The Russellville Democrat., 1876-06-01

once oub ol theif Srasp, tHe COT rupt men who s'ratted'' from the Democratic party into the Repub- lican, would instinctivcly follow the scent of public plunder, and rat back into the democratic par ty; and the republican party, re leased of it's incubus, with it's men of ideas at the front, would again deserve the confidence of the country. This is consuma- tion devoutly to be wished. Most of my dearest friends are in the republican party, endeared thro' manA years of association by bonds of common faith and mutu- al trust. 1 mean to keep the right to love lhem still. "Hand in hand.we stood around the ad- minisrration of Ancrew, and felt that his own great arm leaned on us for q support 1 live in the undoubting assurance that they will soon learn that patriotism and virtue did not die when the republican party committed sui eide, and that we shrll yet come together in the trials and triumps of the future, and wonder that We ever sepeaatcd.
 What then remains? The Dem ocratic party. Do you belong to the Democratic party?" No, l shall never again "belong' to any party. but I am ready to ce-ope- rate with any party or any set of men, who, in me judgement, best promise to destroy the power which threatens to destroy 4he country. know full we'll how great is the popular distrust of the democratic party, l have ta- ken some small share in creating that dirtrust when it was well founded:
 ''I loved my country and hated it.''
 But now old things have passed away, When we are able to vote in the melennium then we will welcome the ideal party. Till then we must aim at practical methods and practical results. 1 do not like to be forced to a choice of evils, but 1 see clearly that antil one party or the other nominates aa ttieal candidate can didate, we must choose between those that are presented or 'take to the woods"
 Can we trust the Democratic party? In 1S4S our southern whig supporting friends, in justi- fyingssthemselves in supporting the whig ticket with Gen. Taylor at the head, used to say. "The southern man who is fartherest from us is nearer to us than any northern man eau be-" It is my profound conviction that the worst Democrat whose nomina. tien at St. Louis is possible is safer for the country than the best republican whose nomina tion is possibld at Cincinnatti
 The imperative, the solemn need of the country is a change of the national administration A new set of hoods must be open ed at Washington. Every de l partment of government, from the White house to the custom house must be purified; the accounts oI S0,000 office holders must be ex amined. l have no fear that while this process of scrutiny is going on, any new set of office holders can organize a system O peculation and corruption like that which now is Tn full blast Even if the forthcoming admins tration should follow in the foot steps of its predecessor, l thind know that in four entire years i could not entrench itself in oflic, as the republican party has don' in almost sixteen years of undis puted power; and that in lSS( the country will repudiate tn, servants who should prove untru, to thelr trusts, and would rein state republican rarty redeemed regenerated, and disenthral.ed But l do not rest my hopes upol my wisdom as prophet. l rel. as well upon the record of tn
 Democratic party for the last fou years. l remember that in 1S7
 they nominated Horace Creole, aS fhpir coluidatp for tha ,,rooi