The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-05-08
Democracy or Anarchy.

Ever since the war to 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 gov ern
ment be administered according to the
Democratic principles enunciated by JET
PERSON?
On the decision of this issue, this govern
ment stands Republic, or goes into an
archy, thence a emerging an Empire.
There can be no party for the country
unless it stands on declared principles
unless it says plainly and positively
These are the principles upon which We
propose to administer this government.
five consider the form, organization
and theory of our government, we must
conclude that it can only be properly
| administered and made to serve the pur
poses of government on the principles OF
representative democracy laid down by
JEFFERSON.
We believe there are sufficiently large
number of honest patriotic people in the
United States of our way of thinking to
decide this issue in favor of the Repub lie.
Let us make the issue. Let the people
decide whether they will have their COLI
stitution interpreted and their government
administered according to fixed prin-
ciples, or according to the whims and IN
terests of the particular persons, who may
for the time be in power and thus have
politics degenerated into a struggle be
tween leaders.
We must offer the people something
affirmative: The question is not, what
are we opposed to, but what are you in
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 but making war
on all that is wrong in the present admin
istration of this government. We can
effect nothing with party organized on
the simple ideas ofopposihon.
In politics the assertion of principles
and policy means action, aggression,
enforcement. Opposition means defence
not of principles, but defence against
the party in power. Such an idea never
was successful in politics.
Opposition to Republicans does not
necessitate the assertion Of any principles.
The Republicans profess no principles
do not propose to run the governme Mt
according to any fixed principles. The
Republican party is simply a combina-
ton of individuals for the purpose of
securing and holding office. There is
no creed TO which member must sub
scribe, except to devote himself to the
interest of the party. One member of
this party may be protectionlst aud an
other freetrader-one a hard money
man, aud another a currency inhatioulst'
They may be of all shades of political
principle One half the Republicans
might to-day stand on a true Democratic
platform without any compromise of po-
Iitical principle There is no such thing
as Republicanism-it is simply the Re
publican party or ring. We cannot or
Qanize and hold together party based on
opposition to individuals who form the
Republican party.
The coming State canvass must be
made on straight Democratic principles. |
No CONCESSIONS or compromise of principle |
must be made in hope of local or temper
airy success.
Certain measures of policy growing out
of their principles were advocated by the
Democrats before the war. They we're