Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-05-10
1T CAN BE so, BUT WILL IT.

1t as Its OPINION, that the democratic
party will again come into power and
rule as long as it did before the war.
Those acquainted with the uncompro-
missing Radicalism of the Times will
be inclined to see, in its prophecy,
rather an encouragement to the party
selfishness of the Bourbons, than hold
ing outthe hope to the country, of the
overthrow of its present corrupt ru-
lers. Believing that the voting strength |
of the opposition is ample to overthrow
Radicalism, We yet see as little pros
pect for such revolution, as for un-
ion Of that opposition-divided team
not conquer; united, the victory will
not be purely Democratic triumph,
and here lies the rub.
Before the war, it was charged, and
with no little semblance of truth, that
the Democratic policy was to rule or
ruin, and it is no culpable exaggertion
to say that it did both. Having learned
no wisdom from adversely, its first act,
On lifting it head partially, above the
ruin it had wrought. was to proclaim to
the people-thou shalt have no other
Gods, but me land, substituting De-
mocracy for the Cross, to inscribe upon
Its banner. In hoe signo vinces For
getting, in the hour of fancied resurrec-
ton, that the glorious old Wing party
was buried under the same common
ruin, it promptly ignored the former
existence of that party ibut kindly init
mating toitsscattered flock you may yet
be saved ifyou will fall down and wor-
ship Democracy The Wings, true to
their preference for country before par
ty, made no effort to impose their name,
or creed upon the gathering elements
of opposition, but, instead, declared
their readiness to enlist under any BAN
ner that bore the Constitution upon its
folds, with the proclaimed object ofits
bearers, the restoration of peace and
the preservation of the broken frag-
ments ola once free government. To
do this, they-the Whigs-modestly
suggested that " Conservative" would
be an appropropriate designation for
an opposition party made up ofall who
earnestly desired the overthrow of
Radical usurpation, corruption and
tyranny. In Tennessee, Virginia and
Missouri conservatism was eminently
successful in the work of reconstruc-
ton, and partially so in other States
where bayonets were as numerous as
ballots but these were conservative,
not Democratic triumphs, and hiRc
ilLCe Lachrynae. And hence too, the
Bourbon proclamation, that there
must be no farther utilization with
Wings or Liberals or other patriots,
however pure their motives, who did
not first, on Bonded knee, swear I'M
conditional fealty to Immaculate De-
mocracy as their political savior. The
failure to perform this slave-like act of
homage by the Cincinnati Convention,
and the acquiesence of the Baltimore
Convention in its omission, brought
out the implied Bourbon declaration
that Grant was preferable to any man
who was not Bourbon, and that il
was better to endure tyranny and cor
ruption under his rule, than to enjoy
constitutionalsrights and liberties un-
der an administration not purely demo
cratic
In Tennessee and other southern
States, this dog in-the-manger spirit
manifested itself last year, in a prefer
ence for Radical Governors, and
guerrilla Independents, rather thar
the conservative nominations of the
peoples Conventions for Congress and
the Legislature. In these reckless and
selfish movements, we recognize the
radical, the rule or ruin policy sc
plausibly imputed to the Democratic
party prior to the war, and in view o.
these manifestations of its continued
existence, we often feel like foldiDs
our arms in passive neutrality, rather
than cooperate with party striving
for partizan triumphs, instead of no.
bly, battling for the Constitution anC
free government and regeneration of /;
ruined section, without asking who's,
shall be the triumph, if the victory b.
won2
We want it distinctly understood
that we wage no war upon Democratic
principles. Prior to the civil convul
sion, the Wings and Democrats stood
mainly, upon the same platform-th,
ConstitutioD-and the points of differ
ence between them, consisted of tn,
doctrines each inferred from the theor,
of the government as laid down IN tn,
organic law, and of the policy mos
likely to give practical effect to thos'
doctrines. The policy of the Wing
was, at all times, conservative, tina
OF the Democrats ill-defined, but tend
ing to ultraism, if not mobOcracy, anC
out of this ultraism, as we believe
grew that bitter sectional hate which
eliminated in a conflict ofarms. Con
scienciously believing this, as old lint
Wings generally do, their traditional
conservatism manifests itselfvery clear
ly. in their prompt subordinatiou o
party predictions to the good of the
country. They have no political cate
chism for those willing to aid themin the
work of restoration, and prefer to post
pone till the day of triumph, the un
patriotic enquiry as to whom shan be
awarded the honors and emolument'
belonging alike to all who shared in
the struggle. Then, it will be time
enough for individual greed and parti.
IAN spirit to put in their claims for the
lion share
We do not believe, as the Times
processes to do, that the Democratic
party will, or ought to be. restored &c
power, so long as il refuses the aid OF