Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-09-07
THE DEMOCRATS oFTHE SOUTH ANn
INDEPENDENCE.

Va tiN 7ouNil 10 70 lllo the Nd
uonsl Convention OF that party, not in
tDe wholly subordinate and secondary
character which they have hitherto as
sumed, but as free men, having equal
rights as well as duties in the great repuh-
lie; that they should not content them
selves with mere acquieseence in the nom
anations made by y Northern Democrats. but
go prepared 10 suggest nominees and take
an active interest in fully testing the free
will of the convention. This article has
not received the attention it merited at
the hands of the Southern Democratic
press. The APPEAL, therefore, recalls 1t
in the hope OF securing wider and
more general expression OF opinion
from its contemporaries Of the South.
II is quite time that the present sectional.
and, therefore, untenablo position of the
national Democracy as to the South, be
broken and utterly dispelled, This posi-
tion, taken irnmediatly after 1868. has
been strengthened every year since, until
now the Democrats Of the South, furnish
ing a large majority OF the electoral votes
for the party al every Presidential cleo
fion, are regarded at the mcst as a very
good tail TO the kite, although, as in other
cases, as TO which the world IL wise, the
tail is more important than the kite. The
Democra!s ofthe South, as the american
suggests, should go to the next National
Convention not as the subservient follow
eTs of the Northern Democrats, but as
theT equals. The representatives Of the
south in Congress do not speak or vote as
u they were members of the Senate and
tbs House by sulfergmce. Their admission
10 these bodies was effected by the re-
ltefated assertion Of the right of the peo-
pie they represented to self-government,
and in opposition to the determination of
the Republican party to reduce the South
eTn States TO provinces, and thus follow
british precedents, by the creation of an
other Ireland, over which humanita-
rians might snivel, and in which thieves
might grow rich, and the manufac-
turers OF the North find perpetual mar
ket. The Democrats OF the South fought
that battle almost alone, certainly without
anything more than such help from the
Northern Democrats as was expressed in
feeble protests against the un-American
and sumptuary legislation, every word of
which belied the manly and thoroughly
American position taken by the Northern
soldiers that the close of the civil war
meant the restoration of the Union on n
basis OF consent. Having won such vic
tory, and given by their votes in Congress
the very best assurances Of LOYALTY and
devotion TO the Union NOW beyond any
question one and indivisible), the people
OF the Southern States owe it to them
selves to take such position in the
next National Democratic Convention as
they are entitled to as co-equals in the
work OF perpetuating our national govern.
ment in its integrity, strength and purity
A people cannot be indicted. Neither can
they be held in perpetual probation in a free
country. Mr., Justice Field, Of the Supreme
Court of the United States, in a letter to q
friend, which we publish to-day, SAYS
"h Is not by talking Of reconciliation, bit b,
doing Tie things cl.ich indicate il ha
actual reconciliation qcW be brouqh
about" This has been the plan Of
the Republican party ever since the
war. They have set the Democrats the
example by rewarding Southern men who
have become Republicans with some oi
the most important offices in the gift oi
the people. Nothing but continuance ol
the hitherto cowardly policy OF the Demo.
cratic party in its attitude of defense could
so color the manly independence of the
Southern Democrats. 1t must not be con,
tinued. They should not only 60 to the
Democratic National Conl ton as the
equals OF their Northern brethren and pre-
pared to suggest nominations, but il they
desire TO should present the name of som,
prominent Southern Democrat for the sec
ond place on the ticket. The initiativ,
must be taken in this matter some time
none so propitious .as the present, wher
the "blue and the gray" are everywhere
mingling in fraternal harmony and pooling
their achievements as the common glor,
oil the whole country. We must be ag
gressive to win. Let us recall the position
taken by the Democratic party in 1864
when Gen. Mcclellan was nominated
1t will realize for us the strength there
Is ira an aggressive policy, and find the
fullest justification for the position W,
take. Gen. Mcclellan was, by his politi
cal opponents, put under the ban of sus
picion, Notwithstanding his superb
soldieIly qualities, his generalship, hi
unqucstioned courage and devotion to the
Union. Blt he accepted the nomina
rion Notwithstanding, in face of tn,
exfstc uce Of the Sons of Liberty, fo
Ehic@ the Democratic party was held re
Sp0nsible, and in face OF the fact Of th'
Coniedcracy and its armies then still bat
Ting Tor the life Of that government Nc
Ciollan, thus handicapped by the assump
lions OF the Republican party that tn,
Democratic party was responsible for tn,
attitude OF the South, for the existence o
slavery, for the disloyalty to the Republi,
which was continuously outcroppinI
in Indiana aud Illinois, and TO
the raids from Canada, made
manly and an aggressive campaign
and Notwithstanding Lincoln's deserves
popularity with his party, came very nea
dividing the popular vote of the loya
States with him. He received 44.94 pc
cent. of it and Lincoln 55.OG In ls6
Gov. Seymour, in the estimation Q
the Republicans the most objection
able Democrat that could possibl
have been named for the office, wa
nominated for the Presidency by the Demo
cratic Convention that met in New Yorl
City, and received a large popular vote
though that of several Southern States wa
counted out. He received 47.33 per cen
of Il and Grant 52.67. Ever since lSG
the Democratic party has steadil
dropped from the high position
occupied during the war and up
that year, and has more and MOI
permitted itself to be put upon the d'
fensive to answer the trumped up charge
of the Republican party for responsibilitiC
that may fairly be put upon the shoulder
of every leading man the United State
has known and the successive armies
voters that have lived since the Provincil
Congress met in Philadelphia in l776. "
must get away from this position and a
sume the aggressive, il We would win. tt
American people have never failed
respond to bravery and courage-the cou
age of opinion especially-and we feel SUI
that the times are ripe for the assertion OF Il
manhood and independence of the Soui
= in the two great political organizations
he country, and for the assertions of tn
poanhood esnaciaIlv throuoh the Den,