The Russellville Democrat., 1881-12-08
UNITED WE STANDS DI-
 VIDED FALL"

vlDED FALL
 ff there was wans.ii:Ssss ..sss : .sssss.:s=s:lt tts fully demonstrate tnis irfte proycrb, surely the democratic party could furnish it. For many lopg years, from the days of Jefferson dOwik with but little interruption, 1t held <Rmplste sway of the government. It's principles were so pat to the plr
 poses and tastes of the AmeNcan people that they look to democracy as naturally as latter day murderers do to the crazy dodge. During these long years of prosperity, there were not waiting differences of opinion on important questions agitated in the party ranks, but there was al
 ways enough of wisdom in the coun- sells ofthe party to successfully han de these differences, and force them into an attitude where shey could threaten no serious danger. At least this good fortune was handmaid to the party until the excising scenes of 1860, when men lost their reason, and wise leaders were transformed into rash enthusiasts to hurl the old ship on the fatal rock of division. After this cafhmity, the history of the democratic party was pretty much the same as that of picking up the remnants of defeated army for the purpose of getting them in trim for future service. By dint oi hard work and the splendid princi. pies which lie at the foundation, (more from the latter than the foim- CT the party has step by step been brought back to a good fighting con dition, and now lacks more than any thing else leadership that can ln- spire cohesiveness, discipline and organization that commands respect and confidence and looks not quite so closely afterits own dear in terests- But just here it occurs to lus that we need not spend all of our fbreath on the national aspect of the position. There may be room for an observation on our condition at home. < There's cloud the size of a mans hand on our horizon, or else our wis ioAis at fault. 'Twould seem, with the exaH les of late occurrences be fore us we ought to brush that cloud away before 1t assumes such propor. tions as to threaten our peace and comfort. 1t remains to be seen whether we will or not. Of all folly ever enacted by any party, certainly that would be greatest wherein the democratic party of Arkansas would allow breach in it's unity over a question that could not possibly be ! construed without violence to reason to effect members standing in the party, let him hold one opinion or the \ other. Our counsel is for unity first and then talk of your amendment; and anti-amendment matters after wards. To the amendment demo erat, the anti amendment policy may 1 appear to threaten great evil, but wouldn't division and defeat be : much greater? Likewise, to the anti amendment man, the amend
 mcnt may look ruinous; but wouldn'l that be preferable to the ruin of .ht democratic partyf When men un dertake to compass their individua
 policies in politics at any cost, ther divison and defeat come as a matter of course, as has been demon stratet in Virginia and Tennessee. During the war one of General Grant strongest movements against Rich
 mond was thwarted by an uniortu
 nate gap between two of his corps entering which his force made sae havoc of his men and defeated hil advance. Our foes are on the aler
 for an interval between our forces The question is, will they fild it Not if we are wlse,