The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-03-27
The Democratic Policy.
LETTER FROM GEORGE n. PENDLEroN'

The following letter from the Hon.
George H. Pendleton, of Ohio, was
read at an 9th of January gathering
at Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, IN
response to an invitation to be present:
CINCINNATI, Dec. 30, 1871.
Messrs Eshelman, Feristone, Baughman,
Committee Of Invitation
GENrLEMEN.-I regret that cannot
accept your invitation to be present at
the next annual celebration of the 9Th
of January. 1t would have given me
great pleasure to meet and take coun-
sci of those who are 30 we'll grounded
in the faith and the pactice of Democ-
racy as the men Of Wayne county, and
with them to recall the principles and
example of the founders our party.
Two great dangers imperil free instl
tutions under the policy of the party
now in power. The spirit of centralized
military government attacks everywhere
the Constitution, and corruption IN
Office destroys the civil administration.
1 do not speak merely or chiefly OF
special defalcations, however, startling,
but of the general degradation OF the
standard of official integrity, until the
Offices in both the civil and military
service seem to be considered the prop
-erty of the party, to be dispensed and
administered primarily for party ag-
grandizement or personal profit.
The dangers grow out of and are in
separable from the present organiza-
ton of the Republican party. Its
foundation, its philosophy, it's history
and its leaders recognize military pow
er and the corruptiug use Of money by
official patronage as legimate forces in
ordinary civil administration, and now
more than ever they are brought into
active exercise.
The Democratic party confrOnts this
theory and denounces these practices.
Founded upon the idea of local gov
eminent, jealous of power granted to
authority, taught that simplicity and
economy are essential to the honesty
necessary in Republican institutions, it
maintains with more determined pur-
pose that the military must be subOr-
dinate to the civil authority, and that
offices are trust for the people, and
not spoils for the victors.
Its powerful organization enters eve
~ village in the land, and numbers
among its adherents nearly one-hali
. the people-as pure, as patriotic, q,
, unselfish, as any of their fellow citizens
They are too numerous to be coward
ly; they are too patriotic to be luke
warm; they are too sincere in thei
purposes and convictions to be driver
to dependency by ten years of rever
ses; they have shown consistency in de
feat as well as wisdom in victory.
If understand their feelings, the.
will neither disband their organization
+. nor fee 1.-THE field before the contes
] commences. Either course, they be
: lieve would yield undisputed sway t.
the present administration, which coul'
then give undivided attention to til
deserters from it's ranks. An advanC
, ing army, with the enemy either dis
persed or in flight, never loses diyis
!, ions or regiments, or even companies
" and is generally able to pick off or
J pick up treacherous or thoughtlel
- stragglers.
l. If there be, as is claimed, man
/" members Of the Republican party wi
l. disapprove the ideas which dominat
b the administration of President Gran
le and are prepared to oppose his re-e'e
I. ton, they should declare their purp
1. ses, organize their party, develop al
= manifest their strength, and if l mi
:. predict the future, they will have
- just cause, even the most sensitive al
~ timid among them, for refusing to c
CT operate with the Democratic party.
q, When its authorized convention sh
g. speak it will remind its adherents til
is the ultimate and highest purpose
be its existence is to secure the create
rs prosperity, in it's best sense, Of eve
in human being in the land; that prin
os pies Of government are true or untr'
"a as they contribute to this result; Il
~ parties and politics and offices are |
- means to this end; that principles
10 of different application, and questie
ed lose their Importance in the ever sll
rst ing changes of human affairs; and d
nd cardiDg all narrow ideas, abandon
az the consideration of all questi'
Ter which have been decided or buried
he the events which have passed; rec
~ nizing the accomplished facts of
ho present, and approaching the dang
- of the future, it will invite, both
:. words and by deeds, both by resc
tions and by nominations, the zealt
'u0 the hearty cooperation of all men '
W believe that the Constitution is be-
the system Of government than martial
un- and that reform in civil service
is higher duty than rewarding prosp
,ty. i've partisan effort by distribu,
spoils. BY this course, the part,
H.