Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-20
WHATS wANrEDe

1OT Tile dSScTUlOu IIldU foeudUCI nOTOOu
and Governor Washburn of Wisconsin,
agree that the late disastrous defeat of
their party was due to want of inter-
est" All mistake. 1t was the want
Of principle developed by party mama
gers that kept the people from the
polls. 1t was clearly a question of
principle, not interest.-Me1nphis Ava-
ldRche.
Just SO. The people demand a re-
turn to first principles-to the princi-
pies of political integrity and common
honesty-good old-fashioned principles
which have been rendered almost obso-
lete by the progress of Radical cor
ruption. As our Memphis confrere re-
marks, sit was clearly question of
principle" that induced the people in the
recent elections to reverse the verdict
of 1872. 1t is no childish fancy for a
new name, but question of principle
1t is things, not names, which the peo-
pie want changed. When they ask for
bread, let us not give them a stone.
The Democracy has preserved through
all these years of usurpation and
corruption, the old principles
of constitutional government, which
lie at the basis of the American sys-
TEN. In the darkest hours of section
al prejudice it has not failed to preach
them. Each successive violation of
them by the strong arm of power, has
been exposed and denounced by it.
Like the Swiss mountaipeefs, defending
their homes from the Austrian invader,
it has continually harrassed the ad-
vancing destroyer of honest, pure and
cheap government 1t is due to the
continual presentation Of fundamental
principles by the Democracy THAI we
have still left enough of the constitu-
ton on which to base bright hopes for
the future. Its restraints on Radical
ism are well illustrated by the partial
redemption of the South. In allproba
bility, the several States would still be
held as conquered provinces, according
to the original Radical programme, bat
for the solid opposition of the Democ-
racy. 1t was only when thus forced
from that position, that the Radicals
resorted to negro suffrage as
means of retaining political power
in those States. Again, without the
unanimous opposition of the Democra-
cy, the Radicals would have ipaugu-
rated Mexican chaos in this country by
the impeachment of a President. The
detection OF single Democratic Sena-
tor would have secured them success in
this game of hazard to the life of the
nation. When a ffth-rate politician
like Ben. Wade could, unrebuked, vote
on his own case, for the impeachment
of his superior officer and his own ele-
walton to the Chief Magistracy, the na-
ton was certainly on 1.-The dangerous
verge of things" Had this Radical
conspiracy succeeded-had the ice been
once broken-all history warns us that
other like conspiracies would follow;
other Wades would be found, and,
more OF less rapidly. we would, with
all our boosted intelligence and
civilization, lapse into the
condition of miserable Mexico, through
political intrigue and lust for pelf and
power. Again. without the steady OPP
position of this old party. Grants pet
San Domingo scheme would long since
have triumphed, in the annexation of
hybrid races who could be assimilated
into our system. In thousand minor
matters, with important local bearings,
the march of corruption toward central
ization has been checked. The country
owes to the Democracy the fact that 1t
still has future as a free country.
That party has preserved all the sound
principles Of political pohty, OF which
the now awakened people are IN search.
1t is in fact the reservoir of principles
from which Conservatism, Liberalism,
nti-Monopolism, and all these mis-
called new parties, draw their
very life blood. They contain
absolutely nothing but may
be found with the old historic party.
They proclaim no principle which 1t has
not been proclaiming all these years.
They are not new parties-not parties
at all-they are the first efforts Of a
people awakening from long lethargic
sleep and who do not yet fully under
stand their surroundings. Perge &C
c@pjsti: let the Democracy proceed in
the good work Soon the people must
appreciate the situation, and seeing the
beacon light which has been held aloft
JUTOuRH oil Tile SUOIuls Will 1OlioN ~ ~
victory. Last year Carl Schurz went
out from Radicalism, but said he
could never be a Democrat. Perhaps
he did not understand Democracy,
having seen it only through Republican
spectacles. We have no reason to doubt
his honesty; if honest, he will some
day be older and wiser; and we
think him frank enough to confess an
honest error. There are a thousand
ties that deter Carl Schurz from be-
coming an avowed and active Democrat.
The people at large are hampered byno
such ties, and will act on their convic-
tons. Brethren, weary not of well do
ing: the future is bright and brighten.
ing.
THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
The United States Senators whose terms