Blount County democrat. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 1879-1883, 1882-08-19
Something More Than a Name

There is 4 good deal in a name
when the name fits the thing designat-
ed. A rose by any other name NAV
smell as sweet, but there are a great
many things which would not be ac-
ceptcd as roses, even if they were so
called by convention which under
took the readjustmcnt of affairs.
Democracy is a good and honest
name and means great deal when
properly applied. 1t stands for GER
tain fundamental principles and rep
resents a system Of political truths
none of which can be eliminated with
out the impairment Of the system
One of these principles, all important
and far-reaching in its scope, is the
maintenance of the public faith. This
is prime requisite for any policy
which has for its end good govern
ment with all its attendant blessings.
To subtract this principle. from the
system and substitute something for
eign in its place, and then TO call the
conglomerate Democracy would be
as foolish as to replace the petals OF q
rose with the leaves of the tanSy and
still call the thing a rose.
we had q conversation the other
day with an old Whig of ante-bellum
times, who has no special predilec-
ton for the name Democrat, but who
is as true Democrat to-day as can
be found in the State. This old Whig
made some pertinent observations.
He said that in the oldCn days he
was an active, enthusiastic WING, and
worked day in and day out for the
success Of his party. AZ one of tho
effects of the fierce political contests
of that time, he had acquired dis
taste for the name Of Democrat and
not all of the years and changes that
have since intcrvencd have given TO
the name any special relish.
When the war was over there was
no Whig party. lie looked around
to find a party which under the
changed circumstances gave most
promise of building mp pure and
stable government. lie found one
calling itself the Democratic party,
which had placed itself upon sound
principles that he could heartily en-
dorsc. Despite his aversion to the
name he chcerfuly fell into the ranks
of Democracy and worked as faith
fully for its success as he had worked
in the other days for his old party.
lie could the more chcCrfully do this
because the new Democracy held that
Il strict regard for public obligations
essential to the establishment Of n
good and honest government. The
old Wings and Democrats had joined
hands in the work Of internal improy-
ment, Which was to develop Tie re-
sources ofthe State and cOnduce to
an abundant prosperity, and they
were united in the determination to
sustain the credit of the State which
was invoked to make such work pos
siblc. And so it was that he became
Democrat, and so he is still DEM
ocrat, working for Democratic prin-
ciplcs.
Our old friend continued his re-
marks. lie said that when the June
convention had finished its labOrs he
was troubled. lie could not endorse
a platform which meant mischief or
nothing; which was undemccratic.
Some of his friends told him 10
scratch" the principles and vote for
the nominee. This he could rot do.
lie was Democrat on principle; moi
merely in name. Ifthey took away
the Democratic policy, there YVES
mi Ia al hNt a
which was misapplicd ; and he was
not hankcring particularly after tho
name. His exact language on this
point was: 81 don't care darn for
the name without the principles
which the name represents" We ad-
nit that this language was moi in all
respects unobjectionahlc, but eYinee0
q degree of caFliestness.
We think thero is something in
what our friend has said. 1t seems
to be plain common-scnso view OF
the matter, without any rhetorical
nourishes and spacious ad captandum
arguments. We know him to be
true Democrat, working for all that
is right and true i'll Democracy. We
know that Inc has an intense desire -
see the disturbing question Of ou3
State debt taken out Of politics, and
a dangerous and costly agitation end
cd. For this reason he supports Fus-
sell and a consistent Democratic pol
cy. For this reason many thousands
more will rally to The support Of this
ticket. There is positively 10 chance
even for the temporary success Of the
tcmpOrizing 0ne-mau, mock-naHG
policy. The only hope must be !ound-
ed not merely on name but Oh all
that tile name ilHplic5.--Nasayilie
American.
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