Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-07-19
DEMOCRACY AND COOPERATION.

There is want of righteousness, if
not of patriotism. in all those Demo
Gratis who argue, with an assumption Of
devotion to principle, that the party
cannot cooperate with other elements
of opposition to Radicalism, without
a sacrifice Gifts name, its organization,
its principles, and its ambition to rule
or ruin. The Bourbon elementi is evil
IDENTIFY Influenced by the consideration
that victory won by such a coalition,
will not be purely democratic victory
and that the honors and the spoils
may have to be too much subdivided.
Even if cooperation necessarily in
volyed fusion, the love of country and
of liberty should prompt that party of
the.constitution to sacrifice its identi-
ty, if, by so doing, it can defeat the
party Of Capitalization and despotism.
What do the old line wings care for
their honored name and glorious pres
tige if their principles can be pre-
served byanother combination and I'M
der different name?
But the fear entertained by the
democrats that they may lose their
indemnity by cooperation is puerile
The fusion ofparties TO beat Van Bu-
rem was followed by no such result.
1t was temporary expedient to defeat
real or supposed maladminstration of
the government, and the democratic
party was perhaps as strong after as
before the co operation. The co-opera-
ton of parties, in this State, to defeat
Radicalism was signal success, and the
democratic party would, to-day, be as
strong as before that coalition had it
notseceded, last year, from the conser-
vative party in foolish effort to carry
the State under the lead of Andy
Johnson-which act of bad faith won
for it neither strength nor honor, and
well nigh carried the State to Radical
ism. The attempt at Cincinnati, to
unite the opposition against the domi-
nant party was opposed by the
Bourbon element and because they
could not control the entire Democracy
many evinced their patriotism by 60
ing over to the Radical party whilst
many, not SO Bourbonish, illustrated
their devotion to liberty and the con-
stitution by declining to vote.
1t is not by such conduct as this
that Democracy can prove its patriot
ism, or commend itself as the only in
strumentality by which governmental
abuses can be corrected aud the con-
stitution restored to its supremacy.
And now again, when the Ohio De-
mocracy is invited by portion of Ohio
Democrats to cooperate with all ele
ments of opposition, the answer is,
substantially, that Democracy will do
the work required, in its own name, or
it shall not be done at all. Yes, they
will do it as theydid Tennessee, split
the Conservative party because it did
not march under flag inscribed with
the word Democratic, and subject Ohio
once more to Radical rule. The cris-
is, impending since the war, is one
that demands the prompt sacrifice
of prejudice, not principle, and calls
for the cooperation of all the honest,
intelligent and patriotic men of all
parties, to band together, not as a new
party, nor under any name, save that
of conservatives or patriots, to clear
the way for reform by removing
the greatest obstacle the Rad
zeal party from its position of power.
This is the first step-indeed the only
one that can be taken which will make
reform possible.
The Radicals have shown that they
have not the will to correct abuses, and
gross corruption incapacitates them for
any good work Democracy is unable,
without the aid of liberal Republi-
cans. to overthrow the administration,
and if it reject the only means by
which reform can be made possible,
wherein is that party less to blame than
the Radical, for the longer continu-
aflce of corrupt misrule. The man
who could, but would not, prevent a
murder, is morally as guilty as the
murderer.