Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-03-17
EIe Political StSsiS0f,,

WHICH must enter Into our calculations or the
forces which are 10 control tho future must be
considered those which have operated mos!
dynamicllIy 10 the past. Forces which are in.
| heront 10 human nature and are Increased or
diminished as other forces aid or counteract
their exercise. Ono Of these forces which has
operated most powerfully on tho democratic
party 10 the United Ssatos, though negative
one, has done more to demorllizs and weaken
it than all Others To designate by one word
this force is difficult matter, bat the principle
is easiIy evolved from an association of kindred
words and phrases, such as INDIGESTION, hest.
tsucy, week-kueed, want of confidence, want Of
salt reliance, chicken hearted iimid, c,Esrdy,
etfemlDalo, water i3intcd, want OF backbone,
wishy,washy, milk aud water, politic, Whipper
snEprers. From tito time the tattered
| flag oil Fort Sumter was Grst displayed in the
streets Of New York till now, the democratic
pGrty has preclpltatcly rotreated from every
position 1t has taken, 60 soon as il felt tho bot
breath Of radiasIlsm blowing upon it or heard
| tho threats Of The staIwarts as 10 what thoy
would do if it did not prtcjpitatoly retreat.
Such hGs besn tie lpyariabIo curse of our
leaders that tho greui mass of the people have
log! ell confidence 10 them, aud where there is
no c1ntdcaC1 there can b. no enthusiasm.
| " hat IS tbs usa OF burrahipa for Ti!den and
"lcc.lcg him Prcsldent by quarter Of million
msorliy, ii Hayes. who Wss defeated, j. 10 b,
| Iraugu!ateG2
Ga Tho olher hard tho radicals, ilalood by
| haired to The white man OF the Souih, Inspired
| by lows iCr the negro. resliug on tho basis Of
consolidation ADD united by tho power Of public
| ~ ndur rphn fad l..
disscnslols, cIme together with more inteuso
cohesion at The first sign of assault from their
opponents. Nor do thoy await the attack, but,
wheeling into Iluo with tho c,lerly. and pre-
| cision OF veterans, they boldly attack, and 10
variabiy demoralizo and defeat tho democracy.
IT compelled TO retreat 90 tho one flank thew
boldly attack with the other. Nevor standing
on the defensive they always keep their oppo
ncnts IN state OF nervous apprehension and
feeble defocoe. II defeated before tho people
and Congress for tho Presidency, they boldly
bring up the Supreme Court, their faithful 70.
serves. and bear oil The palm of victory The
ono party IS lmid. tho other is bold tho ono
Glscordant. tho other united; tho ono appre-
hensVe. tho other enthusiastic; tho ono com
posed Of numerous bands Of guerilap, under as
many timd leaders, tho other compsci body
of veterans. led by whomsocvor they may from
| tnc 10 limo QeSgnato.
10 moot successfully such disciplined army
the democratic party must have thorough 70
organization upon tho great fundamental prin-
clplcs OF a constitutional government, as au-
pouLcld and advocated by tho founders of our
system. The tlrst grand plank in their platform
must be, Tho Constitutional rights of tho
States" tho second. Tho restriction Of tho
powers of tho Federal Government within Con-
situtlonal limits" tho third, IA union of the
States, ono and inscparabc. now and forever,
under strict construction Of the Constitution. -
Herein lies the palladium Of liberty; without
1t consolidation, CDSsrsm, monarchy. Going
before tho people on these Fundamental issues,
With Bayard IS our standard bearer, | believe
an enthusiasm would mark tho campaign on
tho part Of tho advocates and lovers of Consti-
tutional liberty equal to tho erounG-swcll of
1910.
Nothing moro is neodod and nothing more
should DO added to tho platform, save, perhaps,
"An honest and economical administration Of
the Government. and equal rights, under tho
law. to all tho States and citizens Of tho lJoied
States"
| Compared with those principles tariffs, our
rerCY. internal improvements, education, rail.
roads, canals. or any other question which could
arIso, pale into utter insgnticauc,. Five planks
and Ewing, or some other acceptable Western
man. We could either restore tho Government
to its Constitutional sphere or lenrn the sad fato
which is in store for US and prepare Tor its con-
summation.
10 regard to State politics can only say tho
properly owners and representative men Of
Virginia as she was have faithfully performed
their work to uphold tho honor. integrity, and
ancient renown of tho Old Dominion. But
many If our best citizens dsfrarchised and all
OF our former Vasssls enfranohised By an eX-
trancous power wo could neither control or
arrest, 1t needed only combustion OF this last
element With the worse class of our OVID people,
who themselves Wcro 4 meagro minority, to
constitute 6 controlling power 10 the State.
That combination was effected last fall, AID the
world has seen tho result. As stated 10 this
correspondence Immediately after the election,
90 we say now-the Northorn and European
b9ndhcldefg who neither sided OF sympathizod
with. us in our extremity. but rather gave cid
and eO1nlGrt 10 our adVorsarles. have DO Gao to
blame but themselves. and should patiently
submit and stduiesc) in tho fruits Of their OVID
l1bora. N0r vii tuch sentiments Is tho
following, uttered but few days ago, by
John !jrght, Ct Eogland, increase our admi-
ration ur sympathy Tor English bondholGers:
"1nr will not easily shake off The old curse,
ard men lrcm Europe will prfior q country
| where slavery has not prevailed They will think
Tie North and West offer L better field Ior them,
with moro rcal Freedom sud less of tho elements
oi disorder" me teachings and moral a'd Of
S"ch men, both in tho North and Europe hsy-
~ accannilGhed our present GnaucaI crsis, the
| conservatives having done all that mon could do
! 10 avert it, may woli and wisely DO as General
| Lee I'D NJ Apponstto3- -"yicld to superior
| numbers and Resources" accept tho stu stiou,
In -5 no laCliul! UppOgiL lion, but let tho MAORI
~ @oik out tho problem sud settle Lie question.
| They can make matters no worso lhsn they have
and our opposition eau make them no batter
for ourselves or tho State. Continued opposition
from The conservatives OH the debt question will
1nIy increase the strength Of the reaJjusters.
Then lot US submit, and have peace
HANOVER.
m. Il. Church Conference.
| AT tho session OF the Methodist Prot, slant