Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-27
POLITICAL.
Hon. w. s. Groesbeck on the Situation
He Proposes a New Party Organ
iZatiOn.
Republicans and Democrats to Unite
under a New Name.
Opposition to MonOp0lies and Gem
tralizatiOn.
Free Trade O Cardinal Doctrine.
The .LiberaI Democracy


The "Liberal Democracy"
CINCINNATI, July z6.-The following
letters of Hon. w. S. Groesbec5, to the
representatives of the ne " departure and
liberal movement, in which he declines a
candidacy for Governor aud gives his Vows
of the formation of a new political organi-
cation, are published this morning:
Cincinnati, july 25.-To Judge Collins
My Dear Sir: | feel very much Obliged to
you and the gentlemen who called to- day
for the honor you proposed TO confer upon
me, but will not reconsider the answer l
then made. will not accept nomination
for the Office Of Governor. While this is so,
L warmly sympathize in what You propose
to accomplish, and hope the time is near
when present Democrats and former DEM
ocrats and all diss .tisfed Republicans shall
be cordially united under single organize
ton. do not think there is
Anything Sacred in Mere Party
Organizations.
They are only machinery which should be
repaired when out Of order, and renewed
when too mitch worn. A Constitution of
government is a more sacred organization
than that Of political party act. We don't
hesitate to pull down Constitution in order
20 put up a new one. We have Conven-
ton at Columbus now engaged in that
work. 1 give you the letter to which you
referred. 1t was written to gentleman in
New York before your movement began,
and without reference to it. 1t was not
written for publication, and not exactly as
| would have written it with that view; bat
you are at liberty to publish it if you think
it may contribute in the least degree to
closer and firner union of all who are op-
posed to the present Administration.
Very respectfully, --.-~Fe sd
w. S. GRoEsBECK.
Cincinnati, Mdy- 5, 1S73.-My dear
sir: l have your letter of April %.
should have answered it sooner and have
no sufficient apology for not doing so.
Permit me to say that the reply l here
make to it is not for publication but
personal to yourself and those at
whose suggestion you have written. l
believe the historical Democratic organiE2-
ton is spoiled, laundering constantly dur
ing the last ten years and shattered by
many defeats,
1t Surrendered Finally
at the asst Presidential election. It cannot
recall that surrender or the confessions then
made, and it has no longer strength enough
for victory In this extremity it will be
wise to lay aside the old organization and
enter into new one. The new or-aniza-
ton should accept the results Of the war as
was done at Baltimore, and it should accept
them in good faith, and so as to command
the confidence Of the people. The new Or
gsnization should be something different
from recast of the old one. There should
be no exclusiveness about it, nor should it
be m erelY Democratic. II should be made
up of prese Mt Democrats, of former Demo
Gratis, and of all Republicans who are offend
ed By the policy and tendencies of the pre-
sent Administration. .---.r.
The New Organization E.. d..
should be The Joint work of Democrats and
Republicans, and bo:h should be equally at
home in i--neither the guest of the other.
You ask what should be its name. Call it
the Liberal Democracy; that will mean the
free, unsel6sh government of the people.
And now as to its doctrines or pr inciples.
You ask in this connection, how
The Question of Negro Suffrage
SHOULD be treated. That question is no
longer before US. Negro suffrage is the
bloody consummation Of a great wal, and
nothing short of war can undo IL in our day.
In my opinion it will endure in this go7-
eminent as long as general suffrage. l COM
| pretended the objections to it, and think 1t
| was granted too soon to that part OF our
population recently emancipated. Ali
| should make some preparations, for this
| day we deny suffrage to the foreigner for a
| time in order that he may prepare for it
| and we have schools for all on the theory
that all should prepare for it; but it is
granted, and it cannot be recalled. Nor do
| / think it wise in such a government as
this to keep permanently so large part OF
our people in an inferior, degraded condi-
ton. Slavery was always a dan
ger. To hold this population
now free in a degraded condition would be
a greater danger and always trouble US.
| Say we bave adopted doubtful policy. 1t
is done; l accept it, aud all such ques-
tons admitted to be of doubtful expedi-
encY. shall for the remainder Of my life,
| if perchsnce l must err, strive at least to
be tolerant, generous and humare, and az
ter all, rely for good voting as much upon
the heart as upon the head.
l concur in what else you suggest. The
new organization should
Oppose all Forms Of Monopoly.
This is too plain 10 need argu'
ment. Monopolies are an outrage
and an offense against the PEG,
pie. The new organization should
Oppose Contra lizstioD,
ard it should advocate home government n
all local affairs, and tC the utmost extent
that is practicable. You cannot keep q
people free, sturdy and intelligent without
| home government. 1t is home government
that trains us, teaches self-reliance and de-
velops manlioess. Take it away and the
freeman disappears. Centralize power al
Washington, and we are transferred to out
side management; no longer governing ou!-
selves we must te governed. Depending
upon Washington we lose our self-depend-
ence, and the free citizen soon degenerates
into mere subject, whose whole duty i;
to obey the lag, and whose only desire tC
be amused in idleness. You refer me, also, tC
The Question of Free Trade.
TIE new organization should make i
one of its cardinal doctrines. There should
be no equivocsion or double meaning
about this. A prohibitory tariff is in plair
contradiction to the character of our Gov
eminent. We are all equal in rights, priv
ileges and immunites. There should be
no determinations, no favoritism, no par