Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-07-12
THE NEW DEPARTURE AGAIN.

we wrote, in our last issue, is eliciting
from the press variety of opinions
as to its purpose and the probabilities
Of success or failure. Hypothesis is
the staple of the arguments pro and
con, but however severely it may be
censured by the moss grown relics of
Democracy, the fact still remains, that
there is everywhere, a growing convic-
ton among the ''bone and sinew'' of
the country that something must be
done, and speedily-something which
existing party organizations cannot
efect-if the material interests of TIE
people are to be properly protected
and the government cleansed of the
corruption which foreshadows its early
dissolution. Whether this new move
Ment is in the right direction, or wheth-
er it contains within itself, the germ
Of success, depends upon the wisdom
and patriotism by which it is con-
trolled.
In the first place, it is clear to all
rejecting minds, that the administra-
ton, with its army of dependent and
dishonest office-holders and its rings
with all the power of concentrated
capital, cannot be defeated, except by
a compact array of all the elements of
opposition, moving, as unit, against
the strongholds of tyranny. The op-
position has the strength, but it will
not avail without unity of purpose and
concert of action How to secure this
harmony, is the most important as
well as the most delicate point to be
considered. If the people would take
the matter in their own hands, the So
luton would be easy encugh-the
masses cannot be bribed. but their
pretended representatives can be, and
Radical cunning and Radical money
are always at work to buy up t'ae prom
inent men of every new move which
threatens Radical sup, emacy. And
here lies the great OBJ ,tacle to harmony
amongst the opp ,sition, both in the
North and tb'e South-buy up the
leaders and The flocks scatter.
There is still another difficulty in the
way " that perfect concert of action
Wf -.ch, alone, can bring success, and
this is to be found in the impotence
or craft of those who are constantly
and GENEROUSLY demanding a new
party as the only panacea for corrupt
maladministration of the government.
Though the adherent of no party, We
believe we can hear in that cry, the
hoarse voice of discord, and see in that
movement, the crafty hand of Radi-
calism manipulating it so as to divide
and weaken the opposition. The over
throw of the administration, if effect
ed at all, must be by the spontaneous
effort of the better portion Of the peo-
ple without regard to party affinitles
To form a new party will require more
time than can be spared from the work
of reform. 1t must necessarily be
made up of portions of both the rival
Darties now in existence. Suppose
however, that portions of each can be
detached and united under a new
name-making a numerical majority
will it follow as matter of course
that Bourbon Democracy and puritan
Radicalism will succumb at once, t.
the new party? So far from it, tbs
Democrats will bring out nominee.
and the Radicals do the same, and IL
such triangular fight, the latter part!
will be the victor, because 1t has the
patronage of the government at 1T
disposal and the monopolies, which
now control the administration, have
the capital with which to corrupt vo
tiers. stuff ballot boxes and, with tn
aid of the bayonet, give effect t.
enough of fraud to convert defeat int
victory.
We advocate the new departur
purely upon the supposition that /
may bring together the entire opposl
tion-headed by a single ticket-t'
make square fight with Radicalism
If however, it proposes to form thirt
party, at this juncture, failure Is al
ready endorsed upon its programme
New parties are either the work o
time, or the spontaneous creation of ;
sudden revolution in public opinion
We do not doubt the formation of
new party, provided the form of gov
eminent remains unchanged Ion
enough for its growth, but the attemp
TO force it into existence, at this time
will result in strengthening the arm o
despotic power and Fastening the cree
ton of throne upon the ruins of fire
institutions. If Grant is elected for
third term, the empire will be estab
lished beyond the reach of any remed
save that of bloody revolution, an
hence the vital importance of unlo
of all the clements of opposition, no
new party, but as the spOntaneOu
gathering together of all the friend
of liberty and the Constitution. Saw
these first-then let parties be forme
with an eye to their better protection
and solely for the public good. Wha
we advocate, for the present, is not
fusion of parties or political amalgan
but a simple union of all patriot
against common enemy, and whe
that enemy is defeated, the ingredl
cnts of that temporary union will sep
crate themselves and then will be tn
propitious hour for new combinations
On the Sd of March last, the Unite
States owed Grant $4,000 per annur
bv contract, but by few strokes G
his pen, the next day, he increased tina
Indebtedness TO $4,000. Not conten
with this grab for himself, he, at tn
same time, secured to various othe
officials an aggregate of wages amount