Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-02-17
THE PASSIVE POLICY.

Il seems to be diff1'cupt fof one to de-
fine his position, inteIligibly-a diff
fieulty growing, not out of want of
settled convictions, but out of the
real or apparent necessity of modiif-
cations of opinions, looking to- the
best interests Of the people-the pres
eyvation of the fundamental princi-
pies OF free government. We have
now, as representatives Of some Of
the diversified political opinions, the
extreme Radicals, whose leading
idea Is entralizatIon-the consolida-
ffon Of the powers Of The government
in the hands of few and n monop-
oily OF the material wealth of the
country, by the same favored few
Then we have the disatIected seceders
from the Radical party, and their
platform is the restoration of the
rights Of the States and the correc-
ton of the abuses that have grown
up, with, and out Of Radical doc
trines. In addition to these, we have
the Simon pure Democracy, which
prefers few more years Of rapidly
progressive ruin, to the overthrow Of
the Grant dynasty, by other hands
than Its own, or with the aid of any
platform of doctrines not constructed
by itself. Last in the list, come the
Conservatives, who, as the name i'm
plies, are willing TO preserve all Of
our institutions, not yet hopelessly
destroyed, by cooperation with all
similarly inclined, and upon any
terms that involve no dishonor, or no
abandonment of the vital elements
States rights, rs defined by the Con-
stitution, and honest and economical
administration of the government.
But the imm aculate wing of the
Democratic party seeing nothing
good outside the pale of its self-as-
sumed purity-charges that the Con-
servatives have III view, the disband-
mcnt of the entire Democratic party
and the total surrender of those time
honored principles upon which ty-
ranny has set its foot and the fangs
of corruption are rending in pieces.
To save them from utter destruction
by killing the monsters, as speedily
as possible, is less the point of solicit
cude, with the Simon-pure, than the
manner in which it should be done.
They forget that, whilst they are or
ganizing under the shadow Of tat
tered Constitution and arming them
selves from the magazine of Je6er-
sonian doctrines, tyranny and cor
ruption are destroying that for which
they are contending, and taking from
themselves even the power of resist
aEcc.
As to the disarmament of the Dem
ocratic party, so persistenuy set forth
rs thepurpose of the "pa ssive policy"
we need only, in refutation of the
charge, cite the cases of Tennessee
and Missouri. Did the Democrats
of this State who voted for Senter,
disband, or desert to the Radica,
camp? Did they surrender individ-
uai honor, or a single political doc
trine? Perhaps not, it may be an
swered but they endorsed what tht
Radicals had done, previous to thai
time. Yes they did endorse Ii, il
the identical sense in which a storm
swept district endorses the ravages
OF the tornado whose power it could
not resist, but whose devastations il
might repair by wise cooperation
andthc judicious application of means
to the end. The Democrats Of Ten.
ncssee did not consider it wise, oil
patriotic to bprn the wreck whilst
there was n chance to save the frame,
work; the same spirit still animate,
the Conservative elements of thai
party, and, encouraged by their sue
cess in Tennessee and Missouri, anc
believing that the same cause will
produce the same effect, under SINH.
lar circumstances, they stand ready
to try IL again, on n national scale
Could they hope for success, on a
purely Democratic platform, with an
opt and out democratic ticket, they
would be the last to counsel or accept
n compromise. But having little OF
no ground for such hope, they arr
resolved to gather up as much a'
possible Of the wreck, even If theS
have to work, side by side, with {
portion of the crew who ran the shiI
Of State upon the breakers.
We hope our position will be clearly
understood when we declare our hear
~ cooperation with this last men
toned phase of Democracy. No
will we bc frightened away from thi
position 10y being called a disorgani
ger The party and n traitor 10 il
time-honored principles which ar,
now, and ever will bo, dead unit
rcsurected by wiser means thsl
those relied upon by the Simon -pur,
representatives of those who woul,
rather perish under the total ruiz
OF the government, than see a por
ton Of the structure saved by mean
not furnished nom their magazine O
patriotic wisdom. We can see n,
practical difference between the le
struclion Of the government through
the so,e agency of Radical usurpatiol
and corlentiOn, and It's destruction