Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-12

we AAFc ueSH constantly LOiu Dy Jne Olu
line Radicals that the Democratic party is
dead. That stereotyped phrase is now the
daily refrain of the new adherents to the
Grant party. The Democratic party was
party of principle, and If it be dead what has
become of its principles? Are they dead
also? One Of the fundamental doctrines of
the Democratic party was that the General
Government derives its powers from the
Constitution, and that the powers not dele
gated to the United States by the Constitu-
ton nor prohibited By it tothe States are
reserved TO the States respectively or to
the people. Is that principls dead? or
is it "a dead issue?" Another funda-
mental doctrine ef the Democratic
party was that all power is inherent in the
people and all fres governments are found
ed on their authority and instituted for
their peace, safety and happiness. Another
doctrine of the Democratic party was that
government being instituted for the COM
mon benefit, the doctrine of non-resistance
against arbitrary power and oppression is
absurd, slavish and destructive of the good
and happiness of mankind. And another
Democratic doctrine was that governments
are Instituted among men to secure to them
certain unalienable rights, among these
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness;
and, on the contrary, that governments are
not instituted TO establish monopolies, /
to benefit officials and their fami-
lies, TO impose burdens on
the tax paying many for the benefit Of the
untaxed few, to rob thousand P, ters tc
endow one Paul. The Democratic party
opposed the creed and practice of Federal
ism, or consolidation and Capitalization,
under whatever name or form, which seeks
to palsy the will of the constituent and
which eoncsiyes 10 imposture too mon
strous for the popular credulity. The
Democratic party believed that justice and
sound policy forbid the General Govern
ment TO foster one branch of industry to
the detriment Of any other, or to cherish
the interests Of one portion to the injury of
another portion Of our common country;
that every citizen and every section of the
country has a right to demand and insist
upon an equality of rights and privileges,
aud to complete and ample protection of
persons and property. Are any OF The
Democratic principles dead, or are they
''desd issues?" No. The principles live
and will live while constitutional repub ic-
an government lives. Nor are they
dead issues. There is more necessity
since Grants reelection, since his
last message, since the usurpations Of his
followers in Louisiana and Alabama than
there wa. before his reelection, and more
than there was in 1860 for the teaching,
preaching and enforcing of these political
principles.
As We have formerly stated we know
that there are those who have a personal |
prejudice or dislike to the name Democrat. |
We are fully prepared to make all proper |
allowance for such prejudice or dislike,
view it may be. We are not of those who
would utterly ignore the imperfections and |
shortcomings of human nature. The
Democratic party of Tennessee is entitled
to neither blame nor praise for its name.
When The war ended those who now act with
tie National Democracy found two great
-, - "a. si-,,r-l;-, For sba ody,o;D;e+rssoz, ~
the government: one preaching and
p, aciieing all Of the obnoxious
doctrines known under the odous
name Of RadicaIisUl. The other advocating
the constitution as the ebert by which the
ship Of Safe should be sieered and main
tanning, that the governm ent was constitu-
ted for the general good Of the whole PEG.
pie with equal rights for all and exclusive
privileges for none. Finding parties thus
defined when the war ended, all in the
South who opposed RadiczEsm naturally
took position with those who in the North
were enlisted uuder,the name Of Democ-
racy, whether they had been old Wings or
old Democrats, Union men or Confeder-
ates. Those who from carly antipathies
dsliked the name, sacrificed prejudice to
principle and stood together as a band of
brothers in defence Of a common cause.
The name is but . sym OF by which a
class msy be designated, and has nothing
OF merit or demerit in it except
so far as it is the representative
of good or bad PRINCIPLES. While the
adoption Of another name might be graft
fying 60 many who entertain lifelong pref
udices against the name, Democrat, on
the other hand the adoption Of another
name might be gTayely Objectionable to
many more who entertain lifelong affection
for the old name. None can object that
The old Democrats have been proscriptive
Of the old Wings who now act with them,
Tor many Of the most honored Of the party
are Of the old Wing faith. But whether or
not the name in the future shall be changed,
he principles must by the men who now
believe in them, be maintained, not "with
baled breath snd whispering humble1ess",
out like
Men who their duties know,
But know their rights, and knowing dare main
tain.
Party organization must be- maintained
% secure the triumph Of party principles,
nd whatever the name Of the organizs-
ion, the men who will advocate the prin-
,iples now maintained by the Democracy, {
sill be ia the main those who now consti-
ute the Democratic party. But never
mind the name. Let US keep up the fight
n favor of constitutional government and
Democratic principles, and against the ma t
iguant type OF Federalism known as Grant 5
en-. :
NTnNSTE,R NATIONAL RANK l