The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-01-29
MEMPHIS APPEAL.
FRIDAY, JANUARY go, 1886
MENDRICKs AS a STURDY PAR
TISAN

TISAN.
Parties and psrtisans will ever exist,
and ought to exist in government
instituted by the people for the people.
Whenever both or either cease to exist
the patriot may well entertain serious
apprehensions tor the perpetuity OF
free institutions. It is therefore sur
prising that United States Senators in
pronouncing eulogies on the life and
character OF Thomas A. Hendricks,
Monday last, should avail themselves
OF the occasion TO vindicate the de-
ceased statesman from the crime Of be-
longing to one Of the great political par
ties and being a partisan. Since the
triumph OF the Democratic party Mr..
Hendricks has shown to the country
that he was a "stalwart." sturdy"
Democrat, and, OF course, he Yves &C.
cueed Of being more Of partisan than
a patriot. In his eulogy Mr.. Evarts
said; "As TO Mr.. Hendricks's partisan
chip, of which something had been
said,I can find in history no other mode
OF conducting the political affairs OF a
great and free people except by great
and firm parties. / believe, therefore,
that the steadfas: and intrepid ad.
hosion to party was merit" Mr..
Spooner said "Mr. Hendricks was,
heart and soul, Democrat He thor
ougbly believed in his party and In its
principles. Indeed, / think, II he
might give direction 10 our words to-.
day, he would bid us say Of him that
he was partisan Demo, rat. He
rightly thought that politics should be
MISTER OF convict on, and that every
man of firm political filth owed II TO
himself and country, and u be par
tisan in THE, at least, that he should
labor earnestly in oil fit ways best
suited to his mental makeup and to
his surroundings, 10 promo'e the sue
cess Of the principles in which he be-
iieyes. To him no political partisan
ship, honorable in It's meth O Ia, was
offensive. In party he saw only the
fundamentally through which, and
through which alone, might be
wrought out the triumph Of his prln.
ciples. In active, iaithful, ho1ora-
BILE party service, he saw, there
fore, devotion 10 principle, not
mere lust for office" In nearly
every eulogy the speaker seemed
TO think II incumbent on him 10 do.
iend Mr.. Hendricks from the charge
OF being a partisan. This tounds
strangely In Democratic government
where parties are essential TO the
perpetuity OF free institutions. In q
republic like ours parties constitute
the very essence oil free government.
1t will be sad sign when the people
become 80 Indifferent 10 the great is-
sues Of the hour, SO unobservant Of vi
tai public questions, so careless OF the
momentous interests involved in party
contests, as to cease 10 be psrifaus. II
will be a bad sign when the people re-
gard parties aud partisanB as evils to be
Stunned and denounced. Party spirit
may Iuu into excess; and partsans
are sometimes corrupt. But still both
are indispensable to republic. In a
free country there will be and there
ought 10 be great contending parties.
In the very nature OF things they must
exist while the State is free. There
are no parties in Russia or in China,
though there is Nihilism in one and
rebellion in the other. Parties and q
government Of the people are indissol-
uble. Parties are checks uIou each
other. Their exitt snce phases both ON
their good behavior, aud occasional
changes in the administration OF the
government are Tor the welfare ci the
county. Long Continuance in power
breeds corruption aud ext ava2ance
The exit tsDce cf Tat,es, even in time
wa, is 10 evil awas den O ire ID
in the late tobt;tt between the StAtss
as the iaw Dem ocrtt in Congress were
a check uIoa the Republicans, whc
hai frequently TO be reminded thai
there was such a thing as a Contt tn
I on. While POL teal IN ties are neces
ray under our sytt I'm OF government
II lie II isiui tu see ut In he iutuF,
there are to be better POL tlcs. Cleve
land has given higher aims TO pol tica
paites. He han convinced the coun
Try that the President oi the Unit e
Stat Is fa7 Il loitiSr mission TAN tn,
dit -buton oi lat o;age; tat publ,
ctliee is a public trutt, and that IN,
public seIva't who faithfully servel
his touI try stfenGthens his patty, anC
lie theJ fore 1e most eiiicier partisan
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