Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-03-29
THE INDEPENDENTS IN CON
GRESS.

For some years now it has been a |
matter of speculation in political !
circles what IS going to be the 'sffpce |
upon the balance Of political parties,
TO arise from the action of certain |
politicians who have taken position |
outside of The two great parties into |
which the country is divided. Hith-
erto ssindependent candidates" have
been chiefly known in local politics,
and there under various names, ac-
eOrding to the locality. In one
place they are called Greenbackers,
inanother Labor League candidates
sometimes simply Independent cam
didates, and here in Montgomery
county low-tax men. In almost
every instance their leaders are dis
appointed Democratic politicians
about whose merits and importance
r difference has arisen between their
own estimate and that of the party
in general. In their organization,
wherever light has penetrated deep
enough, Radical intrigue has been
found busy, and it has been curious
to see how often they have almost
succeeded with the aid of their Rad
zeal allies in defeating the Demo-
cratic party, but failed by a very
small deficit. This near attainment
of success, followed by ultimate fail
ure, has been so frequent that one
is induced to seek q general cause
for it, and so seeking has not far to
look. The Radical intrigue, which
is always at the bottom Of these
organizations, is always carefully
concealed at first, and the Independ-
ent organization becomes n home
for Democrats who are not posted as
TO the real purposes in view, but
Join IL because the true Democratic
party does not move fast enough for
them. This goes on till the real
purposes of the intrigue are near
their consummation, and then the
true nature of the intrigue becomes
manifest because the Radical allies
refuse to be kept in the background,
but come forward for their share OF
the prospective spoils. Then those
who are really Democrats abandon
the organization and its true dimen-
siOns become apparent as heterO-
geneous amalgam of Radicals and
discontinued politicians who have
been Democrats, but who have felt
themselves lighted and with whom
revenge is stronger motive than
any belief they may have held in
the doctrines of the Democratic
party.
This will account for the "almOst
success" which Independents OF
whatever name have so often
achieved, and also for the ultimate
failure which has so often Overtaken
them when victory seemed assured.
However, after most persevering
efforts in all parts of the United
States, always aided by their ever.
willing accomplices the Radicals
they succeeded at the last elections
in electing some of their men tC
Congress, and much and eager spec
ulation has exercised mems minds
as to what their numbers would
turn out to be, and what their infiu
ence upon the balance of parties.
These questions have been ex
plicitly answered earlier than wa
expected; the Independent strength
of all denominations turns out to b.
fourteen. 1t is given in all party
divisions so far with the Republi
cans and against the Democrats
and still leaves the latter with 1
narrow but sufficient working ma
jority. This result has been a dis
appointment to many Democrats
but not to us. We had been cOgni
zant of too much of the inner work
ings of independently not to be pre-
pared to see its ultimate actor
determined at the expense of Dem
ocracy and in favor of the Republi
can party, and we think it a happ!
circumstance for the former tina
this result has been so unmistakabl.
brought out so early in the session
Several decisions have been alread,
cleared away. The real purpose O
the Independent movement has be
come now so plain that it needs NJ
further demonstration it has don
its worst and has failed to break u
the Democratic party. 1t is an i'm
menseadvantage that Independenc
can never more sail under false col
Ors, the doing which is the indis
pensible condition of its doing any
thing. It's present representation i
Congress is due in a large measur
to the delusiOn of real Democrat
who fancied that, in voting fu
these men, they were supportin
men who were really Democrats
The mistake is not likely to be re
peated; even thus far it could hav
only resulted from a combination {
shallow knavery with stupendOu
folly, knavery so shallow that tn
Eolly which could be misled it
almost inconceivable but the tru
meaning OF it all has now been 5
fully exposed that the most comic
ing Democrat will hardly in futur
look upon the Independent polit
clan except as Radical in disguise
And thus one or two test votes hav
done the work which has Occupie
Democratic speakers for years, tha
of demonstrating the true meanin
Of independently.
-
HOUSE, BURCH, WATTERSON.
= friendly contest for an impOT