The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-05-12

ago, dispersed by force of arms a consu
tutional convention of Kansas, and that
therefore. the Democrats were estopPe'
from finding fault with q Republican
Administration for military interference
with the Legislature of Louisiana. TIL
countercharge was based on fact. Blu
consider where such course of reasonin!
/, would lead Us. The Democratic part
Is estopped from censuring Republican
Administration for an unwarrantabl'
abuse of power on account of a similar
act perpetrated in the past BY Demo
cratic Administration. II the Democrat
should accede to power and abuse tina
power the same way again, they would
have the same right to repel protest o
the Republicans on the GROUND of theil
former transgressions. Thus the Consti
tuition and the laws may be trampled
under foot by either party, and neither
has right to protest, each being estoppeo
by its own acts.
This is an unhealthy age, an unworthy
condition of things, and the natural con-
sequence is, that each party claims the
confidence and support of the people,
less on the strength of its own virtues,
than on the strength of the superior vices
of the other.
| shall certainly admit that in both
parties there are men desiring to act,
upon higher inspirations, and that here
and there good things have been done by
either But it will not be denied, when
you look at the generality Of your politi-
cal struggles during the last few years,
| this picture is drawn in tone colors. Is
/ i hot nf
affairs a large number of good citizens
having the welfare Of the country truly at
heart, and not knowing which way to
| turn, stay away from the ballot-box alto
gether? They find in the circumstances
before them the same advice once given
to traveller inquiring about two roads
leading to the same point: Stranger,
whichever you may choose, you will see
reason to wish that you had chosen the
other" Is it wonder that many other
good citizens, casting aside for moment,
at least, their party allegiance, vote for
this party now and for the other party
then, governed by temporary impress
sion less as to the good to be done than
as to the mischief to be prevented? Is
it astonishing, in one word, that a con-
tinually increasing number Of men should
at last see the necessity of throwing off
the shackles Of discipline and doing their
own voting independently? And where
that Independent vote falls, it has shown
itself apt to disturb the figures of party
calculators Last fall it administered a
terrible lesson to the Republicans In
New Hampshire it refused to 60 for the
Democrats who had used their power
for spoils-grabbing; and in Connecticut
it went decidedly against that Republican
whe had fired one hundred guns in
honor Of the military interference in
Louisiana.
would net at this moment venture to
advise a definite policy in detail, to be
followed with regard to the coming Pres
idential election. For that [ believe it
is too early yet. But it does seem adj
visable to me that the independent men
of the country, in view of the influence
they will be called upon to exert, should
take such initiatory steps as will enable
them to come to an understanding among
themselves, be it by the organization of
committees, or such other measures as the
skill of organizers may suggest, so that
when the time arrives they may be well
prepared to act with united power upon
the existing parties by their moral pres
sure, or, if necessary, without them. |
deem it quite probable that the suggestion
| venture to make will not find favor
with the managers of either of the ex-
listing organizations. If they ask me, sin
hostility to which party are such steps
to be taken ?" / would answer, 'tNot
necessarily in hostility to either. 1t
dpnendG unOn their own we'll doing ="
Each of them will say, eve are going
to offer you all the good things you are
aiming at. Why, then, this prepare
ton ?" The answer is, Every well, if
you try to do so in good faith, and give
the necessary guarantees in the character
of your men, we shall certainly not him
der but aid you in doing so. If you
offer us choice of blessings instead of a
choice of evils, we shall congratulate the
country and ourselves. But if you do
not, then we are justified in preparing to
act as our judgment may dictate. And
if you ask us specifically what we want,
you must find it only natural that we
should prepare for the possibility of tell
ing you at the approximate time with
the emphasis of united expression" Far
from looking with disfavor upon propo-
sition such as suggest, the best elements
in either party should hail it as power
full aid in furthering their most honora-
BILE efforts to reform their own party or
CARNATIONS, and if they should succeed
in both it would perhaps be discovered
that the best men of the two parties are
in their aims not very far from one an
other.