The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1872-05-18
Fusion Of the Democrats and Liberal Re.
publicans.
EXTRACT FROM a LETTER WRITTEN
BY COL. JOHN FORSYTH.

IN
BY COL. JOHN FORSYTH.
We find in the Mobile Register a
letter from Col. Jno. Forsyth, editor
of that paper and the Alabama men,
Der Of the National Democratic Com
mittee, from which letter we extract
as follows concerning the nomination
of Horace Greeley:
AS a Democrat, the nomination
pleases me for two reasons; first,
it leaves the Democracy perfectly free
in its action in conventions; and next,
no other nomination could more surely
drive home the wedge to rive the Re
publican party in twain. OF the three
parties, the Democratic is now numer-
ically the strongest, and as between
Cincinnati and Philadelphia we control
the destinies of both. Cincinnati has
placed the Democracy under no obliga-
tions-not the slightest. Indeed it has
treated the party with open disdain,
and acted as if there were none but Re
Publicans in the country. l think it
did more in the nomination of the
most pronounced enemy of the Demo-
cratic party. When asked if the Dem
ocrats would support him, Mr.. Greeley
said that the Democracy did strange
things, and often, before any one eX-
pected, they done, but he had never
heard Democrats accused of stupidity.
Hence he argued he would get their
support. 1t struck me that the best in
depreciation of this speech was, that in
asmuch as the Democrats had never
done stupid thing yet, and as the
longest lane had its turn, it was about
time that it should commit stupidity
and vote for him, ut Il moment when
its first brilliant opportunity is opened
to it for the last ten years. If our great
party has not lost its courage through
the demoralizing processes of depart
ures, passivisms, and prurient appetite
for compromising, l think we have q
field on which Il victory of principle
may be won. Greeley will be certain
to kill Grant in several strong Republi-
can States. If our people have the
backbone, he can hurt us in no Demo-
cratic State. The Grant men are
alarmed and may take him down at
Philadelphia. But do not see how
the two wings can re-unitc. Like all
civil wars and domestic feuds the quar-
rel is deep, bitter and to the knife. But
suppose they should heal the schism,
after our Convention had endorsed
Greeley? Have you thought of the
figure the Democracy would cut: A
curtailcd appendage to re-unite the Re
publicans. The Democracy must put
on its thinking cap, and fortunately it
has two months time. Its position is
full Of responsibility to itself and to the
country. If patriotism demands sacri-
fee, I am proud to feel that it is capa-
BILE Of making it. But let no sacrifices
be made to timidity, nor to love of
ease and present relief, if the welfare
of the country demands courage, risks,
and some solid fighting. While the
Greeley and Brown platform is a great
Improvement on that personal one on
which Grant has conducted his admin
istration, the country needs a code of
craftsmanship struck on higher key
than that bodied forth at Cincinnati.
should be willing in the coming bat
tie to say nothing about the new
amendments, because they are not
practically in issue in Il Presidential
election. We must bidc the fullness
of time for any amelioration in that
quarter. But certainlya party that
acknowledges Jefferson and Madison
and the fathers as their high priests to
teach the true faith, ought not to be
called upon to admit that any admin
istration may by force and fraud tack
amendments to the Constitution, and
not only go UNPUBLISHED, but shall be
able to boast that their nefrarious work
has been accepted as done by the square
and the rule of the fundamental law
of the Government. When such adj
missions are made, and such precedents
are established and acquiesccd in, there
is no security to liberty, and no future
guarantee to the inviolability of the
Constitution. While, therefore, I am
panied to see many Democratic papers,
and some leaders of whom ! should
have expected better things, ready to
fall into unopened arms of Cincinnati
Republicans, my own conscience and
pride force me to protest against Il
surrender of three millions Of Demo-
Gratis, and the great cause which they
support, to q hopelessly divided enc
my. awe must fight repeat it, sir
we mnst fight" We are just in the
situation in which Patrick Henry ut
tered these thrilling words. Greeley
says we have fooled away three Presi-
dental electiOns-which simply means
that we have three times been faithful
to our creed The present is the worst