The gold leaf., 1894-12-20
TAKE COURAGE.
The Future of the Democratic Party

The following article which is taken
from late copy Of the Memphis
Commercial appeal, was written by
Col. NJ. &. Galloway, sterling Dem
ocrat of the old school, whose advice
is certainly good and should be needed
by the crippled party of day. Col.
Galloway is now retired editor, still
residing in Memphis, where he estab-
lished the Avalanfhs in 1857 and
where he is much respected and re-
garded as the head centre of Southern
Democracy. He says:
A few days since one of your reporters
proposed to interview me in regard to
my views as to the future of the Demo
cratic party. | declined the interview,
but promised to give my views in this
shape, and in redeeming my pledge l
will commence by saying that | have
seen the Democratic party pass through
darker days than these, and in express
ing the belief that it will again pass
through the ordeal OF adversely and rise
to new efforts and new triumphs. Young
Democrats, and many who have been
voting with the party since the war, and
who know nothing of the strange vicissi-
tudes of party organizations, are demor
allied by defeat, aud in despair seem dis
posed to initiate the example OF flock
OF sheep, who PROSTATE themselves and
yield their throats to the devouring
wolves. But the old party veterans, who
have SO often been vanquished in the
fight, know no such word in their lexicon
us fail, and again plant themselves upon
the party traditions, its splendid record,
and seek to nerve the hearts of their dis
mayed comrades by exclaiming, "Don't t
give up the shipr' There is no cause for
that despair-that decentralization which
seems to have paralyzed SO many true
and loyal Democrats. The popular vote
in the recent elections show that the
Republicans did not materially increase
their strength and that nearly 200, 600
OF Democrats did not vote. If the Re-
publican vote had increased in the same
ratio that the Democratic vote was re-
duced, there would be some cause for
doubt as to the future success of the
Democratic party. Soon after President
Cleveland was inaugurated, and before
any Democratic legislation had been pro-
posed or enacted, the whole country was
shocked by one of those monetary panics
which have periodically made their ap-
pearance since the organization of our
overnment-business was paralyzed,
and everywhere there was discomfort and
unrest. An extra session of Congress
was called, and the people turned their
faces toward Washington, with as much
confidence as the worshippers of the
rising sun look to the East. The ext
gency demanded prompt legislation, but
Congress seemed as hncOncerned as the
celebrated knave who ti6dled while Rome
was burning. The people We're groaning
under their burdens, pleading for relief );
but the extra session of Congress gave
them stones in the shape of "parity."
Eight months were spent in discussing
the tariff bill, which finally passed taint-
ed with scandal. The Democrats, with q
Majority in the Senate and House OF
Representatives, were made responsible
for the hard times. When an army goes
into battle expecting defeat it is never
disappointed. The Democrats entered
the late canvass expecting defeat, and
the champions of both gold and silver
were indiscriminately slaughtered. But
as Antaeus received new strength from
his mother earth as often as he touched
the ground, SO will the Democratic party
be strengthened by the dust in which it
is grovelling.
70 show hoW the American people are
essentially Democratic-how Democracy
. is hnbedded in their hearts and that the
party will live cOntempOraneous with the
Republic, | would refer to past defeats
and triumphs. In 1910 @ political cy-
clone swept the Democratic party out of
power. Harrison received 234 electoral
vntac md N0y, R,ro,, 10,
now, there were Democrats ready to de-
sert the party; but then, as now, the
stalwart Democrats. lifted high the old
banner and four years afterward James
X. Polk was elected President of the Uni
ted States. Henry Clay, as he went down
with his colors, exclaimed: "We'll pick
our flints and try again. and in 1913
Zach Taylor, the Wing candidate, float
ed into the White House on the popular
wave which deluged the Democratic
party. Then, as now, there were Demo-
Gratis ready to surrender, but the true
men stood firm, and in 1852 Franklin
Pierce received 254 electoral votes, while
only ~ were cast for Winfield Scott. At
the close of the war there was q little
band OF Northern Democrats still plead
ing for the Constitution and Democracy
Around this nucleus the national DemOc-
racy centered and it's march has been
steadily upward and, onward Thrice
has 1T elected President, and. thrice has
it had majority in the House of Repre-
sehtatives, where a few years ago it. had
only thirty members. The duty of: the
hour is courage. When q yesselhas been
shipwEecked the passengers seize upon
every floating plank, spike and chicken
coop, in the hope OF being rescued, and
when political party has been defeated,
the spOilsmen commence hunting for
some new organization in the hope of
floating into Office. The national Democ-
racy must stand by it's traditions. It
must not be seduced from it's allegiance
to principles by cheaply selling. out to
political gamblers. When the Wing
party, in it's eagerness to secure power.
sold out to the know-Nothing party it
was swept clean out of. existence. This
will be the inevitable fate of the Demo-
cratic party if it should commence the
unfamiliar game of bartering and trad
ing. In 1872, for the first time in it's
history, the Democratic party lowered
its banner. 1t abandoned its. principles,
sacrificed its leaders and nominated
Horace Greely, the founder of the Repub-
llcan party. Ignominious defeat was the
result. 1t was thought this;blunder had
forever consigned the Democratic party
to that tomb of obsolete ideas" in
which the old Wing party was reposing.
1t is better to accept defeat on principles
than rejoice in victory obtained on
error and double dealing Experience
that severe teacher-has taught Demo
Gratis that it is only by fidelity to great
party principles that they can either win
or deserve victory. The greatness, gran
deur and glory of the American Onion
can be directly traced to Democratic leg
islation. Florida, Louisiana. Texas and
an area OF territory reaching to the
Pacific, and vast enough to make an
empire, were acquired by the Democratic
party. Without this territory the Ameri-
can Union would be shorn of much of it's
greatness. Such party cannot die and
the Republic live. 1t is the party of the
people, of the Constitution, of liberty
and for equal rights to all-exclusive
privileges to none. 1t still liveth its
work is not done; it's glory is not dim
med its scepter has not forever depart