The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-01-22
LACKsONIAx DEAOCRACX.
Secretary Thurnlan's Letter TO
the Column bus Banquet COmmi 4
lee.
WASHINGTON. City, Jan. 6, 1879

WASHINGTON, City, Jan. 6, 1879.
MEssRs JOHN ID. SULLIVAN, A. D. HEFF-
NER. AND OTHERS, COMMITTEE, COLUMBUS.
OHIO:
Ny DEAR SIRs: l fully expected to at
tend the banquet on the Sth instant at Col
umbus and 10 enjoy that reuaiOn OF politi-
cal aud PERSONAL friends on a day so memo
IA ole 10 the history OF the Republic. and 90
Ia uch cherished bY its Democracy, but at
the last moment, aud to my great regret,
find that 1t will not be in my power TO have
that pleasure. L am just beginning to re-
cover from a severe cold that has afflicted
me for a week OF more, and | cannot but
recognize the fact that IL would be impru-
dent tor me, in such extremely cold
weather, to make trip requiring 800
miles travel and crossing the mountains
twice.
Permit me to offer few reflections upon
the toast 'Jacksonian Democracy the
theme on which L was appointed To speak
Ofcourse some Other speaker viii take ms
place ald do justice to the subject, but tie
privilege may be accorded to me ofjotting
down some very brief and pertinent obser
Vations. | wish to recall attention TO some
of the most marked characteristics OF the
Democracy of the time OF And ew jackson
| refer TO the time when h8 was a canl-
date for the Presidency, am when he filled
the Presidential chair.
First--The Democracy We're then emf
nentIy, if not pre-eminentiy, distingu shed
by their devotion to the Union of the States
South aud North, East and West. That
sentiment was cherished by every true
Democrat. Subsequent events chilled, and
at length for time suspended, it in the
South; buo the happiest circumstance of
our present condition (thanks to the in
fluence OF Democratic principles) is that
the love of the Union is everywhere restor-
ed and that its preservation is a fix d prin-
cple OF the Democratic party in the South.
Secondly the party was equally diStin-
guished By its love of the Constitution. 1t
sought to preserve it in al IFS Yigqr and
beneficence by giving It q national and
rational INTERPRETATION aud il ba5tled man
faliv and constantly against those lati-
tudnarian constructions that threat
ened TO convert the Government into an
unlimited centralized despotism and On
the other hand against al the vices that
menaced the existence OF the Union. And
permit me to say that the principles of
Jacksonian Democracy in this respect are
as i'm portant to-day as they ever were at
any period of our history.
Tbirdly-The Jacksonian Democracy we're
the determine foes of monopoly. Tney
could not b. otherwise, for the very fOun-
cation OF the party was the doctrine OF
equal rights. By whatever names they
may have been called. there have been, and
perhaps ever will be, but two great arties
In America-the Democratic party, asking
nothing bur equal rights. and an opposing
ever will seek. special privileges created by
law Who eau FORGET toe great battle
fought ty Tug DeuFocfacv, under the lead OF
Jackson, against the Bank of the United
States eno who can fail TO See that des-
perate struggle against a far more powerful
com binatipn OF capital and privilege than
presented by that Institution is now
pending? Will the Democracy Of to
day follow the example set oy their fathers.
of inneXihle opposition tn special privilege,
how
the history, and the traditions OF their par
ty? This Is a question that must ere long
be answered Nv own belief is that il will
be answered as it ought 70 be, and that the
Democrats Of to-day will prove thea selves
10 be, what thar fathers were, true men
They viii be earnest, bnt not rash; deter
mined, but not unreasonable; destructive OF
wrongs and aouses alone. and conservative
OF all that should exist in a free Republic
Fourthly-The "Jacksonian Democracy"
were a party Ct ecCnomy. The ordinary
annual expense OF 1ackson's administration
Chat IS the expenses of the Government
exclusive of payments in discharge OF the
public debit we're but $l5.000 600, or there
abouts. Now our ordinary annual eXpen-
ses are nearly ten times that >um. What a
contrast While our population has increas-
ed but little more than three-fold, our ex
penses have increased nearly ten-foId. Is
It not high time that We should return TO
the economical principles and practices OF
Jaeksonisn Democracy?
-s0 points. few 10 Number, but trans
ce ndenS in i'm port ance, / have thought 1t
proper to note Tor the consideration of our
friends. Others might be stated but these
must suffice for to-day.
Gentlemen. know that the banquet will
be enjoyed by those who attend it. l trust
that il will prove beneficial TO others as
well. / trust that its influence will be felt
in reviving Jacksonian Democracy aud IN
combining the opposents OF the Kepuoit-
can party in q grand effort to free the cOun-
try from misrule and corruption.
have the honor TO be, yours truly.
A. G.. THURMAN.