Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-03
"THE OLD GUARD"
stirring Address from the Democrat
fc Stale Central COmmittee-The
Duty OF Prompt and Efficient Organ
izatiOn.

Wv u oLAo
izatiOn,
JEFFERSON CITY, March 81, IS74-To
the people of Missouri:-The undersigned
members ofthe Democratic State Central
Committee, fully impressed with the mag
nitude Of the trust confided to their keep
inc, feel it 10 be their duty at this junction
to say TO you that the signs of political re-
generation are of the most cheering charac-
ter.
We lave watched, with deep solicitude
and anxiety, the ~Out-cropping Of public
sentiment for the past two years, and We
assert with confidence thai ali the indica-
tions favor a speedy downfall Of thepreSent
arrogant and corrupt national regime.
The people are realizing at last that the
supremacy of Radiealism has brought upon
the country burdensOme taxatiOn-yitiated
class legislatiOn-a yenal jUdiciary-op-
presSive NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. tariffs,
which have paTalyzed the labor, capital and
energy of the people, and plunged the
whole country into financial ruin.
Corporations have been created and eS-
tabliShed in STATES, uuder the eRactments
OF Congress. with their consent, thus plac-
ing under the control Of the Federal Gov
ernment the entire bank note circulation Of
ilFN NtAAAANlA. 1Oa1AlL Alh-1 AA0hS tNNA
formed To deplete the national treasury and
impair the valued the security held blythe
United States, and, in part, such nefaTious
and wicked purposes have been accom-
plished.
You have seen the guarantees Of the con-
stitutiOn made by the fathers OF the repub-
lie set at naught; tire utter disregard of the
voice and will Of the people as EXPRESSED
.T-.,-rT, IL, l,lH,E - Gs.fa n.v.-nnnap@z
trampled Tu,hieSsly under foot; the trial of
their citizens for alleged criminal offences
by unaathorized and Illegal tribunals: the
maintenance of carpet-baggers and usurpers
in positions of honor and trust at the point
of Federal bayOnetS, while under color of
law their treasures have been robbed and
their citizens crushed by a weigh. Of taxa
tion, to which no other people, in tunes
of profound peace, were ever before sub
iecied.
As Democrats, we hail with pleasure the
political revolution now in progress among
the people Of the whole country, as shown
in the organization of labor for mutual ben
eft and protection against the demands Of
OyergrOwn m~OnCpOlies, created and ~fiatter-
ell by the governmental the OppOSitionto
any further grants of land TO railroad cor
pOratiOns-and in the un~mistakable con-
domination by the people of the system of
tariffs fOr protection, which are but taxes
in disguise upon one branch Of industry TO
build up another.
II is this class Of events ia the admins
trdtiCn Of the government which has al
ways net with the most determined OppO-
sition from the Democracy. And we are
frank 60 say, now that the disiHtegTatiOn Of
the Radical party is progressing rapidly
and certainly, that the only promise of per-
manent rutOrn-the only opportunity for a
return to the government of the cOnstitu-
tiOn-the only hope Of future security-is
in the organization of The "Old Guard
the party Of The farmer-Of the mechanic
of the labOrcr-the party Of the people
the Democratic party. Though battere
and scared in It's many contests in defense
Of the rights Of the people against the in
SiduOus encrOaclmentS of despOtic power,
this party Of the constitution stall lives,
and, under the lead of pure and patriotic |
men, will again take possession Of the ma
tiOnal government, Il more restoring
honesty, confidence and prosperity 10 the
long suffering people of this miSgOverned
land.
Democrats Of Missouri, The time for
more thorough and more efficient ~organiza-
ton has arrived; therefore, we most earn
estly UrCe upon YOU, eUcrglrhere through
ont the STATE, to begin ami perfect ut Once
a complete and effective system Of action.
Organize ia every county, city, town and
district. The people look for harmony and
patriotic movement. \ close unity of all
those who are agreed as TO the O~veFshadOw-
ing necessity for a reform is absolutely de- |
--TI Hl,r..a.-s - - -.1E.I IL A
rs all are labOring for the same grand OBJ
iectS-the total overthrow Of Radicalism, |
and the triumph Of constitutional princi-
pies. BentOn's motto, "UniOn, harmony,
concession, everything for the cause and
nothing for men,, must be yours.
IS an earnest of your determination to
command the confidence, the respect and
the support Of the people, let no man be
presented as a candidate for any Office in
your Gift, who does not come fully up to |
Jhe JeffersOnian standard Of fitness. sIs
he honest. is he capable, is he faithful to |
the Constitution BE sure, also. that his |
past life and conduct among his feIlowmen
Shall be a further guarantee to the public, |
that the pledges made in his behalf shall
be faithfully redeemed.
JOHN 5. PHELPS,
THOMAS HOLIDAY,
X. w. MCMULLIS,
j. II. Il. CUNDIFF,
j. Z. GABLE,
EDWARD MCCABE,
J. ED. BELCH,
l.. Il. HICKMAN.
ID. II. ARMSTRONG,
W. ii. SWIFT, Chairman.
Secretary.