Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-10-12
DEMOCRATIC sMARrNEss.

OMAN GSSSs
1t is high time the Democracy had
lost their long-establisbed reputation for
smartness. There are plenty of observ.
ing people who, while willingly con-
ceding corruption, unscrupulousness
and an entire want of patriotism to the
C%oppsrhead leaders, still claimed that
they were smart, very smart. This
smartness compares with sound judi
cious management as low cunning COM
pares with wisdom. Il secures small
advantages, and lets golden opportuni-
ties slip ; it is the sharpness OF the
small cheat who hugs himself with de-
light because he overreaches the honest
merchant in q petty operation 1t is tue
trickery of the charlatan opposed to the
true coin ofreal worth. This smartness
has brought permanent confusion upon
the party for more than twenty years
past, in spite Of the apparent temporary
advantages it has won for it. 1t
prompted the party to sell its soul to
the slave power for the sake of the ad-
vantages Of a loaves-snd-fshcs-yielding
partnership with q section that detested
aud despised it. Smsrtness brought
about the Mexican war and it gained
new territory that was designed to ex-
tend the area Of slavery. 1t had the
opposite effect, and the great State Of
California and the Territory Of New
Mexico o aid to swell the grand Re-
publican chorus.
This same smartnesS led the party
into the Kansas snare and gave an
enormous impetus to the growth Of the
Republican party, the young giant
which was destined to destroy slavery,
maintain the integrity Of the Union and
crush the venomous sting Of Copper
hsadism. Smartness prompted the
Northern Democracy to take the side Of
the arrogant South in the events which
preceded the rebellion, and the same
sm~artness carried its deluded victims
into the current Of sympathy with rebels
and traitors and undisguised opposition
to the Federal Government in its efforts
to maintain itself. 1t would be an af-
front to the intelligence of the reader to
point out the effect Of all this smart
ness. II is at least certain that it was
not satisfactory to the smart Democracy.
But the most astonishing Of all the
astonishing exhibitions Of Democratic
smartness are the party tactics in the
present Presidential campaign. The
nominating convention put within the
direct coutrol of rebels, who only
escaped the well merited rope through
the magnanimity of their patient foes,
q candidate selected fer the first place
upon their ticket with special reference
to his open sympathy with armed re-
bellion; and for Vice President a man
who won the distinction through a
promise to re%-inaugurate the rebellion
ard make the executive officers Of the
Government the instruments Of its de-
structiou. But this is not all. This
smart party enters upon the campaign
with at least partial reputation in
scribed upon it's banners, and, while
disgusting honest men, exciting alarm
among the hundreds Of thousands of
bondholders all over the country. This
may be smart; but it requires sharp
optics to discover it.
These evidences Of Democratic smart
ness might be multiplied almost inde6-
nitely, but tho recital is unnecessary.
Their practical effect has been demon
stratsd in Vermont and Maine, and the
same spirit sweeping over the country
will place the bogus Democracy Of the
time in a grave that will know no rssur-
rection. We repeat the assertion that
it is high time the Democracy had lost
their congratulated reputation for
smartnsss