The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-21
THE DUTY Of DEMOCRATS.
A Letter to the Hon. Francis Herman
by ClarkSOn N. Potter.
HINTS FOR THE CONVENTION
A Proposed Recreation and Regeneration Of
the Principles Of the Democracy
THE POLICY OF THE PERIOD

NurwooD. NEW ROCHELLE, NJ Y, June IL, 1870
bon. FRANCIS KERxAx:-
MY DEAR SR-You tho head OF the delegation
from this State TO the approaching Democratic Con-
venton. In that Convention State, either by us
magnitude or its services will be entitled TO b.
heard and be needed than New York To you, there
TORE venture to address these suggestions 70 tn,
danger and the duty Of party this time
We are approaching . national election time "
general depression and dsaster-ata time, too, when
all patriotic citizens panied and mortified by
lations OF widespread corruption in Office Never be-
fore in the history Of the country has thore been
administration whose tone been low, whose in
iuence has been demoralzing aud whose leading
men have been largely arralgncd for breaches Of
common honesty.
Under such circumstances it would be natural for
the people OF the country depose the party power
II they hesitate in doing must be because OF tho
apprehensions they have about intrusting to our
party the conduct Of the Cove nment And yet why
should there be such apprehcnsionss Surely that
slavery will be restored. The democracy never were
in favor Of slavery. So far they acted with slave
holders they did because they regarded slavery
beyond the power OF the federal government and not,
therefore TO be properly safely dealt with by it,
because they favored the system: because they
ctoteS-nOt
we're Tor slavery But hao they been the party of
slavery that would make no difference now. Slavery
has not only ceased, but has become impos-
sible. The late changes in the constitution pre-
vent its restoration without the Of the North,
while the changed status of the coored population
ders such restoration, even II not SO prevented,
equally impossible Slavery was Of those evils
which men did not know how 10 get rid Of lawfully
but which, once rid Of Il is not possible 20 restore
To dispute about It Is therefore, like dsputng about
the issues that prevailed before the food. To appre-
bend its restoration Is idle fear return OF the
waters which then covered the earth.
Equally unounded is the notion that the control OF
the general government by the democrats dangerous
to the integrity and unity OF tho country. Nothing
could be more erroneous than this Whatever ques-
ton existed the homogeneousness Of the country
has ceased to Tho OF those trials OF
strength which afforded The last argument such ques-
tons admit Of and that question was
finally settled by the result Of the war; Ages
hence new and unforeseen may lead to
the separation OF these States, but no
present and existing cause points to that result Re-
publican may be overthrown and absolute
or ogarchical government prevail instead but what
ever form the government OF this people may take
they WILL by OF their physical and raj
roundings and necessities remain nation for gen.
erations yet to come.
"a UNITED SOUTH"
But this is not age given to political reflection
and'when real causes are not apparent tho people
apt ut first 10 ascribe results to wrong They
find "a united SOUTH opposed the administration
Of Grant, and remembering that 1t was lately in armed
revolt against the administration OF Lincoln
that the party with which acting must
tore, be wrong. And yet the present aiti-
tude OF the South Is wholly duo to what
Mr. Pinchback at tho Cincinnati Conven-
ton called 1.-THE corruption and mismanage-
ment which had upon the South at the hands OF
Northern adyenturers the oppression OF whose scar
petbag governments necessarily united all who had
anything ose whatever their politics. in opposition
the administration which these pundcrers
in power In truth tho South has no longer those in
with the party Of limited and localized govern
ment which It formerly had. Plundored and impover-
ished its present interests rather in strong led
eral government with liberal powers; one that
will build public works, grant subsidies, hold up the
weak and aid the feeble And these considerations
would from the close OF the war; have put the South
the side Of the republican party but tho oppres
sion and ruin resulting from "carpet-bag" rulo
But II u the nature OF men to reckon people with
reference to The divisions in which they have found
them. and until present themselves
and another opportunity and necessity for reckon
ing arrives to count them up according 10 the issues
which they were before divided even after those issues
have wholly ceased TO exist AND the republican
leaders, instead Of being abashcd and overwhelmed by
the corruptions In their midst which have been
posed, in solemn convention sscharge the democratic
party DO In charac' and spirit when
i sympathized with treason and warn the people TO
'sbeware Vi this Confederate Congress- Nothing
be moro unjust or uniounded and do not believe the
people are 10 be thus msed as TO the causes Of tho
existing attitude OF the South But the question OF the
present Is how TO purify ana reform the government
and to that the people ASK What do you democrats
proposcs What Is II your desire to doy"
Surely this is question u Is not difficult to answer
and surely, too, y ought 70 be frankly and fully
answered, and answered first by the Convention
about 20 assemble at ST Louis to lay down
platform and nominate candidate tor the coming
CAM align. And that body should answer it, not by
economy and reform, winch all favor and for which
every convention declares but should, u cms 10 me-
answer BY pronouncing for some means by which u
may be reasonably claimed that these desirable ends
can DO obtaned.
LIMITED AND LOCALIZED GOVERNMENT
What is party organization Tor but 70 carry into ef
feet tho measures 1t sustainsY Purity, economy,
efficiency reform, arc not measures, but ends. Ii
party has no measures support bat only men, has
ceased TO be party OF principle and has become
personal party II Is indeed well TO have good men 10
ADMINISTER government but il is better 10 have good
system OF government The one ends with the man -
the other remains in pcrmancnce II our
system Of government is now as perfect as
done rs 10 secure tho best possible adm nslration
IT, But If the evils which from detects in
our government which result froin tho inability vi
those who framed the government TO foresce such
evils and therefore 70 guard against them; and u
these detc4encios In the government be rcmedied
las they been In large part other governmental
surely IL the part Of wisdom 10 remedy them IN our
government Doubtless, II everybody were good we
should have such evils Doubtless, want purcr
and better people But Il the duty OF the statesman
make the best OF the existing condition VI thugs
and taking people they are, to regulate aud ad
minister government as 70 bring about Tor
the people, as they are, the best practical
results While popular government continues ia
SO vast q country ours there must genei ally be
two parties. One Tor having the governing
powers do much, the other for having them do ttie
une Tor having the OF government ccntraiizcd
the other Tor having u localized. rnc democracy Is
the party which Tor limited and for localized govern
mcnL II exlss, therefore BY the very necessities Of
the case. aud L. some party To like end must con-
tnue 10 exist But the conditions 10 which limited
and ocalized ~ be applied now dlter