Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-14
EMPMIS APPEAL
WEDNESDAY,, }: JULY II, 1915.

TIE CHANsE-WHAE HAS CAUSED III
During the contest FOR the Presidency
in 1850, the Democratic party Was led
hy men who maintained the Calhoun
doctrine on the subject Of States rights
the right Of a State to secede from the
Union whenever its citizens thought
that the Federal government had ex-
ceeded its powers under the constitution.
ON the other hand, the Republican par
ty occupied the adverse and equally ex-
IRENE ground Of Capitalization Of power
il the Federal government, which had
been maintained in the early days Of
the republic by Alexander Hamilton
and his school Of politicians. As events
have shown, the great mass Of the peo-
pie were not in accord with either of
these parties upon principle. The ex-
IRENE men Of both sections either voted
for Lincoln or Breckenridge, while a
large body, not agreeing with either,
followed and voted for Douglas. In that
contegt, however, many voted for Lin
coin who did not indOrse the
centralizing tendency Of his par
ty. This was because the Re-
publlcans claimed to be the Union
party Of the country, while the Breck-
ipridge wing Of the Democratic party
were looked upon by them as the dis
union party. They desired, above all
things, to save the Union, and while in
principle they sympsthizsd with Doug
las, they had 10 confidence in his
chances OF success. Thus many voted
for Lincoln, hoping to afterward make
the fight for the cherished principle OF
States rights inside Of the Union. The
passions Of the contest arose so high as
to precipitste the country into civil
war, and many took up arms IN defense
Of the Union and the national flag who
were opposed alike to Capitalization and
secession. And, on the other hand,
many enlisted and fought under the
stars and bars vino occupied, upon prin-
ciple, political opposition both to dis
union and secession, but felt In duty
bound 10 follow the fortunes Of their
section OF country and their respective
States, and their neghbors, kindred
and friends, When the war closed,
the leaders of the Republican party,
claiming that it was par excellence the
Union party of the country, shrewdly
deceived the people as to the intended
encroachments upon their rights which
were guaranteed TO the.people OF the
States by the constitution. Under the
cry Of "Union," and rebellion must
be made odious," they were fast crush
ing but the life OF the republic and fos-
tering upon the masses the twin broth
ers Of Capitalization and aristOcrscy.
Al aristocracy, not of blood or intellect,
but one founded upon money and the
power il gave its pOssessOrs to influence
legislation at the Federal capitol. The
people were caught in the trap for a
while, but the time came when their
eyes were to be opened. Notwithstand-
ing the fact that the Democratic leaders,
DESTROYS to show to the people that the
Democratic party was now true to the
Union, nominated Horace Greeley for
the Presidency, he was defeated and
q military chieftain elected, and the
country drifted still faster into the vor-
tex Of Capitalization. If the Democracy
ola southern State mentioned the subject
OF States rights in their platform, it was
heralded all over the north as an evil
dence Of the still smOuldering fires of
secession, and the northern heart was
fired with mistrUst and hatred Of the
south. When the Democratic State
convention met at Columbus, Ohio, in
1873, many delegates Were in favor OF
trying again the pollby adopted in the
nomination of Greeley. But Senator
Allen Il, Thurman stepped to the
front and demanded IN the name Of the
people that the contest should be made
upon the Jeffersonian doctrine OF States
rights. He succeeded in carrying his
point, and the flag Of the Democratic
party was unfurled and. q lifelong DEM
ocrst Of the Jeffer5onian school placed
in the field as tbs exponent Of the true
principles of Democracy derived from
the constitution, and the first victory
over Radicalism, Capitalization and
shoddy-aristocracy was the result. Since
that time more than fOur-tifChs Of
the States nave elected Democratic
governors, and swept out of
the house Of representatives. q
domineering and insolent Radical ma
jority, and placed in its stead States
rights Democrats, regardless OF what
flag they followed in the late war, or
whether they were in either army. H.
roads have been made upon the Radical
majority in the senate, and one by one
they are falling before the indignation
Of people whom they have betrayed
and whose liberties they have been I'M
dermining. Even in the State Of Mas
sachusetts, where UnioHism was so wild
as to place Ben Butler in Office time and
again, that monster has been stricken
down and forced to the shades of retire
ment. What caused this change? 1t is
an unmistaksble fact that when the
masses became satisfied that the Demo-
cratic party had puTged itself OF the
doctrine of secession they felt that it
was, what Jefferson and jackson had
made it, the constitutional party OF the
country. The people have long since
learned that to preserve the rights Of the
States is to preserve the civil and relig-
ious liberties of the masses. For this
reason they are putting their shoulders
to the wheels OF the Democratic party,
and pushing it on to victory after VIC
tory in the States, and It is this that will
crown that party with triumph in the
Presidential contest in 1876.
VIRGIEIA POLITICS.
The proud and grand old common
wealth Of Virginia is preparing for the
next State elections. The Democratic