The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-11-14
Ia Democratic Party Tie Party o
Personal Liberty ana Of Boz. tn
reference


If there has been any one main idea
which has animated and dominated he
Democratic party, that idea has been,
and Ii the sacredness and the impoF-
lance II the greatest possible personal
freedom Of action at al consistent With
good order. This II has 81 along deemed
necessary to the formation Of the most
perfect manhood, the most complete
aslf-government. The party has always
held that the country IS governed best
that Is governed least. This same doc.
trine has been true as to families and
States, as veil as individuals.
In every great question which has
presented itself before the country, the
party has been on the side which opposed
force or compulsory Law; and has put in
its platform time and again resolutions
against the enactment of snmptuary
laws.
On the tariff question it has recog-
1ized a tariff for revenue as the only
legitimate one, because the only neces-
AIRY one. Anything beyond that would
oe an interference with the natural
course Of business, would be forcing the
people in some sections to contribute to
.lle business Of other sections. On the
,lavery question, though many Demo
rats did not approve'oi the institution,
he party held that it was a question
hat each State must settle for itself.
slavery might be bad interference would
be infinitely worse.
| Prohibitionists have often charged that
The party was the enemy Of temperance
This is a mistake. It has only been care
ul to preserve individual freedom Of
,ction go far as consistent with public
rider. In many of the States where the
Democracy are in the majority, local
,ption laws have been passed. This was
-eally compatible with the idea of per
.onal rights, for it thus placed it in the
power Of communities to decide wher
he sale of liquors was incompatible with
pod order.
This high regard for the rights of per
sons, and consequently for those Of
States, has shown itself in the fact thai
ne Democracy has always held the con
,titution inviolate. So clearly has this
1een known and acknowledged, that
republicans have called our party strict
,onstructionists. The Republican party
N the other hand has been the part!
le7oid Of scruples. In that party nearly
very demonstration savors of the doc
.rine that the end jnstiies the means
These ends are often personal or sec
sional, and therefore partial. No matter
What may be ones purposes and objects
We cannot put much faith in his sin
,crity, when under the plea of "highel
.aw" he violates his pledge, and espec
ally when that pledge is to support thai
which the country deems the highest Of
all laws.
AS the result Of great revolution
growing out of two ideas, aggression
against slavery on the part of one elias:
1f citizens and devotion to the Union
On the part of another class, aided by
unfortunate dissensions and divisions
within the party, the Democracy was de
feated in 1860 and the government passed
into the hands Of the Republicans. Ont
# the bitter strife and bloodshed of the
war grew a feeling, which, aided by
administrative patronage used without
scruple a practice scorned and despised
by the Democracy has kept that party
in power. But by its constant devotion
% the idea Of regard for personal free
lon, and the principle which grows UP
githit-local lf-government--the party
5 fast gaining ground in the hearts of
he people, and before many years will
,e returned to power Then the gov
,rnment will be expected to be admins
.ered honestly, and the rights of all will
be regarded scrupulously.