The Portland daily press., 1869-11-12
A Suggestion,

The Democrats are casting about for pres
ideotial candidate. Like the ancient heather |
tho, dosra IN decorate their victim with gar
lands and eimcranks before leading him to
.ha s,suohter Democratic journals are anus
ing themselves and edifyng the country with
So, latons as to who will secure the nomn-
alton in 1872, and the Zest with which they
enter into the discussion of the merits of diff
ferent aspirants shows that a party, like an
individual, may be hopeful and buoyant even
on the verge of dissolution and death. This
hopefulness may be real or assumed. Pike on
the gallows was as serene as a saint, ana III
dulged "great expectations" as to MS pros
poets and happiness in the future world. Inc
Democratic party affects to believe IN the fOr-
giyeness or forgetfuness of the American peo-
ple. and talks of future victories with as much
assurance as they did before committing the
objectionable political sin. Prominent apopg
their idols are George II. Pendleton and John
T. Hoffman. Each has a large party following
In the Democratic ranks, but strange to say,
the friends OF each hate the other, if not with
pure hearts, at least fervently. The New York
Democratic journals deprecate the popularity
of Young Greenbacks and point to the result of
the Ohio election as decision of his fate, while
the western Democracy are equally inimicable
to the success of Gov. Hoffman and speak of
him as of one "played out" The advocacy
of Gen. George II. Thomas, by the New York
Herald, illustrates one oil the peculiarities of
that eccentric sheet; indeed the illustration il
more striking than usual from the fact that
q the Democracy would shudder at the idea of
staltitying itself with such glorious war rec
d as Thomas while it is well known that
"Old Pap las the soldiers Familiarity called
hm,) would no more think of becoming their
leider than he would have thought of accept
Ing acommisslon in the Confederate army dur
Ing the war OF the rebellion. In regard TO the
c lief Justice the case is different He would
accept the leadership Of any crowd for the sake
o a Presidential nomination. In view of his
past political career and the known luminosity
ofDemocrats towards most men who ever de-
sired that sail men should be Free" or enter
timed any other generous political sentiment,
it is curious to note how many and powerful
are the gentlemen who espouse his cause and
are anxious to see his name inscribed upon
the Democratic banners. Vallandigham even
urges h'rl III persistent vigor. Have DEM
ocrats g. n Dine their instructive hatred for
Renegades? Do they have no apprehensions
that the great man may again change his
mind and return to his first love?
Unquestionably they do, and this will Tell
against him tearfully by and by. But the
class who favor him now, labor under the de-
fusion that having once been trusted leader
of the Republican hosts he might attract
sufficient number of his old political friends
and allies to turn the tide of victory, and
with them success is the be all and end all of |
political life. They will tolerate anybody and
run all risks when their case is otherwise ut
tery hopeless. Now that is precisely their con-
diton at present, and hence the prominence
given to the name of Mr.. Chase. But the
Old wheel horses will never consent to the ell
8 ovation of an old Abolitionist and the invent
I or of paper money above their heads and
they will compete vigorously with him even
for the empty honor of nomination.
The result Of all this wrangling and competi
ton is fearful to contemplate The prospect
of each and every one of them will be blasted
for want of harmonious action, and when the
time comes to decide, the whole lot will be
badly damaged, if not entirely spoilt
We do not remember to have seen the
name of Pierce or Buchanan mentioned in
connection with the nomination, True
these gentlemen are dead, but in view
OF the present exigeDcies of the party would
that be an insuperable objection? The party
notwithstanding its recent fraudulent success
in New York is essentially dead, its platforms
ere invariably weather beaten and decayed
and the issues which it persistensly thrusts
upon the country are stale and Improbable.
The great majority of its individual members
draw their inspiration from the dead past and
find their chief solace in contemplating stand
ard histories Of the Creation, the Deluge and
the ordinances Of 1899. They walk with
averted faces and exhaust themselves in eff
forts to undo something that has been done
rather than in trying to do something new.
To be sure it is no affair of ours, but Demo
Gratis piL volunteer advice to Republicans,
and we sometimes feel inclined to reciprocate.
We advise them therefore to set the seal to
their consistency by nominating dead can
didate. The advantages of this will be obv:-
Gus, the disadvantages few. Many old Wings |
when their party was in the present condi- |
ton OF the Democratic party persisted in vot-
ing for Daniel Webster even after he was |
dead. Their action furnishes a precedent
Let the Democracy adopt and follow it, using
discretion in The selection, so that the coming
man shall be neither too dead nor liable
to the objection Of not being dead enough.
For the relief of those who may feel over
whelmed with gratitude for our suggestion,
we have to say that we make no charge but
offer il in part payment for advice to the Re
publican party SO generously and persistently
offered by our Democratic friends.
We do aot mean to be beaten in the amen
titles of.politlcal lite