Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-08-10
DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.

"AIAe cunning up 1EInco stEee
yesterday towards our Office, VI
heard q gentleman discoursing up
On democratic principles. /" We
are always wanting to learn some
thing new, but in this instance We
did not stop to listen to him, be-
cause We thought that if there was
anything We did know it was what
democratic principles" were. But
after while, pursuing Q train of
thought started by these chance
words, We began to be puzzled, and
pressing our thinking-cap more
firmly upon our head, We began to
wrestle with ourself. It was Of no
avail, however, and after half hour
given over to vain endeayors, We
were compelled to give it up and ac-
knowledge that We were totally ig-
norant of what Democratic prin-
ciples'' really are. Now, reader,
perhaps you think you know, but
if you will think over it carefully
and recall the past of that party
We viii wager that you come to the
same conclusion We did.
Of course we know as we'll as our
reader does what has been the pro-
fessed beliefs of the Democrats in
times past, but that is not the ques-
ton. In 1851, when the lowering
battle clouds had begun to break
and throw their fearful contents
upon the United States, they were
most firmly o. the opinion that ii
was unconstitutional, oppressive and
morally wrong to retain a State in
the Union by means of force. They
thought that whenever little patch
of territory like South Carolina OF
Mississippi wanted to break up the
Union, it should be allowed to dc
it. But then in 1868 they turned
tail, refrigerated, or did something
of the kind, and thought that &
State should be coerced, that thu
war should be carried on vigorously
even to the bitter end and in 1866
the mercury again changed in theil
political barometer, and for some
reason or other their political prin
ciples were that the war to preserve
intact the union was a miserabl,
failure, and that the bloodshed ant
expenditure of money should b
Immediately stopped. In 1866
after Lee and his hosts, and tn
other generals of the Confederacy
had surrendered to the Grant the,
now hate so much, they we're 70
firing salvos of artillery, ringin
the bells, holding general thanks
givings and "sounding the timbre
over Egypt's dark sea" and declar
ing that to the best Of their knowl
edge and belief Jehovah had con.
quered and The people now and 70
all time to come were free, an
other similar manifestations Q
keenest delight. In 1868 the bloc
boiled in their veins, and thei
muscles stood out like ropes upo'
their bodies, when the amendment
were proposed, and they, one an
all, with mighty voice, declares
that they would all go South an,
hunt up ''last ditch" before the,
would suffer them to be added :,
oss instrument Of National saliva
lion. In 1870, perhaps, because
''last ditch" suitable to the occasio
could not be found, they all came t
the conclusion that they we're nee
essary, andshould have been carried
and then, in 1872, about the tim
hey wanted Horace Greeley to b
President, they considered them I
be the wisest measures which hu
man wisdom-known to be weak
had ever proposed. In 1870, the
thought that the salvation Of Il
country would never be certain vi
less the terrible Republicans shout
be put out, and themselves pat il
saics. Il 1878, they believed Ii,