The Athens Post

HAVE WE A DEMOCRATIC PARTY AMONG US?

At the Federal Capitol is published a Democratic paper, the Washington States, edited by Roger A. Pryor, a sterling Democrat, formerly editor of the Richmond Examiner, and one of the ablest politicians and writers in the South. It seems he has recently been looking over and into the condition, soundness, and integrity of the Democratic party, and gives the following as the results of his investigations and researches. Writing under the caption above, Mr. Pryor, the editor of by far the ablest Democratic paper at Washington, says:

"The doubt implied in the above interrogatory, however startling at first sight, appears anything but absurd on examination.—Nay, at the hazard of contradicting the vulgar prejudice, and shocking our own sense of security, we are obliged to announce the deliberate conclusion that there is now no Democratic party in existence. And we will venture the assertion, that the paradoxical opinion will be embraced by all observing and reflecting persons.

"Of individual Democrats, dispersed over the country, each with his peculiar profession of faith and object of pursuit, there is unquestionably a very abundant supply. But they no more constitute a party in the philosophical and practical sense of the word, than a heap of unhewn and unadjusted stones constitutes a palace. For the realization of that idea, there must be primarily a common foundation, then a due subordination and fitness among the parts, and finally a complete unity of organization. We doubt if any one of these conditions can be predicated of the Democracy.

"In the first place, will any man pretend to affirm that Democrats are agreed upon a basis of principle? In respect of which one among the political issues before the country is there so much even as an approach to unanimity in the 'party?' Not surely in regard to squatter sovereignty. The disagreement of the President and Secretary of State on this subject, is a symbol of an equivalent difference among the Democracy. Not in regard to the Pacific Railroad, for here again the chief of the Administration is at odds with his Secretary of War, and this class of strict construction Democrats dissent from the faith of their less scrupulous associates. Nor in regard to federal appropriations for the improvement of rivers and harbors; since the division of the Cabinet on this issue is likewise responsive to a similar division among the mass of the Democracy. Nor yet is there anything like unanimity in the 'party' in regard to that most important matter of all—the tariff question, in respect of which Mr. Buchanan affirms one belief, while Mr. Cobb maintains directly the opposite.

"We need not recapitulate all the points of divergent doctrine among the Democracy.—It is sufficient to say that upon no single issue is there adequate agreement for a common basis of action.

"In the matter of organization we discover an equal absence of concord and unity in the 'party.' We have a Lecompton and Anti-Lecompton faction; there are the followers of Douglas and here the adherents of Buchanan; in short, as many as are the aspirants for the Presidency, so many are the cliques and cabals among the Democracy.

"Heretofore, the Administration has afforded a rallying point for the individuals of the 'party;' but, instead, it is become an original occasion of dispute and dissension. In these latter days, the recommendation of a Democratic Executive implies little more authority with a Democratic Representative than with a member of the Opposition.

"In one particular the Democracy are thought to be very generally agreed in opinion and concurrent in action, and that is in the pursuit of the spoils. But even in this most important sister, they exhibit the same diversity of interest and policy observable in every other regard. The course of the present Democratic Executive has been signalized by the indiscriminate ostracism of the surviving office holders of its Democratic predecessor. And in respect of future promotion, the rival factions in the 'party' are more intent each on the defeat of its rival, than on the overthrow of the common enemy. Unless these domestic dissensions be harmonized by the prevalence of more fraternal counsels or suppressed by the pressure of an over-shadowing peril, we are not warranted in anticipating the cordial co-operation of the various sections among the 'party' in the struggle of 1860. Even the potent spell of the spoils will not now avail to subdue the demon of discord among the Democracy.

"It is no absurd speculation, therefore, to inquire whether there be a Democratic party among us? In fact, on elaborate investigation, we are constrained to return a negative response to the question. There is no such entity as a Democratic party. Greater confusion of tongues and opposition of interests did not prevail among the children of men after their ambitious but abortive attempt in the plain of Shinar, than are now visible in the broken ranks and mutual animosities of the once harmonious and triumphant Democracy.

"It is time to arrest the progress of this deplorable decay. If the Democracy would maintain their ascendency, they have not a moment to lose from the work of repair and reorganization."