Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-04-22
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JACKSON.
SATURDAY .....s.... APRIL %, 1875

: SATURDAY ....... APRIL %, 1876
:
REFoRMERs.-when two large armies
are approaching each other with hostile
intent the valor Of every soldier is
brought to a severe test. Those with
feeble courage will inevitably attempt to
progress like crawfish. In this situa-
ton discipline and the most rigid discip-
liue must be exercised, or the result may
"a not only prove ingloriouc but fatal to the
cause So it is in the great political bat
- ties which are fought. When the tOcsin
of the strife is sounded, the mal-centents
disregarding harmony and the necessity
of presenting bold front, are ready to
cast aside their arms and move TO the |
rear IL is an incontroyertable fact that |
only two national parties exist in the |
United States. One is the Republican
party, now in power, the other is the |
Democratic party, which hopes to be. |
If, then, there are only two parties, men |
who have the welfare of the country in
view must affiliate with either one or the
other. Among the recent political oc-
aeurrences we find call for conference
of Independent Reformers to meet in
New York city on the 10th Of May.
The call was issued by Carl Schurz, Hort
ace White, William Cullen Bryant and /
other distinguished gentlemen whose |
reputation among their fellows is firmly |
-eztahIshed. The design of the confer
: ence, explains itself: to consider what
may be done to secure the election of men
II. - II. -
: fees Of the republic, whose character and
ability will satisfy the exigencies of the
present situation, protect the national
of the centennial year from becoming a
mere choice Of evils, and satisfy the pop
ular desires fer genuine reform"
The call for such convention and by
such men whose purity of character and
erudition is beyond question, will be at
tended with no ordinary interest. We
fully endorse the following from the
Courier-Journal with reference to the
movement, and think it apropos;
.'No object could be worthier, or
better expressed, but, more's the pity
the quantum of brains and character
which will appear in response 10 IL win
be wholly disprOportiOned to any infiu-
ence 1t Is likely to exert upon the politi-
cal movement of the year. IL viii be an
assembly of gentlemen, convened by gem
tlemen, to make party for gentlemen. |
The country is not governed in that way.
The politics which young Americans inn
bibe issues from the beer-keg, not out of
the long ,neckeil bottle of Asmaunshanser, |
and Is product of purchasable, rather /
than independent Votes-s' -------
The object of this reform movement
evidently grew out of the belief that both |
the national parties were corrupt, and as
4 q consequence igot worthy the support Of
the peopse. But any political .party, or
rather the leading spirits of such party,
are liable to be corrupted, and if the
same people with the same habits were to
espouse the reform movement. would not
the slme results follow? Its frequently
= the ease that the principles of party
may be as pure as snowflake aud yet
the opponents of that party be odious to
virtue and patriotism. But while the re-
form movement would be as vulnerable
TO official depravity as either one of the
3 existing parties we are forced to the con-
eldsion that the reform has come too late
to effect any good. 1t is only short
time now until the presidential election
viii occur, and 1t is well-knOwn fact
that revolutions in public sentiment are
net the work of day nor the work of
any one or two individuals. The politi-
cal opinions of apeople must be changed
= gradually and eifectually, and when the
public mind is ripe for revolution then
and only then can individuals accelerate
such movement. Again to use the Ian
guage of contemporary, win this reform
party effect anything, make party, or
impel the nomination of their fayorite
by either of the existing parties? We
should say that they will not. Their IA
vor would be death to Bristow in the Re
publican party, death to Thurman, Til
den or Bayard in the Democratic party.
They may think themselves not strong
enough 10 stand alone; though this they |
should seek to do. They should recOg- |
nize the hopelessness Of reforming either |
the Republican party or the Democratic |
party, should select two of their number, |
should nominate them, and should stand |
by them. This is the only way to organ
fze reform party. 1t is the only way to |
begin reform movement. If the ticket |
thus made up and presented to the coun- !
try should get votes, as O'Connor got in |
1872, it would still be a start, and, in
party matters as I'm other affairs of life |
"a starts a start"
sSThese remarks apply equally to all
other reformers and Independents. With |
the result of the Greedy campaign and |
the experience of political affairs in this
country before us, let us not go to the
st. Louis convention Ignorant of the
situation. At that convention the best
men should be nominated, for thereby
depends the salvation of the ''model Re-
publie' which has successfully braved
the storms for an hundred years.