The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-01-16
The Necessities of the Hour

From the Jackson Wing aud Tribune.I
The Republican party is thoroughly
organized and disciplined 1t enjoys
the prestige of success, and the almost
supreme advantages of office! Great
"a its sins are, its power is greater.
With its thorough organization and
discipline, it has for eight years ALSO
lutely defied public sentiment and adj
ministered the government in the face
Of majority opposition. In short,
the Republican party is in the mi
uOrity, and yet it governs the country.
How will we account for this seeming
anomaly? In solving this question,
we appeal To the intelligent thinkers,
of every element which compOses the
opposition party. We ask them as
brothers engaged in a common cause,
10 reason with us on this vital ques-
ton. In the name of that liberty,
which ii is our common duty and
ambition to preserve and hand down
TO p0sterty unimpaired, let us APP
prOach this important question unin-
fluenced by prejudice or passion.
1t is a well established fact that or
ganizatiOn and discipline is as neces-
sary in politics as in armies. With
out organization and discipline, armies
are mobs that achieve nothing but
disaster. The same is true of parties.
An army, inferior in numbers, but
strong in organization and discipline,
Is always an Overmatch for au enemy
wanting in these vital elements OF
success. The very same is true as to
political PARTIES. The history of the
world. which is as full of party con-
flicts as of war, attests this fact. The
success Of all great undertakings,
whether of peace or war, depend upon
organization. This is as true i'll re-
ligiOn as in politics or national con-
fl lets. In short it is the epitOme of
success in all human endeavor.
The Republican party is superbly
organized and thoroughly disciplined.
Il has able leaders, whose words are
the law which governs the party.
When they speak, the rank and file
hearken and obey. Party blunders,
party corruption, party innovations
upon the Constitution and encroach-
mcnts upon the liberties Of the people
occasionally excite dissenaiOns in its
ranks; but the leaders speak, the party
banner is waved, the old battle cries
are shouted, and the whole party, like
disciplined soldiers, fall into line.
Hence TIE COlilllluCu anu uGHall RUE
of the Republican party.
On The other hand, the opposition
Uartv is without acknowledge leaders,
without organization or discipline,
without a banner around which ali
will rally, without party slogan
which can unite the claus in a COM
mon war. Divided and demoralized
by prejudice, by passion, by personal
by personal Vanities, as alb.
surd as wicked, by timidity, the out
growth OF policy make-shifts, by dis
[ OTdS, the result of ante belIum par
10y hatred for the name
o! the only party which for eight long |
wears has given single silver lining |
to the political clouds which overhang |
the Republic-the opposition is pow
erlcss.
Let the people examine these two |
pictures fairly drawn, and mediate |
Ilpon the lesson they teach. Do they |
not teach the absolute necessity of
party organization on the |
bart OF the opposition? Is it not clear
that party organization is necessary |
to combat party organization? Can
be won in any other way?
Away with platitudes and cheap |
heroes! What the opposition want |
is organization and discipline. The |
Democratic party is the only organized |
party in the opposition. Shall we
unite with it, or do worse?