Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-07-16
Tho Democratic Party.
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frrorn Che Fulton prrss.l

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fFroin the Fulton Prcss.l
Tho democracy Of Allen county,
Ohio. atn convention recently held,
have sjvuificd their Willingness to
abanaoI the democratic organization
aud form u peoples party on q plat.
tho corrupiions which tester In the
vitals Of the government. This move
ment cvinces q restlessness under
continued defeat TINT augnrs Ill for
tho success of conservatism In the
campaign of 1876. No party yer yet
succeeded or evor will succeed on a
simple principle ofopposition. There
must DO something aggressive and
progressive in every political organi-
xatiOn that expects to gain and maiii-
tain power IN tho United States. A
party which Is not bnilt upon a solid
foundation OF principle, and whose
superstructurc does not correspond
with lis base, cannot Withstand the
tempest of a popular election.
We have Witnessed too many fail
ures In the pnst twenty years, when
parties have abandoned their princi-
pies for the sake Of power, to put any
tiust in this Allen coudty movement.
The Democratic party cannot be ruled
and governed by u few mon. The
motive which nctuates tho masses is
not simple opposition to the Rcpub-
licam party /; IL has its origin IN u well
studied, clearly defined and fully
developed system Of govermment that
is as old MS tho government itself.
There is n principle underlying it's
every action, and IL at any time the
party has departed from this, IL has
never failed 10 meet with u tisas.
trous and humiliatin. defeat.
When, in 1862, tho wing party fell
Into distress, instead Of holding on to
tho pprty organization and fighting
under its ancient nnd hOn0red ban-
ners, its leaders deserted their prin-
cipIcs and took up with every new
and startling theory that presented
itself. Know Notiiingism, Barnburn-
erism, Abolitionism, Free Soilism,
aud II hundred al!uring titles, scduced
them, until but few of the veterans
Of that party remained to claim its
name AMI its honorable memories.
Tho party utterly persisted, as any
party will perish when success is
more desired than the triumph Of
right principles.
In 1860, through n divided dcmoc-
racv, republicamism, from q weak
and sickly infant, sprang fail pano.
piled into power. In 1864, the DEM
ocrats consulted expectancy rather
than principle, anu were driven 10
tho wall under the gallant Mcclellan.
In 1868, when every consideration
pointed to n western democrat who
had stood uninovcd in the tempest,
they again truckled to cXpcdiency
and we're defeated under Seymour.
In 1872, the democrats abandoned
their organization and their prin-
ciplcs, and, led by a disOrganiZcd rab-
BILE, went TO inevitable and mcrited
disaster under Horace Greeley.
Fiat n party thus miscrably mis-
managed should maintain its imdivid-
uality aud identity at all, is q positive
proof OF its Inherent strength and its
wonderful vitality. But tho demo.
cratic party still lives despite its mis-
management and misfortuncs, and il
is clear to every thinking ma that il
the republican party is To DO speedily
'o~verthfown, II The rings that now
COiltIol IrtIitlCit uiiitTS at w aslllIl8 tOu
are soon to be broken up, the demo
cratic party- must not only preserve
lis organization, but must declare lis
principles without equivocation and
with such distinctncss that the people
cannot misunderstood them, but com-
prchcnd them without effort. Self
government for the people of the
states, opposition to every species OF
monopoly, the reduction of The tariff
to n revenue basis and the overthrow
OF the corrupt rings that have made
our country Il kissing, a by-word and
a reproach among the narions of the
EARTH, will make Il platform broad
enough to afford standing room for
all who will eulist under tho banner
Of reform. Republicans who sincere.
iy desire n change in the administers
ton OF affairs, will not stop to inquire
whether that platform is labeled
democratic" or ''libcraI," or wheth-
er it has any name at all. They will
the noble example of the Old
Line Wings of 1856 and come to the
support of that party which is bat
Ting against the corruptions of the
age.