Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-03-18
Mr. Parton and Democracy.
Courier-JOurnal.


James Parton, the distinguished
author, has addressed a letter TO
Chaucey F. Black, President of the
Jefferson Democratic Association of
New York, thanking him for his
election as an honorary member of
the association, and setting forth
his convictions as to the proper con-
duct of the Government.
Mr.. Parton states that he has VO-
ted with the Republican party since
its organization, but he believes
that now, with the removal of the
slavery question from American
politics, the time is ripe for revi-
val of the simple and august prin-
ciples which triumphed in 1907
He would follow Jeffersonian prin-
ciples in the removal of the spoils
system, in a conservative or gradu-
al method of extirpating the protec-
tive tariff system, in giving adequate
compensation to the highest officers
of the Government, in the selection
of capable men in all departments
of National and State Government.
He believes it is the duty of the
Democratic party to create methods
for giving Jeffersonian principles
effect. The Jeffersonian Democratic
Association, in taking action on
Mr.. Partun's letter, express differ
ence with him as to the necessity of
higher pay for the chief officials of
the Government, but are agreed RS
to Mr.. Parton's position in other
respects. They close with the fol-
lowing statement of the Democratic
position:
"In Article II. of the constitution of this
association, we present our own statement
of Jeffersonian principles, cOmpactly, but
clearly, we hope,sin so far as they seemed
applicable to the present situation. The
article is as follows: Its purpose shall be
the association of Jeffersonian Democrats
for the preservation of the constitution of
the United States, the autonomy of the
States, home rule, freedom of elections; Tor
resistance to revolutionary changes, tend
ing to consolidation or empire to the cleo
ton of any person to the Presidency third
term to the presence OF troops at the polls;
to the appropriation of public money for
any purpose but the support of the Govern
ment; TO commercial restrictions for the
benefit of the few at the cost of the many;
and to class legislation, which destroys the
natural freedom of trade, and despo1is labor
to build up m m0nopoly. To these ends we
invoke the spirit and reassert the principles
of Thomas Jefferson, the author OF the Dec
laration of Independence and the founder
of the Democratic party. Upon this declar-
alton we stand, and upon this, the slavery
question being, as Mr.. Parton remarks, hap
piIy and forever settled, we believe that all
friends of pure republican government, linn
tied by the wise safeguards of the written
Constitution, must ultimately come to stand
with us, whatever may have been their pre-
vious party relationships"
This declaration is to the core
Democratic and progressive, and it
fully accords with the Democratic
platforms of 1875 and 1880. 1t is a
broad and enlightened basis for all
American Observation-Disclosures
to stand upon, and the principles
announced commend themselves to
every citizen of the United States
who desires to preserve a democrat
ic-republican form of government.
The Democratic party is Union
loving party, and it is progressive
party to the extent that it will
choose to actualIze these principles.
There are thousands of men in the
Republican party who differ in no
respect from the views announced
in the declaration we have quoted.
The rais0n d'etrd of the Republican
party is gone with slavery. The
Democratic party is indestructible
so long as it is true to the vital alprinci-
Piles Of its founder.