Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-06
THE DUTY OF TENNEsSEEANs.

ROSEDALE Pc, DAVIDSON COUNTY,
Dec. 3l.-The conflict which we, as
citizens of a State, and of the Union,
have TO deal with, appeals not to poll
ticians only but to the entire mass of
our fellow-citizens. 1t demands as
helping agents all the elements of
good patriotism, religious zeal, and
sound, political philosophy. These are
natural allies of Just cause, and this
conflict has sufficient Justice on one
side to demand them all as auxiiaries.
This conflict is struggle between De-
mocracy on one side and its antago-
nistic elements Of corruption, tyrany
and despotism on the other. Demo
cracy," so called, is not the Democracy
as portrayed by your confrere of the
Banner The Democratic party, it is
true, clings to all the conservatism of
ante bellum days, with its strict con-
struction of and allegiance to the Con-
stitution of our fathers. The Demo-
crazy of to-day, Ito giIe 1t post-bel-
lum definition, does not mean merely
a conflict with Radicalism, and strug-
gle with the opposition for public
plumber and the spoils of Office. 1t is
a struggle to perpetuate the liberties
Of this republic and to place its guild
ance in the hands of those who not
only have the ability and political
capacity to rule, but who
have the political honesty to rule
justly and conscienciously. In short,
whilst Democracy may advocate some
of the theories of the Republican party
lsoi disant) it opposes all the practices
Of the Radical party $50 called. Your
confrere harpeth continually on drill
sergeants" and caucus" nominees. En-
Uerjte, he hath returned from the big
wars" with more antipathy against the
''ancien regime" purified by the war,
and embOdying the only conservatism
now extant IN political organizations
than he exhibits towards party which
disfranchised him and called him and
others traitors. AS there are but two
political parties IN the State, his polit-
cal editorials must certainly have a
penchdat for one or the other. We
know how frequently his criticisms are
directed against the Democracy, and
how mildly, sweetly, and alphabetically
he administers reproof and correction
to the best party IN the country"
There seems to be such slight oppOsi-
ton to Republicanism, and such mani
fest dissent from Democratic conserva-
tism; pouring out walls of wrath upon
one, and such an ''epaHchmeRt d'dmitie,
enthusiastically upon the other, that
we are constrained to suspect the iRde-
pendeRce and indifference which he so
frequently processes.
Again: the Democracy has not, since
the great struggle with the hydra of
fanaticism, held possession of the gov
eminent, and its record is only protests
against corruption and despotism. So
far as it has governed this State, and
been the dominant party, its Legislation
has never belied its professions, and is
in striking contrast with the corrup-
ton, despotism and acts of disfran-
chisement Mhich characterized that
party recognized by some as the best
party IN the country"
Our conflicts ante bellum were con-
fiets of opinions and of principles
which were relevant to the times. A
Wing, or Democratic victory was mere
ly Jubilee. We felt assured, at least,
that we would participate IN all the
blessings flowing from the legislation
of the dominant party; and that they,
as We, would share in all the evils of
its NAL administrators. Nine-tenths of
the old Wing and Democratic parties,
found themselves at the close of the
war united brotherhood-past differ
ences wiped out by the ferocity of a
greater struggle-their friendship &C.
mented by blood shed in a common
cause, and all looking to the future with
the same hopes, and for the same bless
ings. The Democratic party of Ten
nessee is then the crystaliZed patriot
ism of the past. 1t has the prestige of
all the great men and glorious deeds
which belonged to both. the old parties.
A community of friendship, of sympa-
thy andkof interests, and union of
hearts and of hands, is the only in
heritance accruing to the people of the
South, worthy of being appreciated, or
commemOrated.
Our Wing friends ranged themselves
under the banner of Democracy, not
from any prediction certainly, which
they had to the name of Democracy,
but because it was the onlyparty which
they found in the field cOntending for
what was left of the letter and spirit
Oflour magma charts" The strongest
protest against the name of Democracy
comes from our union-loving, and liber-
al friends. Yet they sacrificed after
the war the hatred which they had to
the abolition party of the North, and
for the sake of the Union made common
cause with them. The objects at stake