Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-12
Democratic Dufy

EuttOF morning AeUS. sec gnu
deal of discussion in the papers at this
time of the course Democrats should
pursue with regard to the partisan dis
sensions dividing the Republicans. Your
views, expressed at length IN Mondays
issue, look, if 1 mistake you not, to an
active support of the President in his
war with Senator Conkling ard others,
who apparently seek to establish an
executive limited to the behests of king
caucus.
Looking back to the past history of
the Democratic party, guided by the in
telligence of its Fathers and their imme-
date success, we find its policy to have
been framed upon a strict adherence to
the Constitution. And that, although
it had its full share of prejudiced parti-
sans and corrupt demagogues as now, yet
the high tone of honorable party usually
triumphed Hence it was that the Demo
cratic party, as apolitical administrator of
the government, won, and retained for so
many years, the confidence and support
of the people.
Since 1860, however, we have fallen
upon evil days, and the demOralizations
of civil war have substituted sectional
partisanship for honest party. Of this
factious policy, the Republican party is
the type, giving the country Presi-
dents of partizans and not of the peo-
pie, Senators and Representatives with
out national patriotism, and judiciary
trailing its skirts in the mire of cabal.
With such political elements the Demo
cratic party can have, as a political or
ganiZation, no utilization without loss of
character; and especially will this be the
case in contests of unconstitutional en-
croschments attempted by the Republi-
can contestants respectively, upon the
prerogatives of the executive or the leg
islative functionaries. To take sides
with either would be to compromise the
individuality and the character of the
national Democracy by dovetailing its
members in with the differing partisans
of the Republican chiefs.
Dignified reticence from Identification
with either the President or his enemies
in his own party, seems to be our duty
at present, exercising wholesome check
on the vagaries of both; and supporting
the truth of the Constitution in its spirit
as well as text, whenever perverted by
either Republican wing. In this policy
we preserve the integrity of our form of
government, and attract the attention
and trust of the people. To US,
as a party. it is a matter of Indifference
whether Judge Robertson be confirmed
or not, so long as be is qualified and is
honest "a rare quality in government Off
Gals apparently, according to the Re
publican press; but it is of great mo-
ment to the country that Senators should
not be permitted TO bully the President
in the discharge Of his official duties
The President nOminaies. The Senate
confirms But Mr.. Conkling and his
clique evidently aim TO dictate nomina-
tions, as well as to confirm then, robhing
the exec 1tiye Of bis powers. This is a
dangerous stab at the vita Of Demo
cratic RepublicanIsm, and the Democrat
ic parry should interpose on the side of
the Constitution.
The experience of the world teaches
that 'thele can be no liberty where the
legislative and executive powers are
united in the same person or body of
magistrates, as Montesquieu says; and
that in popular government such as
ours, the legislative department Of the
country is more to be feared and care
fully watched than the executive. Demo
cratic Senators and Representatives must
the more sldulously, then, subordinate
their natural legislative esprit de corps to
the rigid Interpretation of the ConStitu.
ton, and avoiding entangling alliances
outside of their party, which can
tend only to the decadence Of national in
tegrlty. stick TO their principles
not men," By this course the President
is certain of protection in his rights and
powers; and, discovering where he may
lean surely for support. he will cultivate
the national policy that sustains him.
If Mr. Garfield comes to us, from the
sectional labyrinth in which he is in
volved, the country will be the gamer,
and the Democratic party with it; but
there should be no overtures from us
that may justly be chargeable with cor
rupt motives, however well intentioned.
DEMOCRAT OF THE OLD SCHOOL.