The Van Buren press., 1873-08-05
THE DOCUMENT.
CINCINNATI, May 3, IS

My DEAR SIR: | have your letter OF
April 23d, and should have answered il
sooner, and have no sufficient apology
for not doing SO. Permit me to say that
the reply have to make 10 it is not for
publication, but personal to yourself and
those at whose suggestion you have
written. | believe the historical Demo
cratic organization is spoiled Blunder-
ing constantly during the last ten years,
and shattered by many defeats, it sur
rendered finally at the last presidential
election 1t cannot recall that surrender,
or the concessions then made, and it has
no longer strength enough for victory in
this extremity. 1t will likewise lay aside
the old organization, and enter into new
one. The new organization should
ACCEPT TIE RESULTS 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 recognition should he something
more than Il recsst Of the old one. There
should be no exclusiveness about it, noi
should it be merely Democratic. ii
should be made up Of present Democrats
of former Democrats, and Of all Republi
cans who are offended by the policy and
tendency of the present administration
The new organization should be the join
work of Democrats and Republicans, ,and
both should be equally at home in it
neither the guest of the other You ask
WHAT SHOULD BE ITS NAME?
Call it the Liberal Democracy, that vii
mean the free, unselfish government Of
the people; and now, as to its doctrine
or principles, you ask in this connection
how the question Of negro suffrage
should be treated? That question is nc
longer before US. Negro suffrage is thu
bloody consummation Of great war, ,anc
nothing short Of war can undo it in oul
day. In my opinion it will endure in
this government as long rs general suf
fragc. l comprehend the objections tc
it, and think it was granted too soon tc
that part of our population recently
emancipated All should make some
preparation for this day. We deny suf
t'rage TO the foreigner for time, in ordel
that he may prepare for it, and we have
schools for all, on the theory that al
should prepare for it; but it is granted
and it cannot be recalled, nor do | think
it wise, in such government as this, tt
keep permanently so large part OF oul
people in al inferior, degraded condi
ton.
SLAVERY WAS ALWAYS A DANGER
TO hold this population, now free, in
degraded condition would be a greater
danger and always trouble us. Say We
have adopted n doubtful policy; it is
done accept it, and on all such ques
tions admitted to be doubtful expediency
| shall for the remainder Of my life, il
psrchance | must, ever strive at least to
bo tolerant, generous and humane, rely
for good voting as much upon the heart
as upon the head concur in what else
you suggest The new organization
should oppose all forms of monopoly
This is too plain to need argument
MoNoPoLIIs ARE AN OUTRAGE
and an ofensc against the people. The
new organization should oppose central.
ization, and it should advocate home
government in all local affairs, and to the
utmost extent that is practicable. You
cannot keep people free, sturdy, and
intelligent without home government; II
is home government that trains u.s.
teaches us reliance, and developes man
liness. Take it away, and the freeman
disappears. Centralize power at wash
incton, and we are transferred to outside
management. No longer governing our
selves, we must be governed Depend
ing upon Washington, we lose our sell
derendence, and the free citizen soon de
ccnerates into mere subject whose
Whole duty it is to obey the law ano
whose only desire is to he amused ~
idleness You refer me also TO the qnes
tion OF
FIRE. TRADE.
The new organization should make it ont
of IFS cardinal doctrines, There should
be no 'equivocation or double meaning
about this. A protibtory tarlfi is Il
plain contradiction 10 the character o
nur Government We nre all equal IL