Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-07

N - > NV A14As
With the possession Of Democratic
House in the next Congress, almost
certain to be followed by Democratic
Administration two years hence, it is
well that we should begin to face the
task before US, studying its complica-
tons and measuring its difficulties.
Amid the rejoicings of victory, we
must remember what victory means.
1t means the assumption of duties and
responsibilities under the most dis
couragfng circumstances. The De-
mocracy are called upon TO take the
helm Of the ship Of state at an epoch
when it has drifted far from its moor
Ings and is beating about among dam
gerous rocks. already half wrecked,
and straining at thousand leaks. 1t
is like a man falling heir to an estate,
the substance of which has been squan-
dered in riotous living. The shell is
there, but the landed property is COW
cred over with liens and mortgages,
while bad debts figure largely in the
personal effects,
So the Democracy falls heir to ma
ton, almost bankrupt in official virtue,
and burdened with debt and taxation.
Our finances are In terrible tangle'
1t will take years TO straighten them on
any basis of equity between man and
man. The redress of tariff wrongs
mist be more or less gradual Those
old giants, Clay, Calhoun and Webster,
took ten years to adjust tariff compli-
cations which were simplicity itself In
comparison with those that have grown
up during the past twelve years Under
Radical rule, monopohes, railroads and
other moneyed corporations have been
allowed to grow so strong that they will
give the Democracy a severe tussle.
The most cursory view of the field
ought to convince us that the task to
which we are invited is Titanic. We
are called on to shoulder all the bur-
dens that Radicalsm has been
heaping on the people, and
are expected at the same time
to relieve the people. Nothing but that
cardinal principle and practice of the
Democracy, which invokes the people
to manage their own affairs at every
step, could inspire any hope for success
in the duplex task of reparation and
relief. But the Democracy is pre-emi-
nently the party of the people. By
pursuing its time-tried traditions, they
will, themselves, appreciate the difficult
ties in the way, and gradually sur
mount them. Certainly, those who ex-
pect that the inauguration of Demo-
cratic Administration viii instontly
wipe out all the mischiefs wrought by
Radicalism, are doomed to disappoint-
ment. They expect a miracle. They
expect a man sick unto death, to take
up his bed and walk the moment a good
physician takes charge of his case.
No, the nation must first pass
through the stage of convalescence,
before it RECEIVERS the pristine strength
of old Democratic days. Gonzales
cence is trying and tedious. A relapse
is to be guarded against asfatally dan
gerous. The patient may have to be
humored somewhat, but the needful
and sometimes noisome medicines must
be faithfully administered none the
less. Confidence in good physician
goes far toward Fastening recovery,
and so, dropping the metaphor, the
mere Inauguration of Demecraticprln-
ciples and practices will inspire new
life in trade, commerce, and every de-
partment Of industry. This Is especial
ly true of the South, hitherto helpless
and almost hopeless. The certainty OF
home rule will infuse now hope into
our people, while the overthrow of the
public plunderers will encourage North
as well as South to fresh enterprises,
reriving dropping industries, and CIV
ing healthful employment to the thou
sands now out of work.