Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-03-05
The Democratic Party.

sufficient to prove the integrity
of the rule, its history has been a
history of triumphs; not of mere
party successes, but of principles
which concern the well being of
liberty and equality, and lie at the
foundation Of the system upon
which the ark Of our political safe
~ rests. From the days of JET
ferson, the Democracy have come
oil conquerors in every great bat
tie. Their opponents resisted,
inch by inch, the acquisition of
louisiana - TIE war of 1872
the overthrow of the United States
Bank-the Inauguration of the
constitutional Treasury-the an.
nexatlon of TeXas-the acquisi
ton Of CalifUruia-the revenue
Tariff, and predicted in case of the
success of these measures respect
lvely, irretrievablc ruin to the best
interests OF the country, if not its
Tinal overthrow. But the Demo
cratic party, acting with that uni
ted energy which never failed to
characterize its early efforts, in
the pursuit Of great and cherish
ed principles, drove it's enemies
from every field, and practically
established by works the policy OF
its faith. Long years have rolled
onward, and these measures have
been severally sanctioned AID ap
proved by the public judgment,
and even those who resisted most
1iercely, now yield the most quiet
and ready acquiescemce. This
proud eminence for the Democrat
&c party, was not the result Of &C
cident, the !ruit OF management,
or the turn of good luck, but il
was achieved by adhering With
unfaltcring devotion to principle,
and choosing its standard bearers,
from the highest to the lowest,
from amongst those Dist nguished
for the;r fidelity 10 its faith and
practice.
1t cannot be denied. that COM
pared with the party OF the past,
the Democratic party OF the pres
ent day stunds in unenviable and
Illuminating con'raSt:-its ranks
broken - its masses disent2grat-
edits organization demoralized ,
and total want of that union
of sentiment and sympathy IN
action, which in other times en-
deared it 10 the peorle--whlch
gave it it's power In the day OF bat
tie, and rewarded it with victory.
And why, let us enquire, with
equal candor aud kindness, has
this "change come DER the spirit
spirit Of DREAM" 1t is because
too many captains have become
generals, each fighting on his own
hook, with an end, and aim, and
object Of his own, not among the
least of which is an early increase
of rank aud rations. 1t Is be.
cause, instead of standing as The
stern guardians of the treasury, as
in days of yore, too many of Its
members, like the dog in the fable
when he could no longer guard
lis masters meat successfully, fell
TOO himself, and devoured 1t, to
preserve it from the robbery of
others. It is because those in haste
for station before their time, in
stead of adhering with vigor to the
principles of the party, too often
seek elevation upon the shoulders
of detection, and stealthily offer
premium to the camp follower for
the support of himself and assc-
ciates, rather than trust their for
times to the unbiased voice of the
party. This course has been pur-
sued with persistence which has
tended TO turn principles and fidel-
ity adrlt, and raise the price OF
management aud jockeying in the
political market; and, upon the
whole, has done more to degrade
and demoralize the Democratic
organization, than all other causes
VI >
put together.
This once proud party, which
has stood as a beacon light upon
the mountains to guide the polit-