Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-12-18
DEMOCRACY.
A ReSGrn Tea a Democratic AdEninissta-
tish of the Government, UPOu
Fixed Principles, Jhe 0niE
Hope of the Country.


From the Columbia Hersld.l
Ever since the war II the present
time the Democracy OF the country has
been fighting the Republicans on false
issues. Every canvass has been tried
on some false issue. The true issue is (:
Shall this government be administered
according TO the Democratic principles
enunciatfd by JeffeIson2 On the deci-
siOn OF this issue, this government stands
a republic, or goes into anarchy, thence
emerging an empire. There can be 10
party for the country unless il stands on
declared pTinciples-uDlessi it says plain
ly and positively: These are the princi-
pies upon which we propose TO admin
lister this government II We consider
the form, organization and theory Of
our government, we must conclude th3tit
eau be properly administered, and made
10 serve the purposes Of government on
the principles of representative Democ-
raey laid down by Jefferson. We be-
lieVe there are sufficiently large num-
Der of honest patriotic people in the
United States OF our way of thinking TO
decide this issue in favor of the Tepub-
lie. Let us make the issue. Let the
people decide whether they will have
their constitution interpreted and their
government administered according to
fixed principles, or according to the
Whims and interests OF the particular
persons who may for the time be in
power, and thus have politics degeners-
ted into a struggle between leaders.
We must offer the people something af-
firmaiive. The question is not what
are We opposed TO, but what are you III
favor of? Asserting fixed principles, we
necessarily are opposed TO all that con-
travenes them. In carrying out true
Democratic principles, we will find Our-
selves not only opposed to, nut making
war on, all that is wrong in the present
administration Of this government. We
can effect nothing with party organ
lied on the simple ideas Of opposition.
Ia politics the assertion OF principles
and a policy means action, aggression,
enforcement. Opposition means de-
fense-nOt of principles, but defense
against the party In power. Such an
Idea never was successful in politics.
Opposition to Republicans does not ne
cessitate the assertion OF any principles.
The Republicans profess no principles
do not propose to run the government
according TO any fixed principles. The
Republican party is simply combina-
ton OF individuals for the purpose OF Sc
curing aud holding office. There Is no
creed to which member must subscribe
except TO devote himself to the interests
of tie party. One member al this party
nsy he q protectionist, and another
fr e-.rader, one hssd-money man, and
another currency innatiOnist. They
NAV bs Of ali shades of political princi-
pie. One-b8lf the Republicans might
Today stand on a true Democratic plat
form without any compromise Of pOliti-
cal principle. There is no such thing as
Republicanism-it is simply the Repub-
liean party or ring. We canDOt organize
aud hold tOgethera party based on oppO-
sitiGn to individuals who form the Re-
publican party. Certain measures of
policy growing cat OF their principles
were advocated by the Democrats before
the war. They weIe measures OF the
hour, and died with the hour. But our
form and theory Of government have
not been changed, and we are in favor
Of their Interpretation and their ad'
ministratIon on Democratic principles.
The negro has teen incorporated into
the body polite, and mobocFacy thus
heavily reinforced. We now have in
the United States large body Of voters
uANtl& AlG iluc tIt.4 4dit0il1lAt7 W. q tut
proletariat. This mob has been taken
c,aFgs CT by certain leaders, who are
embOdying il into an organization for
their own personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
Some of the marked features OF its
workings are: The levy OF enormous
contributions from propertyholders in
the iorIa Of taxation, OF black mail paid |
to avoid some special VACATION; the use
OF this money to bribe Legislators and
corrupt the judiciary; strong assertion
Of the powers Of the government, and
especially the executive branch Of it; an
disregard Of constitutional
restrictions, and an ignerlng OF all
forms; and an esgerBess for the solution
OF all questions Of right by the naked
vote oil majoritieS. Ehall the mob
trample over the ruin Of representative
repu6licanism In America? JeffeIs Dni
an Democracy Is the only rallying cry
against II. a return 70 Democratic
administration 81 the government Is
the only hope Of the county y--nofth end
south.