The Portland daily press., 1869-05-19
-Four Reasons why the Dem ocratic Party
Ianlf nand.

hsm't Deuus
The New York World is the leading Demo-
cratic paper Of the United States, unless it
shall be claimed that Brick Pomeroys Demo-
crat shares the empire. The World is the best
possible authority on the present status of the
Democratic party, and has the honor to report
substantially as follows: The Democratic party
is convalescent,
First, because Grant is an imbecile Presi-
dent.
Second, because Hoffman is good Gov
ernor.
Third. becausc one G. L. Vallandigham of
Ohio has recently declared that he was really
a Chase man in the New York Convention, the
inference being that he, the said Vallandig
ham, is not an irreclaimable "Ccpperhead."
(sic)
Fourth, because there appears to be ID free
trade revival throughout the country, the tide
rising to the very doors of Pennsylvania itself.
This is no fancy sketch, but truthful sum
mary of the Worlds argument to prove that
sesurgdna may be written on the Democratic
tombstone. If the leading Democratic organ
of the country, carefully reviewing the situa-
tion after three months trial OF a Republi-
can administration, is forced to employ such
means of encouragement as this, who can
wonder that provincial Democratic journals
in the guileless simplicity of their hearts, talk
of the Radical neglect of the shipbuilding in
terest and kindred themes. A better state
rnent of the Worlds position. would be this:
The Democratic party is not beyond hope, be-
cause,
First, the Gulf Stream has recently defect
ed very much from tho course where sailors
formerly looked for it,
Second, the black spot now observable on
the face of the sun is of unprecedented size.
Third, Louis Napoleon, though an Emperor,
IS exceedingly fond of talking about liberty.
Fourth, there is said to be q tendency
among English Episcopalians toward ritual
ism, if not toward Rome.
If these reasons are illogical SO are the
Worlds In the first place, if they were in
any manner relevant, they would be of but
trivial importance, because parties go up or
down in this country according to the princi-
pies they cherish, and not according to the &C.
cidental qualities of certain of their prominent
men. So that it is hardly worth while to re-
flute the Worlds quadrangular statement. The
people 90 not DeneVe tnaG Oraut is an lInDe-
cile President, because they have endorsed him
at every election since his Inauguration and
there have been several important ones. Nor
do they believe that Hoffman of New York, is
an extraordinary Governor. The claim of his
friends for the possession of extraordinary
merit on his part is based on no positive quail
ties Of his, but on the pure fact that he doesn't
steal. This may be phenomenal circumstances
in New York Democratic politics; but else
where there are Sc many such men that the
glory of Hoffman can be looked upon by ordiD-
airy people without blinking. Besides the
World must explain how it happened that all
the Democrats of the last Legislature were in
the market with their votes, before it can do
successful proselytlng business on the capital
of the personal purity of the members of the
Conservative party. Nor is there anything
ominous for the Republican party in the free
trade movement. The Reform League re-
Gently organized in Boston owes its existence
to such men as Atkinson and Garrison, who
are very good Radicals, as Radicals go. The
World forgets that the last national Democra-
tic platform favored incidental protection"
while the Republican platform was silent on
the subject