Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-11-08
GAINESVILLE. 8: NOV. 8, 1873



Radicals, in this State, base their hopes
of success in the next election, upon
the assumption that the old line Wings
will coalesce with the Radicals rather
than vote with the Democrats. There
is no mode by which the truth of such
an assumption can be ascertained, be-
cause no Wing can answer for any
other than himself, nor can he erect
any standard for measuring the motives
of others, other than motives which
control his own acts. Nor do we
deem it a very high compliment to be
suspected of a willingness to sacrifice,
upon the altar of party prejudice,
the fundamental doctrines, carried in
to practice. We have been a consist
ent, and almost lifelong, opponent Of
the Democratic party, not SO much be-
cause it differed with us, upon leading
issues involving constitutional law, as
because the measures it advocated were
dangerously radical, and designed
rather ad cGptaHdum Uulgus, than to
promote the general welfare, or to Sc
cure the permanency Of the govern
ment, by holding as sacred, the Con-
stitution which gave it vitality as well
as existence.
Differing then, with the Democrats
of old, upon measures, more than
principles, we cannot reconcile 1t to
our conscience, should that party be
singly arrayed against Radicalism, to
vote for the latter, which holds the
Constitution to be man of straw, and
the sovereignty of the States, en- empty
and exploded theory. That there are
nominal Wings who will swerve from
duty at the bidding of prejudice, or
yield conviction to the promptings of
self, we cannot doubt, in the face of
numerous precedents to that effect, in
all sections of the country; but it is
far from the truth to call such men
Wings, as to designate as patriots, the
bulk of the Radical party, or to claim
Andy johnson, with his war record,
as simon-pure Democrat.
As we have said on former occasions,
our hope and desire is to save from the
wreck all that remains of free institu-
tons, without stopping to enquire into
the antecedents of those who will lend
us helping hand. Our political faith
is anchored to the eternal principles
of political justice as embodied in
the Constitution handed down to us
by its founders, and whilst we will
never cut loose from that anchorage
the drift it allows us will enable US to
clasp hands with all who approach
near enough to our position to claim
affinity, though not close, with those
principles, and the ends we aim at
The Democratic party embodies, in its
creed, more of those principles than
any party now organized and, until the
Wing party is resuscitated and endow-
ed with power to crush Radicalism,
we shall cooperate with the former,
and endeavor to infuse into it such
spirit of conservatism as will prevent
it from running into those extremes
which resulted in the overthrow of its
own power and the emasculation of the
federal Constitution. We speak only
for ourselves; other Wings are at lib
erty to ally themselves with that cor
rupt party which has built its power
upon the ruins of liberty and its
wealth upon the poverty of the masses.
Those whom it can buy, never were
Whigs-never were patriots-neyer
were statesmen and never appreciated
the blessings Of political liberty
Lured by the syren song of ill-gOtten
wealth and usurped power, they may
betray their country and ease their con-
sciences with the prices paid for the
betrayal. We are for our country and
the Constitution, and all who labor
with us are our political friends and
allies, no matter what the device upon
their shields, and the Radicals who
rely upon Wing votes TO restore Radi-
cal rule in this State, reckon without
their host, as we honestly believe.