Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-01-16
The Policy of the Democratic Party


following letter, in reply to committee of
Democrats of Wooster. Ohio, who invited;h
to attend their celebration of the anniversary
ofsthe battle of New Orleans. His. points
against the corruption of the Administration
aud its centralized military character, as also
his opinion of the passive policy and of the.
duty ofthe dissatisfied Republicans to organize
.an opposition against Graut in cooperation
with the Democrats, will be received with
the attention they deserve:
CIsc1NNArI, December 80, 1871.
-Nessrs. Esheime". Feristonc, Bamyhn,an,
Committee Of Lncitation
GENTLEMEN-lr egretthat cannot accept
your Invitation to be present at the next an-
nual celebration of the Sth of January. 1t
would have given me great pleasure t. meet
aud take, counsel of those who are SO well
grounded III the faith aud the practice Of De-
mocracy AS the men of Wayne county, and
witt, them TO recall the principles aud exam-
pie of the founders uf our party.
Two great dangers imperil free institutions
under the policy of the party now in power
'fiieFspirit of centralized military government
attacks every where the Constitution and cor
rupt'on in efice dest roys the civil ADMINISTERS
ton Idouotspea merely or chiefly of spe-
cial deialcations however startling, but of the
general degradation of the standard ot official
Integrity until the Offices in both the civil
and military service seem to be considered the
property OF the party, to be dispensed and
administered primarily tor party aggraudize>
men, or personal profit.
These dangers. grow out ofand are insepar-
able the present organization OF the Re-
publican party. Its foundation, its philoso-
ply, Its history, aud its leaders recognize mil
ltary power aud the corruhting use of money
by official patronage legitimate forces in
ordinary civil administration, aud now more
than ever are they brought INTO active exer-
else. 'Yhe Democratic pa,ty conironts. TINS
theory aud deuounces these practices.
Founded upon theidea of local government
jealous oil powers. graHted to authority. taught
ti'nt simplicity aud economy are essential to
the honesty necessary IN RepubEicun insti
tat "ns, 1t maintains with ,lnvre determined
purpose that the military. must be subnrdina,e
L" the civil authority. and that offices are u
rust Tor the pe"pie, net sp"Iis Tor the Wet rs.
It's powerful organization enters every vii
!aSc IN tie land, aud numbers among its ad.
iiereit, nearly one-hali the penp!e-as intel
iettnai, as pure, US patr,t'c, rs unseif>h as
nny "I their ieilUw>c zcns. They are too
numerous to be c"waruiy. They are too pa, ,
tr'utIc to be lukewarm. They are too sincere
III Their purposes aud CONVICTIONS t., be driven
4" desp"udency by ten years oil reverses.-
They have shown c"ustaucy i'll defeat as we'll
a> mlsd"m in victory. If understand their
feelings they will neither di>band their or
San'z ton nor fee the field beiure the contest
c"inn'euces. Either c"ur-e, they believe,
"""td give undisputed sway to the present.
Administration, which could then give uud,.
nj "A,
ranks.
A" advancing army, with the enemy either
dispersed or III tIghI, never loses divisions ur
re.''neuts, or even cu,upan'e<, and is geuer>
ally able 10 pick of or 10 pick up treacherous
or thuughtless strug.lers.
Ii there be, as ,s claimed, many members OF
'heskepuhi'can party who dlsapprove the ideas
wh,ch dominate the administration OF Press
|ent Grant. aud are prepared to oppose his re
election, they should declare their purposes,
"rsauzc their party, develop and manifest
their strength, and il may predict the flu
turc, they Sll have no just cause, even the
must sensitive and t'mld among Them for re-
iu>inS to 'co>upcrhts with the Democratic
party. When It's authorized convention shall
speak It will remind Its auherents that the vi
un'"te aud highest purpose OF it's existence is
to secure the greatest prosperity, it, best
principles uf government are true or untrue,
as they mir'bnie t. this result that pa, es
and politics and Offices are but. means t, thu,
enn; thnt principles are of different appilca
ton. and questions lose their Importance in
the ever-shIiting changes of human affairs,
aud discardlng all narrow ideas, abandoning
tie consideration of ali questions which have
been decided OF buried by the evcists which
have passed recognizing the accomplished
iacts OF the present. aud apprecidt uy;the dan
gers al the future. 1t will invite, bttl, by words
aud 10y deeds, both by resolutions aud b,
nominations. the Jealous hearty cooperation
OF all men who believe that the Constitution
rs better systsm OF g"vernment than martial
law, and that reform III the civil service is
higher duty than rewarding prospective par
''San effort by distributing spolls.
By this course the party, l should hope,
w"utd attain success. III it should once more
Tail as an honest, iuIthfu patrlutic minority,
II will hold an imp"rtant position aud exert
an immense mora! power over the uluj nrity !;
and it may well wait with faith. the inevitable
hour which wil crown t., fidelity aud patience
with The success which II will have deserved
ATTN, very respectfully, your obedient SER
want, GEORGE H. PENDLEroS.
Gy- The Baltimore Gazette of yesterday,
says that very large crowd was in attend
ance upon the trial of Mrs Wharton, at AN
nap"lis, on Saturday, aud the interest asits end
n"w appears = he approaching, is manifesty
increasing. The counsel for the defeuce hav-
ing announced that their case was closed,
DIR Il n. Smith, of Baltimore, called
tor the State. lie SAID that curebr0 spinal
meningitis had MT prevailed IN that city as an
epidemic the put year; tn.t in his opinio,
General *. t:hum died from nunu.tlral c,u.
se~; ais" not tr'u the disease in question !;
lint Nellnw irS>nnliur cl Lral and ciil.rntnrn.