The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-12-14
Facts anu Principles,

the luxury anu leisure WON ny KS w II
victories. So the Democratic party of
the South stands in danger of destruco
ton by its overthrow of the Republican
opposition. Everywhere the house Is
becoming divided against itself, and
when that is an accomplished fact it re-
quires no prophet to predict the result.
To us who believe that the principles of
Democratic policy are essential to the
well -being of our government, such
future seems full of danger TO the whole
country, and the thoughtful Democrat
looks earnestly for shelter from the com
ing storm. In Virginia it has already
burst. In Tennessee and Georgia the
clouds are plainly visible; in Mississippi
and Alabama the rumble of the thunder
is in the ears of a people divided and
! 1ismayed; in Florida we see no cloud
and we hear no thunder as yet, but the
air is full of electricity. Despite the inn
mediate and immense benefits which
! have accrued to the State, the Disston
sale is still condemned: the railroads
which were lately hailed AZ saviors, are
| reproached as tyrants; the destruction
| of the enemy has invited to us the camp
| followers whose fingers only itch for
! spoils, and the disgust felt for these
! strange companions are learning many.
who stood staunchly during difficulty
and danger, to look elsewhere for delIv
erance than to the political gods of the
past.
10 70, ,ran.h nnifv m ma
cry of peace, peace" was vain in the
ears of Patrick Henry. There can be
no unity based solely on sclf-intcrest,
the preservation of power or the sue
cessful manipulation of conventions and
elections. y great party must have "A
common tie touching the constant faith
and daily practice of all, or 1t becomes a
mercenary army like that of Hannibal,
and like il, liable TO dsorganization and
destruction at the first moment of Icis
ure or Immediately on the removal OF a
pressing danger. Unlike that army, we
possess no great leader whose ability we
can trust, who is easily first in our con
fidence and affection, in whose rise or
fall we can take an abiding interest rs
partisans In the South the common need
of help against common enemy has
been removed 10y the departure of the
carpet-bagger and the elimination of the
negro vote. Something must take the
place of this common tie or the party
will fall To- pieces as a body decays when
the principle of life departs. What
shall touch the heart Of each Democrat
with the vivifying truth essential t.
party life, bind him to his fellow and
separate him from his enemy:
Some of our contemporaries believe
that this common ground for all Demo
Gratis is marked out in the President
message. But we need much more thar
this. Within the lines there laid dowI
Mr.. Cleveland may conduct successful
administration. He can improve TN,
business methods of the different de
. partmcnts, lift us from the slough OF cX
travagance into which the Republicans
had fallen. secure the modification an,
reduction of the tariff. and probably
. command a denomination. But ever
: all this and much more of the same
! kind, will only insure the building up o
one mans power and usefulness, not tn,
growth of the Democratic party nor III,
rehabilitation of party lines. Mr.. Cleve
land may he the Moses who has led Il
from the wilderness and give us rule
for political morality, but he is surel,
not the Joshua who can lead us to ne .
conquest and blow down the walls o
the enemy's strongholds. When h
leaves Us on the boundary of the land o
promise, as q party, we stand where W,
did before, and must then make the figh
ii we would not wander yet again in TIN
desert.
II the party is deScriug 81 liz. it
existence is based on the support of som
principle or set of principles stronge
than any man or set of men-being To thi
great organization what the soul is TO tn
separating it from ether bodies O
like kind-binding its members together
making of its various parts one whole
, and atfurding course of action in tn
future as it has been the controlling in
, fluence of its past. At present. if W
may luuSe by lhe PROFESSIONS OF oStenSI
bic leaders. neither of the great partie
| has such reasons to plead for existence
, Both believe Tor disbelevr) equally il
, civil service reform-both are divided ~
the tariff. Each j. AT war with itself an
q either platform with slight change nigh
, be adopted 10y both. If this b
, true the death of each is at hand: mel
do not follow now any rag however en-
! broidered. and when we have all learne
, 10 think we ask for reasons and primer
pies. Otherwise the Democracy woul
have died with Jefferson and Republ
:, canism had not survived the murder q
Lincoln.