The Hillsborough recorder., 1878-07-17
STAND TO Your GUNS.

STAND TO YOUR GUNS.
A campaign short, sharp and decisive has
been resolved upon, and oaiy three weeks
stand between US and the day of battle.
How are We getting ready for II? How are
we goiag IL meet the shock 10 tell the
truth, there appears to be an abundant a.
mount Of skulking, and what is worse, an
abundant amouht Of INSTRUMENTATION. anil
.he Democratic party all over the State
gives signs of luoseness Of structure that
bodies no good to the country, the people or
the party, because Of the damaging and
dangerous Influences of independencY which
faunts iis traitor baHIcr III almost every
county in the State.
Iudependency has three distinct pretences
for its existence the assumed impregnahle
strength of,he Democratic party which puts
it beyond all The dangers gyoSing out Of
division offorces. Or contrarieiyof parpase;
the unfair and partial action If Conventions
by which the just and real wishes Of the
people are s,iaed aud improper men forced
upon their suffrages; aud lastly, and most
commonly. the greedy ambition of silf seek
ing men who claim reward for services the
people do not see Ct to recogbise at the va
lue claimed for them, or wha believe those
services have already been sufficient regnit-
ed.
As to the 6rst. it is, without foundation
fol in the faetaations Of popular action and
in the continuaily changing aspects Of pub
lie questions no party can claim 70 have
imputable foundatioas. There is no more
dangerous error than 70 rely upon the LAST
ing subjugation Of an opposition because Of
any one significant overthrow; and any in
diyidual experience in human nature viii
furnish proof how unsafe i is to rely upon
the permanency of victory achieved over
powers believed TO be an overInatch IN .
conflict, and then overihroun at The tempe
rary abasement OF pride and manhood.
Parties. ike men. will nurse their resent.
ments. and watchfally and patiently abide
the reSenges of Opportunity. This is the
attitude Of the two great parties Of the coun-
try-emphatically % of the parties Of this
State. But because the Democratic party
was 50 overwhelmingly victorious in 1876,
it BY no means follows that the Republican
party is annihllated ; il byno means follows
that il is disorganized. that il is weak. or
without its purposes Of revenge. Nor is it
without its capacities FOR revenge, IL the
Democratic party i foolish enough to open
up the enyied opportunity which il Willdo
most assuredly if it blusters about the 6eld
with all the airs Of an irresistible conquei-
or. and addresses itsclfto dividing lis spoil
before il has well assured itself Of its secu-
rity.
II the curse Of Radical rule il again Vi
sited upon North Carolina, and the South.
it will Be because ibe Democratic party has
presumptuously abused its position. and
failed to recognize iis responsibility to his.
tory for the preservation Of constitutional
liberty. All the blessings regained with
30 much labor and address and talent and
eloquence from the s,rOngholds Of tyrraun,
and corruption will have been friiisred
away By the petty vanities Of personal a.pi,
ration. Or BY the insane smbitiOn Of imIa
tien, politicians. These last are included
10 our above classification Of the origin d
independent candidates.
Tb. second. the most frequent. sbd there
fore the most important Of the causes-th,
alleged. unfair and partial neiiOn Of Con
vsntiOns. BY which the real voice Of III,
people Is stihed. and improper men foreee
upon their sufrage--remsins 70 be noticed
We have frequently had occasion 70 motto,
this allegation. and u remark. that Will
conventions are rot absolutely free froa
causes q apprehension. they Jet offer ib,
most obviously ja.t and ready mode of ex
pressing popular preferences. consi.tsn
with efheieut party organization. wilLou
orgaBifaiioa.a party becomes loose raB
bic. sevies Of squads o. free lighters. val
liable and sllOssbls y guetilla force
harrass and wear out % opposition bsnde
ss fornidably as was once l,e Republics
party. bat stterly worthless and unaysil
able % secure advantage. gaincd ~ III
use and recognition Of such warfsre. TIL.
those gains wete sabsisntisl and Of insl
tinsbls saino totbe people of North Car,
lina. no mas u mcmory o. observation q
dsny. a tyrrsaical, corup, and erirsvl
CANT sta.e government oyerthrown. the d,
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