The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-11-11
THE RESULT.
WHAT THE REVOLUTTON MEANS

to the long, list of days, which, with
their varied events, contain the worlds
strange history. But this day What a
day How its singular and unexpected
events will tell upon the worlds great
hereafter. The great masses of men who
have composed the different political
parties in America, have always been
accustomed to feel jubilant, and to give
expression to their joy, when party tri-
umph has been achieved on the one
hand; and to feel sad over party defeat
on the other. So they have acted, and
so they have feIt-in reference to the re-
suits of the recent elections. Now that
the smoke and dust of the great political
battle have in measure blown away,
rendering the results clearly visible; and
now that the hasty and less thoughtful
have had their hour of jubilation, let us
take calm survey of the situation, and
see if we can devise the meaning Of this
strange revolution.
| We have said the events of the third
of November were unexpected. So they
were in many respects. On the part of
the Democracy it would have seemed
rash to hope for so much. No one in
the ranks of the other party expected to
see the whole Republican army routed,
demoralized and captured. Neverthe-
less such was the result. How was it
done2 Did hundreds of thousands of
voters desert the Republican ranks and
vote the other ticket This was done by
many thoughtful and honest men: but
the Democratic victory is not to be ac-
counted for in this way. Is it true that
the Democracy have had in reserve
voting force, never heretofore brought
into the field ? This is true to some ex-
tent, but not to a sufficient extent to ac-
count for so great a change. Is it to be
accounted for by the want of organiza-
tion in the Republican party? Not by
any means; for it is the best organized
party to-day that ever existed in Ameri-
ca. Was it the tendency before Con-
gress, of the Civil Rights bill that did
it No; for the victories has been the |
more signal where this question has been
least agitated. No; none of these things |
account for the triumph of the Demo |
cratic party, and the overthrow of the !
other
The truth is, it is a triumph of the
great idea upon which the grand struc-
ture OF American liberty is based, rather
than mere party triumph. The lead
ing idea-the one great central principle
i'm the political teaching of the Repub.
ican party, is, and has for years been,
gradual Capitalization Of pO,oer. Steadi-
ly has it labored to wrest the checks
upon power out of the hands of the ju-
dietary and vest the power especially in
the hands of the Legislative. The worlds
history shows beyond peradventure, that
Capitalization of power means gradual
decay to liberty, and ultimate bloody
revolution or despotism. To despOtisna
ire haze been tending.
When we look back upon the intense
excitement in American politics, for the
last fifteen years, we may well pardon
the American people for being slow to
this great truth AT last the
more thoughtful of the Republican par
" have shaken off the delusiOn under
which they have been SO long acting.
Third termism-the bold assertion by
yress not only to regulate and control
State governments, as in Louisiana but
70 say by law that all races OF men shall !
move on the same social level These
ash acts and efforts of their party lead
ers have caused them to think. Even
party love liberty better than party.
Their love of liberty, and their convic-
ions that there was danger to human
rights IN the doctrines of their party
eaders, caused hundreds of thousands
If them to stay at home on the memoir
sble 3rd, and refuse to aid further in
up and strengthening the des-
ootism at Washington. ut-
We have always believed the Ameri
IAN people capable of self government.
The victory about which we are writing
this confidence a thousand
old. The old doctrine, upon which our
fathers built-the doctrine that the
States retained the right to control their
own affairs, and that the Federal Gov
eminent can do no more than guarran-
zee to each State Republican form Of
and protect the States in
he aggregate-this is the palladium Of
American iberty-this is the rock upon
which the great structure is founded
md builded. The people, after wander
ng in political darkness for fourteen
ears, returned to this grand old doc
rine on the third day of November,
S74. Glorious day! In history it will
tand out as the day next in brightness
md glory to the Fourth of July, 1776.
We may in this view, express our deep
oy at the result we have reached. Let | !
IS not exult-let US rather rejoice. Let
Is not tantalize our Republican friends
bout their defeat Let US rather con-
,ratulate them upon our mutual escape
rom despotism.
lTR DELEGA TION IN CONGRESS-