The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-12-01
From the N. Y. Journal Of Commerce.
A Lesson for the DEMOCRATS.

VI New YORK mas surprised no one VINO
took any pains to ascertain the condition
of the public mind. There was very little
interest felt in it by the people at large,
and less by the Democrats than the Re-
publicans. 1t Was manifest that there
was no serious question of principle at
stake. Both parties protested to endorse
the President aud his reconstruction poll
cy while all the Id issues were carefully
kept out Of sight. Our readers have OBJ
served that we RETAINED entirely from
taking either side in The contest and this
not because of any desire for neutrality,
but because there did net seem to be any
serious issue on which We felt it our duty
/ to sustain either against the other. Some
of tho Democrats are expressing disap-
pointment a, the result, but they have re-
ceived lesson which ought to do them
good. 1t is very easily read. The Demo-
cratic party has ruled the country for
long period, with brief intervals. 1t will
probably rule the country again before
many years have passed over us. 1t will
never recover its power, however, until it
enters into the contest with pure and pa
triotic devotion to those national princi-
pies which have been its special charge in
past years, aud which, involving the f.
nancial and commercial interests of the
country, as well as the home and foreign
relations Of the government, will, of Noes
sity, become hereafter of paramount i'm
portance to the nations prosperity.
The simple truth is that the Democrats
must shake off from them the desire of
spoils and discharge those leaders whose
sole object is power and place, before they
will again become yictors. The election
in this State was nothing but a contest
for spoils. 1t was mere race to deter
mine who should win Mr. johnson. 1t was
the purest folly on both sides to suppose
that the President was 80 weak as to deter
mine his future course, and select his future
friends by the result of State election of
inferior officers, in which no great princi
pie was involved. He is not such pup
pet as the political leaders on both sides
seem to suppose him, The election in
New York decides nothing, either as to
the reconstruction policy, the negro stuff.
rage question, the resumption of specie
payment, the extension of the national
bank system, the foreign relations of gov
eminent, or any other matter of national
Importance. 1t was, therefore, exceed
ingly humiliating to see The leaders on
both sides engaged in contest for the
possession of the President as if he were
ward politician, waiting to see which side
was stronger, and ready to throw himself
into the arms of the victors The Re-
publlcans shouted, "He is ours, for wo
elected him ''while the Democrats shout
ed, ale will be ours, for we resolved to
support him, too, and will give him the
largest vote.' In such contest it is not
surprising that the people took little in
terest. 1t the Democrats expect to try
again, let them abandon the leadership
that has shown its weakness in this cleo
ton. The men who managed the cam
paign for them were SO evidently mere
runners for spoils that the voters were in
large numbers completely disguised. In
Yew York city, for example, they only
attempt to arouse the public was made
by placing Montgomery Blair forward as
the accepted champion of the Democracy.
For four years the Democratic party here
has done little less but protest against ar
bltrary exercise Of power by the members
of Mr.. Lincoln's Cabinet The people
were justly astounded at seeing the very
men who had pretended to be most in
dignant and furious in their devotion to
the liberty Of the person and the press, in
wiling to their platform and putting for
ward as exponent of their principles the
man who was first in in the late Cabinet
to suppress newspapers, who approved all
the arbitrary arrests and other proceed
ings had under the "war power" and who
does not pretend penitepce, but, to the
present day, justlfes all those measures.
The argument of common sense was very
simple. There was no doubt that the
managers We're only seeking success, pow
er, spoiIs, OF any sacrifice of principles
Of course there were thousand of voters
who staid at home, when such leaders
asked them to vote. 1t is not at all certain
that Democratic principles would have
gained any strength by the success Of the
party under such leadership and for such
subjects.
The President needs no such men 10
support him as those who are only seeking
power and Office. He has not indicated
any swerving from the wise policy of re-
construction which he has been pursuing
His general course thus far has been Dem
ocratic. His principles, as far as he has
enunciated them, are in accordance with
the ancient principles Of the party in
which he was educated He wants hon
est, steadtast, patriotic men to support
his policy, because it is national, and
promises to be bepefcent, and, if lie cou-
tnues to maintain those doctrines of State
and national rights which he has enuncia-
ted, the opportunity will be afforded be-
fore long to help him in the work of union
by opposing those who oppose him. 1t is
just as well that the Democratic leaders
have received the lesson they are now