The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-01
ALIVE OR DEADy
From the N. Y. Tribune.

From the N. y. Tribune.
The question now arresting the attention of
the pubhc-'ls the Democratic party alive or
dead?'r-is susceptible of opposite answers
according as it is understood It is the old
perplexity of Giles Scroggins, on awaking
from season of alcoholic obfuscation:-
Nov, be l Giles Scroggins or bent 1! If l
be Giles Scroggins have lost four good oxen,
if l bent, have found a cart.
No doubt there will always be party cdHed
Democratic which will hold conventions, and
nominate tickets, and sometimes elect them.
But the main question is not. ''Will there
hereafter be party called Democratic? c?'-but,
''Will it be in principle and essence the party
hitherto known 10y that title?" And this
question is not answered by proving that
party will survive that calls itself by the De-
mocratic name.
This party has lately installed some new
leaders, who are verifying the old aiage,
New lords, new laws Mr.. John Quincy
Adams, of Massachusetts, is one of the rea-
diest of these new counselors. He virtually
tells his fellow partisans that the blockheads
who want to keep them forever on what we
may distinguish as the Nasty platform are en-
tirely behind the age-that, if they wish ever
to regain power they must pitch overheard
the negro-hate and kindred anachronisns to
which they have hitherto been stupidity cling
ing, and construct new platform out of
lIee IIdue anu lIee luiu' OeheIdl ItOHe-
Grams writes them from California that
they must quit butting against the
national debt if they don't want to
expose the hollow under their skulls
where brains ought to be, and present living
| issues based on generous, progressive ideas.
| Finally, the Southern conservatives, having
| tried keeping underfoot for years, and found
| it not to pay, have resolved to court the
| blacks instead Of prescribing them, and thus
win elections instead of contriving to lose
| them. And the Northern fle-leaders, who
| were accustomed to take their cue from the
| South in the well-remembered days of their
| pride and power, have called halt, and are
| evidently perplexed as to their future course,
On the whole, we Judge that the Demo
| cracy of 1872 will remind the country of that
| of 1868 by contrast rather than by similarity.
| 1t will evince youthful friskiness and
contempt for old fogyism, and insist
that it is thoroughly posted as
! to the time of day. We shall not be
surprised to find it nominating a colored
| Nice-Presdent and clamorous for a conciia-
ton and fraternization of all races and castles.
| There are no more Jealous Christians than are
made of veteran reprobates when they do get
converted; and we expect to see the Republi-
cans left away in the background whenever
| Democracy shall see its account in a jealous
! and sweeping assertion of the inalienable
| rights of man. And, so far from objecting
| to this, we shall only insist that they do not
| claim that they abolished slavery and put
down the Rebellion, overcoming the most
| strenuous resistance of the Republicans. THAI
would be going trife too far; but anything
short of it we shall endure with sincere patti
ence and bland equanimity.