The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-07-11
Cen. chalmer., spesch on the 4th.

y
real friend Of good government IN aban-
doning the Democratic party and join
ing the Independent, Republican, Green
back or any other outside organization.
The picture which his imagination draws
Of 1.-TWO wings' Of the Democratic party,
may be disposed Of in few words. The
Democratic party is an aggregation os
free.thinkers who often differ amoRg
themselves about non.essentials, and
sometimes about matters Of intrinsic i'm
portancc, but who agreeing to disagree,
will come together in solid phalanx to
maintain the State government under
capable and honest control, and 10 res
cue the general government from the
hands Of party which il using its pow
er 10 corrupt the civil service, 10 plum.
der the great body Of the people Of their
earnings for the benefit Of privileged
classes, 10 build up monopoles, and 10
keep alive sectional issues. Whenever
occasion arises, il will be a gOodly sight
10 behold the two wings' which the
General secs (perhaps, in his minds eye)
come together ard grind into pow
der the other "wings," headed by Gen.
erals Chalmers and Reuben Davis on the
one hand, and by Lynch and hiy Sene-
gambian Lieutenants on the other.
Whatever may be said about the an
tipodal attitude Of the last named
"wings' one thing is certain, they are
held together by raging thirst for
power and are making common war
against the Democratic party, because
as the party of honesty aud good govern.
mcnt, II IL the lion in their pathway to
the spoils of Office.
To our Grcenback friends we have
time and again demonstrated that the
Democratic party ~ the true and only
friend of the greenback currency. 1t
defeated the Republican scheme to ex-
pei the greenback from circulation in the
first place; and in the second, IL defeated
the scheme to deprive it of its legal ten
der functions. The party which devised
1t, have turned against it, and it has long
since been adopted by the Democratic
party. The National Democratic Con-
vention Of 1868, insisted that 1t should
be used in payment of the bonds of the
government, the same rs coin; and the
Convention of 1880 declared for money
consisting of gold and silver, and paper
convertible into coin, which means
greenbacks.
As for the silver dollar on which the
General dwelt with infinite gusto, the
Democratic party opposed its demoneti- |
zation In 1873, and voted almost solidly
to restore it to its constitutional status AS
u part of the monetary system of the
country in 1878, and ii is pledged to
preserve it. There are differences about
what should be the proportion between
the values of the gold and silver coins,
but all are in favor of the coinage of
both metals.
Gen. Chalmers declaration of faith
for his followers as to State policy, is, in
the main II gross imitation of the Dem
ocratic programme as formulated bv
TUE CLARION from the Democratic Plat.
form, and the written and unwritten or
ganic law of the party as proclaimed in
its often repeated professions and time-
honored practices, In this connection
il is worth while to reproduce this pro-
grammc as proitoblc "for doctrine, for
reproof for correction, for instruction"
in the path which will lead to victory in
spite of abuse and treaehery:
Among the many subjects which
should engage the attention of the incom-
ing Legislature may be mentioned:
The Improvement of the levee system.
The lien law.
Change the election laws so ms to dis
pcnse with the expense and trouble Of
annual elections.
Supervisors of corporations.
An elective Judiciary.
Fixing salaries and dispensing with ,
perquisites and fees In all cases were
Modifying the public school system so '
as to increase the scholastic year aud to
restrict teaching to the elementary ,
reading, writing, grammar,
and geography.
better system of road working. *
Amendment of the Congressional Dis 4
trict law.
A law to secure the more equitable as
of property. c
The reduction of taxes to the lowest
point compatible with the economical =
md efficient administration of the gov
There are other subjects that will come 5
up, hut the foregoing lie among the most l
Important. Q
THR West Point Leader. published nj /,