Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-04-15
HARMON N.
Democracy Must stand ON Princi-
pie.


To the Nashville Banner.
Much is now said about harmony
without any clear definition of tn
meaning of the term. Do the,
mean that men are to act togethe
TO gain party victory, whose prin
ciples are Numerically opposite
| DO they mean that men are to sac
rifice their principles and their con
yictions OF what is right that certain
men may fill the offices? ? How cal
a man who conscientiously believe.
that we do not owe the debt, ac
with man who as firmly believe.
that we do owe it? One or the
other must sacrafice his convic
tiOns. Ii the plan be to harmonic
upon basis which will not amount
to anything; which will not result
in any settlement; then the men
who are opposed to paying anything
may well support ii. To offer what
we know will be rejected is the
same as offering nothing. With
this view the men who believe we
owe nothing and who are in favor
of paying nothing may agree to
harmonic upon nominal settle
ment which they, and all other
men, know will not be accepted.
If they are in earnest about making
a settlement why do they not asser-
tain what terms will be accepted
before making any offer? This and
this only is what the Democratic
platform of 1880 requires. We had
much to say about the Malone set
tletnent in Virginia and in condem-
nation of it. How does the pro-
posed harmony-at-all-ha differ
from the Malone party in Virginia,
with the exception that the Malone
settlement is much more favorable
to the creditors than the Memphis
programme, which seems TO be the
keynote. Harmony is desired by
all true Democrats, but it is har-
mony upon the recognized princi-
pies of the party, which is 1.-THE
strict maintenance of public faith,
State and national" Whenever
the Democratic party abandons its
principles and its organization, 1t
ceases to exist. The Democratic
party can bear defeat, but it cannot
afford to daily with reputation
victory purchased in this manner is
worse than defeat upon sound prin-
ciples. Such pretended harmony
does not even insure success, for
many of the Low-tax party will not
abandon the doctrines they have
been advocating for the last two
years to go into this harmony
movement. They are not willing
to pay fifty cents on debt they say
they do not owe, and take it off a
debt they say they do owe, and
which they have been saying they
intend to pay in full. On the other
side, Democrats who believe in
making a real settlement will not
support sham settlement, merely
to have pretended harmony.
There is but one course for Demo
Gratis to pursue; be liberal, be toler-
ant, open the doors to all who will
stand upon the Democratic plat
form no other course will give the
party success. 1t is possible that
by agreeing to leave it to a consti-
tutional convention, to be referred
to the people, it might be taken out
of party politics.
For the party to take a position in
1880, after much deliberation, and
carry large majority of the Democ-
racy of the State upon it, after an
active canvass, with the bitter op
position of those who are now to be
cOurted, and then abandon it with
out any cause, would place the par
ty in ridiculous attitude. The
ae.a-1vfTo bcffevP that we do not
owe the debt, have clear right to
their positions, but they cannot ex-
pect the Democracy to abandon
their opinions and principles to
please and conciliate them. If the
party were temporarily to unite and
make a settlement, have we any
assurance how long it would last.
Would they not be in the next can
vass. with strong party in favor of
changing the settlement, and would
we not have to harmoniZe again by
down twenty-five or fifty
per cent. The same argument will
be made for harmony then that are
made now; United States senators.
and governors will |
have to be elected. The horrors of
or radicaliSm will |
again be invoked and another COM
promise will be called for in the in
Ierests of harmony and party. Let |
Is take one stand now upon princi- |
pie, and be victorious or defeated on
t. Either let US have settlement |
that will be accepted by the credit
)rs or let repudiation openly come;
or to propose a settlement which
we know will be rejected means
lothing more or less than repudia-
ion. Let Democracy stand upon
is ancient and time-hOnored prin-
.ipIes and it will eventually sue
,eed, compromising with error al
ways weakens a cause.
A DEMOCRAT ON PRINCIPLE.