Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-03-25
The True Policy.

| hesitation among Democrats as tC
their true line of policy. While
the State Committee cannot deter.
mine finally, the line of Democratic
policy, it has been called together
and can do much to promote the
right policy. There is one princi.
pie of universal application no par
ty ever harmed itself by adopting
the best line, devoting itself to the
best interests of the State. What
ever numerical strength any other
line may seem to promise, it can
only end in defeat. Extract from
the party ifs principle, right and
public morality, and true men will
no longer contend for that which is
useless and worse than useless.
The situation of parties in the
United States is now such that it
becomes Democracy in Tennessee TO
act with a view to a national tri-
umph in 1884. The Republicans in
the North have been weakened by
the Malone alliance, by the alli-
ance with Tammany, by the stall
wart and half-breed quarrel in New
York and throughout the North,
which is now raging with great
bitterness between the factions all
over the Union.
The Democratic party has never
been in better fighting trim. 1t has
discarded the seductive greenback
policy, which came so near wreck
ing the party; it has driven Kelly
and his happy crowd of Tammany
politicians and plundererS out of the
party, it has commended itself to
the thoughtful and conservative
men of the North by its opposition
to Malone and reputation in Vir-
ginia. The traditional, as well as
the present attitude of the Democ-
racy upon the great American in
policy, which is so soon
to become vital issue, commends
it to the progressive and far-seeing.
The course of the party when ma
jOrity in Congress, its moderation,
conservatism, and economy, its
routing the lobbies and exposure of
have commended it
strongly to conservative thoughts
of the country. The conservative
attitude of the Democracy of the
present House, the cessation of that
presentation of radical views upon
financial and economical questions,
which, though coming but from
few, yet injured the party, has CIV
en- the conservative intelligence of
the North a new view of DemOc-
racy.
The Republican party is every
way burdened beyond what it can
carry. To the exposures of the
past have come the utter failures of
Hayes, the turning professed- re-
form into rank corruption, the ap-
pointment of the tools of fraud to
important places, the growth of the
Star-route ring, the public exposure
of the highest party official as a
leader in the Star-route thefts. All
points to the speedy and utter over
throw of the Republican party.
Instead of looking back with the
eye of a Bourbon and a fossil at the
records of reconstruction, reviving
the Democratic bloody shirt and
old and forgotten pref
udices which it interests all true
men to leave cold and buried, it is
necessary for Democracy to look at
the present, to meet the Republican
party upon present issues, and to
for the fight of to-day.
Men will not be aligned to-day TO
fight over the battles of yesterday
for the benefit of tergiversatious
politicians.
The skull and cross-bones revival
of memories which are well buried,
is not for the good of the State.
Cdn never be promoted
in this way. The Bourbons may
be gathered under the issues of the
past, but live, progressive men will
touch alone the issues of to-day.
Let Democracy look at the politics
of to-day, see what are its reasons
for being, as a party with some
thing to live for besides preparing
place and pelf for fossil politicians,
whose last chance is now; let De-
nOcracy prepare itself for the work |
Of to-day, because it has practical
work to do; let it feel that if it is of |
any Importance, it can only be as a
party which promises something |
practical and real in State and ma
ion.
Once filled with that conception
If its place and mission it will be
'eady to take the highest ground,
o propose to the State the best pol
cy, to look forward to participa-
ion in the national conflict. 1t can
hen aid the national party by
to the high stand taken.
Even if it were defeated it would
,e more to Democracy, defeated
lpon the line of right as the world
lOlds it, than victorious in wrong.
This is worth fighting for. 1t COM
all that is best in party
md beyond party. Itcemprehends
he highest good to the State, to the
lation and to the party.
Really, looked at as mere ques-
ion of spoils, the senatorship, the
,overnorship and half dozen other
miserable offices are not worth
lighting IOr when compared with
he participation in grand nation
i victory, and future existence in
state and Nation. Upon the very
Owest ground to take a stand, har-
upon a low plane and
ight;Ig for an unjust policy, is
,illirg the goose which may lay
'olden eggs, for those who are still
n that line of business. Except
or the few fossil bourbons it is a
'ad policy, and it is detestable in a
moral point of view. For them we
rant that it is their only chance
nd that very slim chance.
Every consideration of public NOR
Is, expediency and mere party pol
cy demands of Democracy that it
AXE up the right line and move
traight forward, trusting to the
'eople that they will support the
light policy if they are trusted. +
hey will not be driven, bullied or
ooled, but they can be persuaded
" calm reason. Democracy has
,ictOry before it upon the right
no other.