The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-05-31
LETTER FROM VOTER DONALD
MCDONALD.
Tue CONGRESSIONAL NoMINATIoNs-HoW
70 SAVE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

TUE CONGRESSIONAL. NoMIN
70 SAVE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
EDITORS CLARION: Permit me to intro
duce myself to my Democratic friends
throughout the State, and having done so
to make few suggestions-my name isl
Donald Mcdonald, and as my name imparts
me, a descendent of Robert Bruce, but ex-
actly how far have descended from him
can not tell. anna Mississippian. and have
been nearly half century, always was,
still am, and ever expect to be a Democrat
Ny Grandfather was one of the founders of
the Democratic party. aud but few of his
descendants we're ever anything else but
Jelfersonian Democrats; since the days of
Southern Radicalism We have all been Dem
ocrats and of a most numerousIy large fam
lily, not one has been found IN the ranks o:
any other than the Democratic party. We
have all been privates, it is true, and none
have ever askedor held any political Office
Unlike my distinguished friend Gen. Chal-
mers, there has not ever been oas political
canvass in Mississippi since I was twenty
one years ofage that have not been active
and done all in my power to advance the in
terest Of the Democratic party,-bnt l never
thought that anF thing ever did, entitled
me to any reward, By way OF Office u the
hands Of my political frienIs-I was not a
member Of the last Legislature, nor did
have anything to do with the appoftioanant
bill am not candidate for Congress,
never was, nor ever expect to be-In fact,
never aspired to any political Office, h I've no
aspirations of that kind now, and If | keep
my senses | don't think I ever will.
So much for myself AMI the Mcdonald
flmily, aud what is said above has been
said, as in earnest that what | may here
after note is at least prompted By the single
desire to promote the best interest of the
Democratic party, and through that means
to render a service to the whole people of
the State.
As Democrats, We all believe that it Is the
interest of the State that the party should be
perpetuated in power, and assuming there
fore that the Democratic party is the peo-
pies party, and the best friend of the peoples
interest, it is a most important question,
how we are to hold the party intact, and
keep the government Of the State in our
hands.
As Democrats. cardinal principle with
US is the right of local sel-government, and
we all know that our State affairs more con-
Germs Us now than Federal matters. There
fore in the canvass that is now opening up
for Congressman we should have at all times
proper regard for our local affairs, and do
nothing that can injuriously affect our par
ty organization, or local interests.
Everything that can breed discussions in
the party should be studously avoided, and
everything that will bind US closer together,
and unity the party should be earnestly and
zealousIy supported. It should not be for
gotten that the negroes have large MAORI
ty in this State, and that there is all over
the State, more or less white men who will |
not affiliate with US. In word, we have /
formidable enemy to fight all the time. |
To be victorious, we must be united. The |
heart of the intelligent voters of Mississippi |
is all right, and will remain true to the
great principles of the Democratic party, if
our leaders and Office holders, will only be
as true and patriotic as the voters are to-day.
But, the greed for Office which is being man
Tested all over the State, is most alarming
to me, as have every reason to believe it
is to many Others who have no individual
interest to subserve. Our present represan-
tatives in Congress, I am informed, are all |
candidates for reelection. They have ALL
been honored with three terms each, except
one, and that one four terms, and still they
are not satisfied. To the extent of my ac-
quaintanca with all these hon0red and hon
orsble gentlemen, am personally the friend
of each and all. and yet / must say that
they are to-day doing more to disrupt the
Democratic party in Mississippi, than all
the disafected men in the State. They are /
not of course doing this Willingly, and 1
must believe that if they could realize the
danger that their several candidates
bring to the party, that each and all
would say as our former distinguished I
fellow citizen, the Hon. Jacob Thompson
said to the people of the Oxford District ,
before the war, sit would be a dangerous
precedent to elect me to Congress for another
term, | shall therefore not be candidate" t
My recollection is that he had only served |
two terms, when he made this patriotic :
Standardization in Office is a Demo
cratic principle, as old as the party-It was
this principle, and its re-establishment in t
Mississippi, that made Gen. Lowry Cover t
nor, and hurled opt of that high Office,
most excellent chief magistrate; which act
in my humble judgment gave to the party |
a new lease of power and lite-Let Us keep e
up the work 50 nobly begun, and step by {
step carry the party back to its time honored j..
principles, and wise policies.
And Messrs. Editors, have said enough c
for the present, | only ask that you publish t
this for the good of the party, and not for G
the injury of any man, for knowing me as :
you do, believe you can bear witness that
whatever | have ever done or said in politics
was in the interest of the party and the peo- t
pie as whole, and not to advance indiyidu- {
al interests. (
If agreeable to you, l may write again. c
DONALD MCDONALD. (
Letter from WestViIIe. 4