Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-08-09
LIBERAL DEMOCRACY.
Letters from Hon. W. S. Groesbeek

H
Letters from Hon. w. S. Groesbeek.
CINCINNATI, Ohio, July 26.-The
following letters of Hon. w. s. Groes-
beck, to the representatives of the
new departure and liberal movement,
in which he declines the candidacy for
Governor, and gives his views of the
formation of . new political organiza-
tion, are published this morning:
To Judge Collins: 1s II
MY DEAR SRI feel very much
obliged to you and the gentlemen who
called o-day, for the honor You pro.
posed to confer upon me, but l will
not reconsider the answer have made.
/ will not accept a nomination for the
Office of Governor. While this is SO, |
warmly sympathize with what you pro-
pose to accomplish, and hope the time
is near when present democrats and
former democrats and all dissatisfied
republicans shall be cordially united
under a single organization. 1 do
not think there is anything sacred
in mere party organization: they are
only machinery which should be re-
paired when out of order, and renew
ed when too much worn. A constitu-
ton of Government is a more sacred
thing than that of a political party,
yet we do hesitate to opull down an old
constitution in order to put up new
one. We have convention in Col
umbus now engaged in that work. /
give you the letter to which you refer
red. 1t was written to a gentleman in
New York before your movement be-
gan and without reference to it. 1t
was not written for publication, and
not exactly as would have written it
with that view, but you are at liberty
to publish it if you think it may con-
tribute in the least degree TO closer
and firmer union of all who are op-
posed to the present Administration.
Very respectfully,
w. s. GROESBECK.
CINCINNATI, May 5.-My Dear Sir:
Il have your letter of April %. /
should have answered it sooner, and
have no sufficient apology for not do
ing so. Permit me to say that the re-
ply | here make to it, is not for publ
cation, but personal to yourself and
those at whose suggestion you have
written. / believe the historical dem
ocratic organization is spoiled. Blum
dering constantly during the last ten
years, and shattered by manly defeat,
it surrendered at the Presidential cleo
ton. 1t cannot redeem that surren-
der, or the confusion then made, and
has not longer strength enough for
victory.
In this extremity it will be wise to
lay aside the old organization, and en-
ter into a new one. The new organi-
zation should accept the result 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 organization should be
different from a recast of
the old one; there should be no exclus-
iveness about it, nor should it be mere
ly democratic. 1t should be made up
of present democrats, of former dem
ocrats, of republicans who are offended
by the policies and tendencies Of the
present Administration the organi-
zation should be the joint work of the
democrats and republicans, and they
should be equally at home in it-neith-
- 81 n o,,acf nf tho 0fbar
You asked what shall be its name.
Call it the Liberal Democracy. That
will lead the free, unselfsh Govern
ment Of tie people.
And now as to its doctrines or prin-
ciples, you ask; and in this connection
how the question of universal suffrage
should be treated. That question is
no longer before us. Negro suffrage
IS the bloody consumation of the great
war, and nothing short of war can un-
10 it in our day: In my opinion it
will endure in this Government as long
IS general suffrage. / Icomprehend the
objections to it, and it was granted too
soon. That part of our population |
recently emancipated should make
,ome preparation for this day. We
leny suffrage to the foreigner for a
line, in order that be may be prepared
or it, and we have schools for all, on
he theory that all should prepare for
t. but it is granted and it cannot be
nor do think it wise in such
Government as this to keep perma-
lently so large a part of our people In !
IN inferior, degraded condition.
Slavery was always danger. To |
lold this population now free in a de-
,raded condition will be o greater dan
,er, and always trouble US. Say we |
lave adopted doubtful policy, it is
lone. | accept it, and on all such |
questions admitted to be of doubtful
l shall for the remainder
# my life, if perchance | must err,
trive, at least to be tolerant, generous
md humane. And after all | rely for |
rood voting as much upon the heart as
lpon the head. l concur in what else |
-ou suggest. The new organization |
should oppose oil forms of monopoly. |
This is too plain to need argument
are an outrage and Ottense |
against the people. The new organi,
.ation should oppose Capitalization,
md it should advocate home govern
nent in all local affairs, and to the
Utmost extent that is practicable
ou cannot keep people free, sturdy
md intelligent without home govern
nent. 1t is government that trains
IS. teaches reliance and developes man.
mess. Take it away and the freeman
disappears. Centralize power at Wash
ngton and we are transferred to out
,ide management, no longer governing
ourselves. If we must be governed,
on Washington, We lose our
,elfadependence, and the free citizen
;oon degenerates into minor subject,
whose whole duty is to obey law, and
whose only desire is to be amused IN
dleness.
You refer me to the question of free
rade. The new organization should
make II one of its cardinal doctrines.
There should be no equlvocatlOn or
l0uble meaning about this. A pro-
libitory tariff is in plain contradiction
@ the character. of our Government:
We are equal in rights, privileges and
mmunities. and there should be no |
discrimination, no fayOritism, no par
iality. personal or financial, and as a
policy a prohibitory tariff
s behind the age-almost a barbarism
belongs to the times when nations
we're walled, and commerce was with
,ut wings.
/ believe 1 have substantially an
,wered your letter. The new organi-
.ation may probably antagonize the
party now administering our affairs at