Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-24
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
Shall the Democracy Disband.


To the Editors Of the Union and American:
Some persons, editors of newspapers and
their correspondents, and others, volunteer
advisers of the people as to what should be
done in the present condition of public af-
fairs, to insure the defeat of the present
ruling party in power, the Radical Repub-
licans, manifest much zeal and intense in
terest in the consummatiOn Of the grand
object which they have espoused.
They seem to think, that, to accomplish
then object, it is absolutely indispensable
prerequisite, that the Democratic party, the
only party under whose auspices the govern
ment of the United States has ever been sue
cessfully administered, should be disorgan-
lied, disbanded and totally abolished, and
that a new party composed of the good and
patriotic and honest men Of both of the
present parties, be organized to contest for
the administration Of the general govern
ment with the Grant party. These advisers
50 far as l have observed are the fossils of
once powerful but now defunct party,
whose early prejudices and hatred Of the
Democratic party, its principles and men are
as strong and deep seated, as they were
when the party of which they were members,
was in the full power and might auayed
against the Democratic party, hence they can
not unite with the Democratic party under
that old and to many cherished party name,
to effect the great good, the defeat of the
Grant party which they profess to have so
much at heart, but want new party with
a new name.
One of these advisers and would be ben
efacters says; "Nhere shall we look for help?
To the Democracy? / think not for the
following reasons: parties are like men,
they have their birth, childhood, manhood,
old age. The Democratic party has passed
through three of these states. 1t is now in
the fourth stage. 1t can't help ITSELF much
less any one else" Another says at is a
dead party. 1t has served its ends, and
accomplished its mission in our history, for
good or for evil. But it appears that it is
not to be let die" 1t is not dead and / de-
voutly trust never viii be let die. Its mis-
sion is not yet accomplished and never will
be, while the liberties and rights of man
remain to be protected and free governments
defined and limited by written constitutions
endure to be defended. Still Others, who
desire the humiliation of the Democratic
party, addressing the people of Tennessee,
say corruption prospers, while public viz
tue decays! Two crest parties are rivaling
each other in their struggle for the ascen-
dency. Each is extreme in its principles
and preiudices, and hence, neither is capable
of restoring public tranquility. Both are
striving for power, and when obtained,
neither has shown itself disposed to WELD
it iudiciously or cODstitutiOnally. The his
tory of neither entities it to the public con-
fidence or support" Thus these would be
advisers think and write of the two great
existing parties of the country, the Radical
and The Democratic. While they are laying
around home, or standing out in the cold,
refusing to unite and identify themselves
with the Democratic party, but seeking
house of refuge and home in the bosom of
a new party, with new name to be formed
anu COZ sundateu out of materials now con-
stituting parts of these two old and corrupt
parties.
They are the advocates of the so-called
passive policy, inaugllrated by certain 'lib-
eral Republicans" Now if these men can
not consistently, with their prejudices, unite
with the Democratic party, and in good
faith become part and parcel Of us, the De-
mocracy, in the name of all that is good
and patriotic let them unite and identify
themselves with the liberal Republican
movement, and with them strive and labor
In season and out of season, to deliver as
from the expressions under which we are
groaning. Let them attend the Liberal Re-