same to-day,
Yesterday and forever. As to ourselves,
a fixed system Of political opin-
ions, properly described by the term De-
mocracy, we will employ the word in
defining partisan ties and associations
until a better is devised. |,