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John Quiney Adams On The "passive Policy."

John Quiney Adams On The "passive Policy." image
Parent Issue
Day
8
Month
December
Year
1871
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

St. Louis, Mo., November 20. The Hon. John Quiocy Adaira, of Afiissachusetts, has writt.n a letter whicp will appear to-morrow in tho Missouri Tbfwblican. The letter wm-nily approyes the so-callod passivo pplicy of tho IKimocrats in the next Presidential elcction. In tho courso of the letter, Mr. Adains says : I am satisfied such a courso will bc wise and patriotic, and should bo glad to st:e tho Democracy concur in guofi rcsolution. I regard the present administra tion as a national calumity, and ita continúanos should bo averted at any sacriflce, not because Republiean in politics, lut becauso it is mean in character, sordid in tone, and ignoran fc, corrupt,, and arbitrar; ; becausc more than any auministration we havo had, it has disappointed tho hopos aitd doadencd the generous aspirations of the good men of all partios ; becauso it is doingmoreto permanently disunife ïhe States than the government of Jefferaon Davis ever did ; becauso its chief conceives thoro is no means for a freo government but military forco ; no public action but private profit. Foui youvs moro of Buch fiducation, family patronage, and martial law, will go blurit the koen sensibilitics of popular liberty. that our ij;noble incubus might woll fèmain a fixturo. Now,. I believo the Democratio party to be powerless alone to relieve us, and I think it is without hope of carrying tho next eloction. No doubt if the votes of any States lately in rebellion were neoessary to elect a Democratie oandidate, thcy would bo thrown out in tho conutfng. A mere inajurity, even could it bo niustcred, would not bc penuitted to elect n, Domocrat for next President. Nothing then remains but civil war or submission to the usurpor, and it isdiilicult to decido which alternativo will infliet the moro irreparable injury apon tho habit of freo govornment. ïo dismiss an incompetent official, and avoid a govornmental crisis the Missouri policy offers tho only reaBonablo possibility whieh luis boon presented ; but whilo I iïunkly avow ' a purtiality for the object, I do nut blink the very sorious obstados to its ndoption We must subdue tho pride of party am break tho bonds of party discipline Therc aro few moro' obstinate passions than the sentimental deyotion which mei offer to the vague abstraclion, party glory ; notmany ci'ccds', inoluding theol'igy, which are_as despotic as a " platform.' twill bo a difficult task to bringaparty, yot glowing with rocolloctions of a niighty past, and but now buming with anticipations of a groat future, to yiold the tiead of tUo column and the command of the field to allies who were but yesterday cnemies. Nor is thero any strong guaranty that theso allies wilt not iliuch al tho last. Party leaders are seldom famous for high moral courage which can abide unshakon the stern pressure that forbids a rupture of party ties ; but if they daiü fling down tho ganntlet - duel to doath with the President, it might be possiblo for tho Democraey to riso to tho height, ■where humiliation of a partisan is lost in tho satisf action of a patriot. But it is charged that a sacrifico will be in vain, or worso still, it will surrendor the whole scheme of Democratie liberty, bare and bound, to its enemies. I do not so .forobodo the cvont, and cannot believe that a protest against a dictatorial government can be weakened by joining with a band which doserts it becauso it is hostile to civil liberty, and which will compol the onomios to corruption in office to disband, becauso they unite with those who have aickened and turned away from the sight of corruption. Can frienda of the Constitution preserve . or protect it more strcnuously than by refusing to hold up their hands, who have forsakon thoir own friends lathor than dofaco it further. It Bcems to me on the contrary that tho strength of tho support which this movement wonld bring to the rescue of the principies of Democraey would be in exact proportion to tho severity of tho blow to the pride of the Democratie party ; for these principios must bo dear indeed to men who can abandon for them an ancient and honored name, and not less precious to those who dare follow thom even through the scorn, contempt, and obloquy which awaits political treason.

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Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus