Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1876-03-16
A RELIC OF TIE PAST.

III En--
BY intelligent and fair minded men that
Aapsrsonal abuse and defamation of charao'
ter is a leading characteristic Of the Dem
ocratic press Of the country. This was
true in the very origin Of this party and
is equally true to,day. Why is this? Ii
1T because the Democratic press is con
troled by men of low instinct and con-
''temptable habits, or who do not know
what it is to be gentlemen? This view
would certainly be q solution Of the prob
lem, but we will not make the charge as
thereby we might do injustice to some.
Democracy, 50 called, had its origin In
opposition to President Washington's
Administration. Washipgtons' idea was
tthat the American people constituted a
nation and that the citizens in 1887 formed
National Government and not a mere
league of sovereign and Independent
States. The opposition had a different
view holding that the American people
was not a nation, and that the Union
formed in 1887 was a mere league or
~oonfederacy Of sovereign States, and that
each State had the right to withdraw at its
.optiOn. Hence Washington was denounced
as Q consolidatiouists, q tyrant, a despot
and as an enemy to liberty and the right
ITO sslfrgovernment, He was denounced
rs the source Of all official and political
corruption, and his retirement from Office
was proclaimed as a fit occasion for uni-
versal rejoicing by those who opposed him.
We give the following extract as a
specimen. 1t appeared in a Democratic
aIaheet on the Attn Of March 1897, the day
. on which Washington retired from the
Presidential cbair: |
fFRoM THEPHrLADELPHTA "AURoRA''
s4c tzu MARCH 4, 1871
IN "tLord, now !ettest Thou thy servant
depart in peace, Tor mine eyes have seen
q Thy saivation,' was the pious %cjacula-
ton of a mar who beheld a flood OF hap
piness rushing upon mankind. If ever
there was \ time that would license the
rcietrati0n OF the exclamation, that time
q 10 now arrived; for the man who is the
source of all the misfortuncs of our
country is this day reduced to a level
with his fcllow.citizens, and Is no longer
possessed ofpOwer to multiply evils upon
the United States. If ever there was a
period for rejoicing. this Is the moment.
Every heart IN unison with the freedom
and happiness OF the people ought to
beat high with exultation that the name
of WASHINGTON from this day ceases
.ytogivea currency to political iniquity,
and ia legalize corruption. a new era
iisnow opening upon us-an era which
..pr0mises much to the people for public
measures must nov stand upon their
kown merits, md nefarious projects can
no longer, be supported by . name
When q retrospect is taken of the WASH
JUNCTION administration for eight years,it
Isl subject Of The greatest astOnishment
that a single individual should have
eankcred the principles of republicanism
in all enlightened people just emerged
rgfsoni the gull OF depOtism, and should
have carried his designs against the
public liberty SO far as'to have put in
Jeopardy Its very existence. Such,
however, are the facts. and with these
staring as In the face, this day ought to
be a jubilee In the United States"
neoWho believes the charges here made?
The verdict, of the civilized world has
long since been rendered, vindicating
Washington and branding his accusers
and the Democracy Of his day with false
hood. The better the man the more he
ismust be- abused and DETAINED, seems to be
1.-THE tpirit Of Democracy. Who has been
more thoroughly abused than Washington,
Lincoln and Grant, yet who more dis
tingpisbed for patriotism, honesty Of pur.
'ipuss and devotion to country? But
error need not be feared if truth is free
10 combat it. A majority Of the people
are honest, and whom Democracy de-
g.. .hon horor moe, This b,s boor
,.,;.;no,v vsr;sed in the history Of these
49,. a,.;ur,;shsd man ..Towsru, On,
N. Chinese Care ms,surea bv ,be;,
Lo.h,dow, and oro,t men bv their oalum
Z n;.ters.. An cid French pr,verb com