The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-11-17
DEFEATED, BUT NOT CAST
DOWN.
A M a nly and Patriotic Letter
from Judge Wright.
The Lesson Of the Election
Democratic Unity the
Hope of the
Future.


John w. Childress, Chairman Demo-
cratic Executive Committee, Nashville
Dear Sir Your favor Of the ith III
slant was rco ivcd to-day, ! thank
you, sir, and through you the members
Of the committee for the invaluable aid
given me and the cause | advocated, ]
thank you also for your words Of kind
ness and approval Of the manner i'll
which ! carried the banner Of our par
ty. We were defeated because of our
divisions. IF these become permanent
our party remains powerless. At all
times and in all places | have conceded
to those who opposed me sincere and pa
triotic motives. Some refused to vote
at all, and many voted against me be-
cause they did not have all the facts be-
fore them. The question has been sub
mittcd directly TO the people in the
ilrm aud manner prescribed by the
Constitution and in accordance with our
system Of government. Both the great
political parties have spoken, and by
large maioritcs each have pronounced a
verdict in favor Of the "slrict main
tcnancc Of the public faith, State and
national" That the minority Of the
Democratic party, or at least most OF
them, viii yield Il ready acquiescence tc
the viii Of the majority, as solemnIy
pronounced a! the balIol-boX, ought not
to be doubted. To doubt this is It
doubt that they are true Democrats anc
devoted to the principles Of their party
They must either Ito this or join the
ranks II lhcir political adycr+Nr'cs. Al
men cannot agree precisely III any prop
osition; and hence submission to the vii
Of the majority j.. The only safe guide
# was a disputed point as to how oul
party stood on the question Of the Stat,
debt. That has now been shpwp be
yond all question. The rule that the
majority should govern is the only ono
which human wisdom has been able tc
devise in the conduct OF governmental
affairs, AMI PARTIES, to insure success,
must stand by their organizations, and
the majority must control that.
10 far u.s. am personally c,dc,rucl
in the result 81 the late election, | bow
without murmur to the verdict Of the
majority. My confidence ia the virtue
and honesty Of the people stands unim-
paired. They have no motive to be
otherwise than honest and patriotic.
All their hopes, and the hopes of their
children, are based on the idea Of good
honest and economical government.
They may be- misIcd by ambitious and
designing men, but the second sober
thought brings them right again.
Our defeat should inspire in us an
honest effort TO rally our broken lines.
Our divisions should now cease. A
spirit Of mutual forbrarance should
mark our conduct. If we be true to
the history and traditions Of our great
party We will certainly take this course.
BY 50 doing we can roinstate in power
he party of our choice and our love.
The opposite course may lay cur State
At the feet Of our advcrsarics. The pco-
pie will have good reason to suspect the
men who strive to keep up divided
Democracy. Coed faith in maintaining
the honor and pledges Of the State is not
,nly sound principle, but it is inds-
pcn~ahlc to success, to prosperity and
Of free government. His
tory shows this to be true. Both par
les by large majortcs have fully en-
Iorscd this sentiment The will Of the
party has been expressed. !
Shall we not abide by that? The de-